Diverse products add value to dairies

PDPW

Opportunities to diversify abound for dairy producers –and it’s a sure-fire way to develop new skillsets and engage with customers on a different level. According to two dairy producers who addressed 2023 PDPW Business Conference attendees, the key is finding a niche that complements one’s interests and available resources.

In the “More than a side hustle” conference session, dairy producers Ken Smith of Remington,Virginia,and John Rosenow of Cochrane, Wisconsin, shared their experiences establishing businesses for the purpose of generating additional revenue streams.

The panel discussion was facilitated by Katy Schultz, dairy producer and owner of Tri-Fecta Farms Inc.as well as a managing partner in the farm-to-table beef market Tri-Fecta Farms Family Market.

Smith designed and built in 2006 an ice cream shop after purchasing an old building on a highway intersection near his farm His son Ben Smith bought the family’s 1,000cow dairy, Cool Lawn Farm, which allowed his father to focus his energy into refurbishing the property he bought. It’s now the Moo Thru drive-through ice cream parlor.

“The idea came to me as I was sitting at a stoplight at that corner,” Ken Smith said.

“One of the benefits of developing the ice cream business is we knew people would come to us for it.On any given weekend people drive down that road with money in their pockets to spend We thought it made sense to make good use of their intentions.”

He also had a hunch he’d be able to associate with happy customers more often than not, he said.

“I’ve never seen a grumpy person standing in a line for ice cream,” he said with a smile.

Originally based in Remington, Virginia, Moo Thru Ice Cream is now sold from 10 locations The Smith family’s business also offers ice cream-truck services and franchising opportunities

Moo Thru

Before beginning construction on the ice cream parlor, the Smiths attended ice cream-production classes at Penn State University They worked through a number of base recipes before copyrighting their own. Smith said recipe creation is a learning curve they continue to work on. They make it a point to stop and sample ice cream whenever they travel – a pretty fantastic tax-deductible expense.

A key point in business growth occurred when a Washington, D C , television station broadcast a morning news segment live from the Smith location. And adding a

2023-2024 PDPW Board

President John Haag Dane, Wis. 608-576-0812 jahaag5@gmail.com

Vice President Janet Clark Rosendale, Wis. 608-341-6709 vafarmsllc@hotmail.com

Secretary Corey Hodorff Eden, Wis. 920-602-6449 corey@secondlookholsteins.com

Treasurer Brady Weiland Columbus, Wis. 920-285-7362 bweiland11@hotmail.com

Directors

Patty Dolph Lake Mills, Wis. 920-988-2425 dolphpatricia@gmail.com

Ken Feltz Stevens Point, Wis. 715-570-6390 feltzfarms@hotmail.com

Paul Lippert Pittsville, Wis. 715-459-4735 lippert4735@gmail.com

JJ Pagel Kewaunee, Wis. 920-493-0879 johnj@pagelsponderosa.com

Laura Raatz Oconto Falls, Wis. 715-853-8140 laurawagner1608@gmail.com

Advisers

Eric Birschbach 608-576-9204 agsitecc@gmail.com

Curtis Gerrits 715-928-9241 curtis.gerrits@compeer.com

Josh Mullins 715-305-3705 josh@mullinscheese.com

Roger Olson 920-362-4745 roger.olson@zinpro.com