Brian Barber Sheldon, Wisconsin Calf Consultant Golden Calf Company LLC
What education are you bringing with you to this position?
I graduated from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (WITC) in New Richmond with an associate's degree in farm management. I furthered my education at WITC in Rice Lake with a degree in farm business and production management.
Please describe your agricultural background.
I grew up in Sheldon, Wisconsin, on a dairy farm. I have always loved farming and the independence of it. I owned my own conventional farm for several years and later managed two organic farms. I am a big supporter of FFA, having myself been the vice president for three years and encouraging all my children to participate.
What territory will you cover?
Northwestern Wisconsin
What are your new responsibilities?
As a calf consultant, it is my responsibility to work with dairy farmers and calf managers to improve consistency and care that newborn calves receive. My main area of focus is colostrum handling and management.
What previous positions have you held?
I have both owned and managed dairy farms for most of my life. I was able to gain experience on both conventional and organic dairies learning different approaches to solving problems. I have used this hands-on experience in helping other farmers grow their dairies, most recently with Agri-King.
What excites you most about working in your new role?
I'm most excited about introducing the dairy producers to new technology and being part of their success. Dairy farming is a competitive business with tight margins and I can help them find new ways of increasing profitability in an area that has been overlooked in the past. The first few hours of a calf's life is the foundation of any dairy farm's future and should be handled accordingly. PD
