Andrea Pagenkopf Regional Program Specialist Accelerated Genetics Fremont, Wisconsin

What education are you bringing with you to this position?
I graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville with a Bachelor of Science in animal science with a dairy and agribusiness emphasis. While attending Platteville, I was very much involved in Pioneer Dairy Club and participated on the Pioneer Dairy judging team.

Please describe your agricultural background.
I grew up on my family’s 130 registered Holstein farm just outside of Lancaster, Wisconsin. At an early age, I took care of the newborns and also started showing cattle at local shows. As I grew older, I started investing in my own dairy cattle and exhibited them from local to national shows, including seven years at the Wisconsin State Fair. I currently have 10 dairy cattle housed on my family’s farm. Through my school years, I was very active in FFA, 4-H and Wisconsin Junior Holsteins, and I held many officer positions and competed in several dairy quiz bowls.

What territory will you cover?
My position is covering farms on the eastern side of Wisconsin, stretching from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan down to Illinois.

What are your new responsibilities?
I am responsible for providing sales and service assistance to technicians and salespeople, as well as to new and current GEM customers. In addition, I will be visiting farms and applying visual matings.

What previous positions have you held?
I previously held the position as a calf and heifer nutritionist with Landmark Services Cooperative. Through Landmark, I provided assistance to the dairy nutrition team, exclusively dairy calves. I was also a herdswoman at a 400-cow dairy, managing pre-fresh and post-fresh cows, feeding youngstock, maintaining herd health records while assisting the vet in weekly visits, as well as carrying out daily chores.

Who has made the biggest impact on your career?
Family. Growing up on my family farm, Mom and Dad have always strongly encouraged me to do my best and to never give up. At an early age, they also instilled respect and thankfulness, and that there would always be hills to climb. My parents gave me confidence to make correct decisions along with instinctive lifelong values. My older brothers, Craig and Scott, are my role models, giving me needed advice and guidance.

How will you be of most help to producers in your region or area of expertise?
Being on the Pioneer Dairy judging team for three years has helped me have an eye for the perfect cow. I know how to evaluate faults as well as strengths and provide the best mating to improve or fine-tune prospective dairy cattle in their herd. This in turn helps the producer become more profitable while adding confirmation and reproductive potential to their dairy cattle.

Why did you choose this company?
Accelerated Genetics has been a basis for my family’s dairy farm for years. My parents and Craig are very involved with the company, from purchasing semen to selling homegrown bulls to their lineup. It’s a company that feels like a family – down-to-earth people to work with who understand your personal goals while achieving great potential within the company.

What goals would you like to accomplish while in this position?
My goals while working with Accelerated Genetics is to help improve as many herds as possible with the highest quality bulls on an individual herd basis. Each farm has different goals; I am looking forward to assisting each producer to achieve their goals. I am excited to meet new and existing customers while providing continuous service that adds value to the producer as well as the company. PD