Winner: Andy Fisher, Reedsville. He is in a partnership in Riverside Dairy, LLC which consists of 400 milking cows and 280heifers and operates600acres of which 588 are tillable. Last June, the Riverside Dairy herd reached 103 pounds per cow without rBST and in November the farm was recognized by the Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council with a gold rating for reproductive efficiency, fertility, and well-implemented management procedures. Andy was sponsored by Rightway Applications, Badgerland Nutrition, County Visions, CP Feeds, LLC and Investors Community Bank.Phone: 920-973-3606

Runner Up: Justin & Darci Daniels, Hixton, WI. Daniels currently milk 40 Holsteins and 13 Brown Swiss. They operate 131 acres of which 100 are tillable. They were sponsored by Compeer Financial, Osseo Vet Clinic, Federation Co-op and Origin Repro Services. Phone: 715-299-9199

“Speak up for Agriculture” award, sponsored by The Country Today: Justin & Darci Daniels, Hixton, WI. They were sponsored by Compeer Financial, Osseo Vet Clinic, Federation Co-op and Origin Repro Services. Phone: 715-299-9199

The winner, Andy Fisher,will be nominated to attend the national OYF in Moline, IL, in Feb. 2019.

Other finalists in the state OYF event:
Justin & Kotti Hintz, Ogdensburg WI, sponsored by GreenStone FCS, Spiegelberg Implement, Luxemburg-Casco Jaycees, Caroline Implement, Swiderski Equipment Inc.

Mike Prochnow, Menomonie, WI sponsored by Bremer Bank.

Judges for the event were Mike Hershleb, DeForest is an independent Agronomy and Farm Management Consultant; Dr. Loretta Ortiz-Ribbing, Fond du Lac, WI, is an Assistant Professor for the University of WI Extension and with primary responsibility as the Crops & Soils Area Agent for Dodge and Fond du Lac Counties. and Brian Schaal, Burlington, WI is a past state and national winner of the WI OYF program. The Awards Banquet emcees wereLauren Brey from Sturgeon Bay, WI and Daphne Holterman from Watertown, WI.

A “Speak up for Agriculture” training session for the candidates was led by the 70th Alice in Dairyland Crystal Siemers-Peterman. Other agricultural forums included Frank Friar presenting information on “Succession Planning” and DebIhm from Southwest Tech with the “Top 10 Things to Do for Financial Management”. Candidates also toured area businesses including: United Dreams Farm LLC, Comfort Hoof Care Rosy-Lane Holsteins and Berres Brothers Roasted Coffee Cafe.
Diamond Sponsors of the OYF event were: WI AgConnection/USagnet; Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin who awarded the finalists a membership and registration to the annual business conference, BMO Harris Bank and Ann & Ken Reckelberg. Platinum sponsors: Lloyd & Daphne Holterman (Rosy-Lane Holsteins, LLC), Kuhn North America and Dairy Business Association, who provided a one year membership for each of our finalists. Gold Sponsors: Peter & Cindy McFarland (McFarlandale Dairy), Robert & Karyn Schauf (Indianhead Farms), The Country Today, Wisconsin Farmers Union,. Forest Construction, William & Clarice Brey (Cycle Farm), Mark & Angie Ulness (Ragnar Holsteins), Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association, Service Motor Company and Ixonia Bank.

Next month the national OYF Congress will be held in Sacramento, CA. Sam and Jenn Zimmerman, Ringle, WI, will be representing Wisconsin as one of the Top 10 Finalists for the National OYF Award. Good Luck to the Zimmermans.

For more information:
Harold or Cindy Matton, (715) 833-9649 wi-oyf@charter.net
Ann or Ken Reckelberg, (920) 536-0425 or (920) 536-0625