Local Farm Managers Participate in the Academy for Dairy Executives

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (May 10, 2017) - The Academy for Dairy Executives was held in Western New York during the winter of 2016-2017 to provide young farmers with the opportunity to improve their management skills. Cornell Cooperative Extension Educators in Chautauqua and Erie Counties, specialists with the Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Team, and Cornell University Pro-Dairy worked together to offer the program.

Twenty-six farmers from across the region met for three two-day sessions. The program targets the next generation of dairy farmers, especially those who are transitioning into a management role.

Congratulations to the following dairy farm managers/owners from Chautauqua County who participated in The Academy for Dairy Executives: Dan and Anna Crowell, from R&D Crowell Farms, LLC in South Dayton, NY and Julia Olmstead, from Mid-Knight Dairy, LLC in Jamestown, NY.

R&D Crowell Farms, LLC is a 530 cow Registered Holstein dairy that is a partnership between Robert and Dan Crowell. They raise all of their replacements and grow all of their forages and grain corn. Dan is a managing partner working with the day to day activities of the farm, as well as making major strategic decisions. Dan’s wife Anna does all of the bookkeeping and record-keeping for the farm and is a key player in the decision making on day to day activities.

Julia Olmstead is a member manager of Mid-Knight Dairy, LLC, along with her parents, John and Laura Knight, she also works closely with her sister Emily Smith in caring for their 110 cow Holstein dairy herd. Julia is responsible for managing the dairy herd, including milking cows, artificial insemination protocol and breeding selection, newborn calf care, record keeping and many other daily farm tasks.

Lisa Kempisty, Dairy Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County involved in organizing and presenting at The Academy for Dairy Executives stated, “This program provided opportunities for participants to learn from agricultural specialists and from other dairy farm managers from across Western New York. So proud to have three outstanding farm owners/managers representing our Chautauqua County dairy industry participate in this educational program.”

Participants heard from excellent speakers and participated in group exercises to learn about communication and conflict resolution, managing vs. doing, budgeting and making financial decisions, and other topics. Participant evaluations were extremely positive, including responses such as “Great! Very action based and people based. I want to go and try the stuff I learned right now,” and “The whole farm budgeting was very eye opening and helped me to realize I need to become more involved in the budgeting process. Also family business conflict resolution and communication was an amazing conversation. Helped to open my mind on how to deal with it efficiently.”

The participants of the Western New York Academy for Dairy Executives represent 20 farms and 2 agribusinesses that milk 21,125 cows, positively impacting our local communities through collectively selling $86.5 million dollars of milk annually. Together these farms employee 400 people and utilize the products and services of many local agribusinesses. They protect the environment and maintain green spaces in their communities through managing 49,000 crop acres. Skills that the participants learned will enable them to lead their businesses to continued success for future generations.

The Academy for Dairy Executives, provided through the Agriculture Program, is one of many learning opportunities offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated May 10, 2017