Steve RiesenbeckEscalon, California Management Consultant Pine Creek Nutrition Service, Inc.

Please describe your agricultural background.
I have been working on dairies for approximately 17 years. Although I grew up on an almond ranch, I have always had a passion for cows. My first responsibilities on a dairy were feeding calves and then cows. I fed cows for almost four years before I began treating and breeding cows. As a college student, I had the opportunity to manage the Cal Poly dairy farm. Upon graduating, I managed a large Holstein dairy and feedlot in the Northern Central Valley of California
for 10 years.

What education are you bringing with you to this position?
I received a bachelor of science degree in both dairy science as well as ag business from Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo . I believe that my education blossomed from there as I strove to learn something new every day in the real-world situation of managing a dairy and being responsible for more than 20 employees. My education is a collaboration from the university education as well as a large part from hands-on experience from the farm.

What territory will you cover?
California

What are your new responsibilities?
My primary responsibility is servicing the management and training needs of the Pine Creek Nutrition Service clients. My general focus is the holistic improvement of each facility by exploring improvement opportunities through best-management practices and personnel training. I always keep in mind the production and financial goals of both owners and managers as we develop and share ideas to improve efficiencies.

What previous positions have you held?
I have held many positions over the past 17 years that encompassed varying duties on the dairy. I have also been very active with a dairy trade organization, serving as a delegate for two years.

What excites you most about working in your new role?
I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to see and interact with some of the finest food producers in the world. I see at least 40,000 cows each month and am privileged to feel like a part of the teams I visit at each dairy. I love seeing on-farm results. Because my visits are in intervals, it is apparent when a change is implemented.

How will you be of most help to producers in your region or area of expertise?
The main benefit that I will bring to the producer will be the working knowledge of the daily activities through the eyes of an on-farm manager. Over the last 10 years, I was on the dairy in boots and coveralls tackling all of the same challenges our clients face today.

Why did you choose this company?
Pine Creek Nutrition Service, Inc. prides itself on doing business with integrity. I believe the organization shares the same moral and ethical beliefs in doing business with their clients that my wife and I instill in raising our children.

What goals would you like to accomplish while in this position?
My ambition is to work closely with dairy producers and their support staff to meet their individual and industry goals. My primary goal is to bring a positive energy to the dairy and locate opportunity to help implement an action plan that will ultimately result in higher profitability for our dairymen. PD