Indiana Dairy Producers E-Newsletter
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IDP in Motion Column: Big Start to ’23 for IDP
While there are often gray January days in Indiana, the future of IDP is bright and our organization is in motion as we begin 2023. Your Board of Directors has been working on a new strategic plan and we look forward to sharing it at the Dairy Forum in February. You’ll see a focus on Advocacy, Impact and how we Advance success for our industry. I appreciate the great thinking that has gone into this plan of action.
Of course, we have the Dairy Forum coming up in February 7-8 in French Lick. Think of this event as our Indiana Dairy “Super Bowl,” including a tremendous trade show, interesting and informative sessions, and outstanding networking.
We’ve worked to find synergy with other dairy groups to make the most of everyone’s time. I know how much I enjoy the camaraderie of this biannual meeting. When things get heavy, it is so important to have a network of fellow producers to call on who have similar challenges. Speaking of challenges, a recent car accident has sidelined me for a bit, and I appreciate the care and concern shown by so many of you.
I’m looking forward to brighter days ahead and appreciate the opportunity to serve Indiana’s dairy Industry.
Steve
Steve Obert, Executive Director
317-779-6775
REMINDER: Please join us at the 2023 Indiana Dairy Forum taking place Feb. 7-8 in French Lick! Regular registration ends January 31, 2023. View the brochure for all the details.
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Our Vision: To Make Indiana the most desirable state in which to produce milk.
Mission Statement
To promote a profitable, positive, professional image of
dairy producers while providing educational opportunities
for the interchange of ideas and to speak as a proactive voice
for Indiana dairy producers.
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Calendar of Events
- Feb. 7th-8th (2023): IDP Forum
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In This Issue
Sponsor Spotlight
Industry Insights
IDP Member Moment
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Sponsor Spotlight: Welcome Commodity Blenders, LLC!
We are pleased to welcome Commodity Blenders, LLC (CBL) as a new sponsor of our Dairy Forum. Founded in 1997, CBL today is a leading provider of custom blending services and a wide range of quality feed ingredients for dairy, other livestock, and poultry businesses. CBL has remained an independent, family-owned business based in West Salem, Ohio, now with manufacturing facilities in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana.
CBL's new Warren, Indiana, feed manufacturing facility features state-of-the-art computer control of production, including a 36-bin micro proportioning system, 6-ton batch mixer, and bagging line. The Warren facility includes handling, warehousing, and storage capacity for a wide range of bagged, mini-bulk, and bulk ingredients. There are multiple truck scales, receiving pits, and loadout bays to speed incoming raw materials and delivery of products by CBL's dedicated truck fleet and bulk feed trailers.
Be sure to say "hello" to CBL and James Cole at the Forum and check out Feed Insight 4U, CBL's monthly newsletter with key dairy research highlights. For more information, contact Commodity Blenders, LLC by phone at 419-846-3155 or on the Web at https://www.commodityblenders.com/.
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Industry Insights
IDP Dairy Forum Preview: Delegating, Communicating Tips To Be Shared at Forum
We are delighted Don Tyler, an industry expert who has devoted a large part of his career to helping individuals, families and businesses achieve their full potential, will be speaking at the 2023 IDP Forum. He shares below an overview of his sessions that you won’t want to miss!
Delegating
One of the greatest struggles for successful business leaders is developing a delegation strategy that helps them focus on their main priorities. Too often, they hesitate to delegate some of the essential processes and duties because they don’t believe these tasks will be done correctly. The solution is to develop basic systems that are easy to teach, but they must also develop an attitude and philosophy of delegation that allows them to give up important tasks.
During the Tuesday afternoon breakout session, Effective Delegation—How to Quit Doing Everything Yourself, Don Tyler will share practical strategies for:
· Developing systems that improve production, track performance, and enhance delegation
· Delegating important tasks to people who don’t quite seem ready
· Identifying the warning signs that your business is limited by a lack of adequate delegation
Over the last 27 years Don has worked with over 700 family businesses across the country in all types of enterprises. He’ll share their struggles with this common challenge and how they implemented these techniques to break through the barriers that limited their potential, achieving levels of production they previously thought were out of reach.
Communicating
In the Keynote on Wednesday morning, Don will present on Family Business Communications for Small and Large Enterprises. Whether your business has 5 employees or 1,500, there needs to be a deliberate focus on proper communications. Technology has diminished our ability to have efficient, effective, and productive conversations that build trust and accountability, as well as resolve the common conflicts that inhibit our ability to accomplish our objectives.
During this session, we will discuss:
· Creating basic rules for using text, e-mail, voicemail, and other forms of technology in an operation
· Agreements on common courtesy for face-to-face interactions.
· Resolving poor communication habits of some employees and family members
· Simple ground rules for meetings, the “Four Rules of Communication,” and guidelines for working together as a family.
These strategies help ensure that everyone practices good communication regardless of the circumstances and topic being discussed. This session will provide proven, practical techniques that make our conversations and communications timely, productive, and enjoyable.
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IDP Member Moments: Lifelong Love of Dairy Industry Drives Retiring IDP Board Emily Hoeing
For the past six years, Emily Hoeing has served Indiana’s dairy industry as an IDP Board member. As her time on the board comes to an end, we caught up with Emily to talk about her background and insight as someone who has been involved with the dairy industry her whole life.
From an early age, Emily was active in her family’s dairy in Minnesota including milking morning and night while being an active student and member of both 4-H and FFA. A Dairy Princess and dairy judging team member, Emily has long been a champion for the dairy industry. Perhaps this passion is why she was not happy when her family moved the dairy operation to Indiana while she was in college. “I felt like Indiana took my family, farms and cows away from me,” she recalls. “How ironic that I met and married an Indiana dairy farmer and here I am today!”
Emily and her husband Keith are part of the Benton Group Dairies that has three sites in Ambia, Warren and Freeland. With thousands of dairy animals as part of their operation, the farming families share a philosophy for sustainable farming that emphasizes their community, cows, and crops. A busy mom of three kids who also works at Purdue University, Emily remains involved in the farm operations.
She notes that the dairy industry is “very data rich, but information poor,” meaning there is great potential to harness the data being generated by dairies to enhance operations. “Dairy producers must be experts in everything from biology and chemistry to animal husbandry and finance,” she points out. “Translating data into information is a real opportunity for making progress.”
As she reflects on her board service, Emily has enjoyed learning from other board members. “Serving on the IDP board enabled me to build friendships with other dairy farmers as we focused on our common challenges,” Emily says. “I’ve learned about issues and regulations and seen firsthand how hard IDP works for our industry and watches out for policy that impacts our producers.”
Emily describes IDP as a “go to resource! ” for Indiana’s dairy industry. “IDP should be your first call when you face an issue as our board and executive director can help you based on our experience and network.”
Serving on the board also enabled Emily to give back to the industry she loves. “I was raised with the mindset that it isn’t enough to just participate, you need to be involved and give back. It has been an honor to serve on this board.”
Thank you, Emily, for your service to Indiana’s dairy industry!
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Individual membership in the Indiana Dairy Producers is $50. Encourage your dairy farming friends to join IDP! Also, any individual who is not a dairy producer but would still like to support IDP can join as an associate member. Download a membership/associate brochure here.
We appreciate our industry supporters. They make it possible for IDP to support the dairy industry in many ways. If your company is interested in finding ways to join IDP, download an information sheet here.
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Diamond Sponsors
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Platinum Sponsors
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Gold Sponsors
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Silver Sponsors
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Board of Directors
Executive Director
Steve Obert
812-779-6775
Arie Jan de Jong, President
Carrie Jo Bollenbacher, Vice President
Emily Hoeing, Secretary
Jackie Boerman, Executive Treasurer
Board Members
Alex Lueken
Amy Weaver
Henk Sevenhuysen
Krent Frauhiger
Roger Hibschman
Aaron Claycamp
Industry Advisers
Chris Moore
Sarah Wagler
Steve Howell
Todd Janzen, Attorney
Zach Allen
Tanya Westfall, Executive Assistant
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Visit Our Bronze Sponsors |
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IDP Corporate Sponsors
There is a growing list of companies that recognize IDP's value to Indiana's dairy industry. Please visit our list of companies that have become Corporate Sponsors for only $100. If you know of a company that may have an interest in supporting IDP at some level, please download a brochure here.
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Contact Chris Moore
For free insurance consultation and quotes on your farm and agribusiness Insurance needs! IDP members receive an exclusive discount on SECURA Insurance.
Chris Moore
317-650-4519
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Indiana Dairy Producers
7826 S 550 E
Fort Branch, IN 47648
812-779-6775
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RESOURCE CENTER
-Click on each picture or logo to learn more-
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Indiana Grazing &
Forage
NRCS Website
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Check out the resources available to you on the
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