Evan Schnadt Milton, Wisconsin Dairy Performance Programs Specialist ABS Global
What education are you bringing with you to this position?
I graduated from the University of Wisconsin â Madison with a degree in dairy science with a business emphasis in May of 2009.
Please describe your agricultural background.
I grew up on my familyâs dairy and cash crop farm in northeast Iowa. After selling the cows when I was fairly young, I intensified my interest in the dairy industry through 4-H and FFA projects as well as Junior Holstein Association activities. I still maintain ownership of a few of my own cattle and enjoy helping my parents on our crop farm as time allows.
What are your new responsibilities?
My position is within the newly created Dairy Performance Programs department here at ABS which includes the Genetic Management System (GMS), Technical Services, and Uddercare.
In this position I will be working mostly within the realm of GMS and Technical Services to help offer producers solutions to effectively manage genetics and increase profitability. This will be done through gathering and analyzing herd data to develop a more customized approach to genetic management for each operation.
What territory will you cover?
I will be working out of the ABS home office located in DeForest, Wisconsin, with occasional travel throughout the U.S.
What previous positions have you held?
I have held numerous internships throughout my college career for a variety of employers including ABS Global, Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin , Wilstar Holsteins and Lookout Holsteins and Jerseys.
After graduation, I was employed by a veterinarian where my responsibilities included assisting with embryo work, development of in vitro fertilization capabilities and management of a large population of high-end registered Holstein cattle.
What excites you most about working in your new role?
To develop new skills and share my knowledge and passion about dairy genetics to positively impact ABS Global and our customers. Many times a producerâs main concern in the area of A.I. and reproduction is simply getting cows pregnant, as this has a large impact on profitability.
While this is very important, I am very excited about the opportunity to get dairymen to look at their herd on a genetic level again by driving home the value of good genetics through the use of hard, real-world data collected from their own herd.
How will you be of most help to producers in your region or area of expertise?
Because of my diversity of experiences, I believe I can relate to any kind of producer and help them make decisions in relation to genetics that will be best for their operation.
I have shown cows, worked extensively with genomics and have experience on commercial farms, so no matter whether their goal is to make efficient commercial cows, extreme show animals, genomic giants or somewhere in between, I can help producers discover the best path for their operation.
Why did you choose this company?
Because of my interest in genetics, I have always wanted to work for an A.I. company. I interned for ABS in the past and really liked my experience. The company's values align with those of my own and I felt I could thrive here because of that.
What goals would you like to accomplish while in this position?
My main goal is to help producers discover the value of genetics and develop meaningful relationships with them helping them to become more profitable.
Through doing this with the various programs we are developing and offer here within our department, I hope to see ABS gain in market share in the U.S. and be the leading supplier of dairy cattle genetics in the U.S. and continue doing so around the world. PD
