Dr. Michelle Windle Forage products & dairy technical service specialist Madison, Wisconsin Vita Plus

What are your new responsibilities?
My job includes a wide range of responsibilities. Half of my time is spent focusing on the research and development of forage products, and the other half is split between dairy research, new product investigation, and dairy technical services.

I’ll work with Vita Plus and dealer staff as well as directly with producers to assist with on-farm troubleshooting of forages and dairy nutrition issues. I’ll also provide support for non-core species, which include animals other than cattle, swine and equine.

What territory will you cover?
I am based in our Madison office, but will travel throughout the Midwest to work with Vita Plus staff, dealers and producers.

Please describe your agricultural background.
I was raised in suburban central New Jersey, not on a farm. I probably inherited my “dairy genes” from my great-grandfather who had a dairy farm, but I did not get much on-farm experience until my undergraduate and graduate years at the University of Delaware.

As an undergraduate, one of my jobs was milking cows. I also worked in a forage laboratory, performing dairy experiments. In graduate school, I conducted numerous experiments with the University of Delaware dairy herd and with various forages.

What education are you bringing with you to this position?
I attended the University of Delaware, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in animal sciences and my master’s degree in animal sciences with a thesis on treatments for moderate acidosis. I continued there to earn my Ph.D. in animal and food science, specializing in dairy and forage research. My thesis research centered on the use of a protease to improve starch digestibility earlier in the ensiling process.

What previous positions have you held?
I have had many interesting, unique and rewarding jobs. These ranged from waitress, theater costume seamstress, security guard, museum assistant, restaurant chef, research assistant in a plant science laboratory, and laboratory technician in an entomology and wildlife conservation laboratory.

My most recent job – the one that was most impactful on my career - was as a research assistant during graduate school. Working in the laboratory of Dr. Limin Kung Jr., I received most of my scientific training in forage science and dairy science. While there, I conducted numerous and varied experiments on different forages, forage products and dairy cows.

Who has had the biggest impact on your career?
Without hesitation, the person who has made the biggest impact on my career has been my academic and research advisor, Dr. Limin Kung Jr., at the University of Delaware Department of Animal Sciences. He has been so much more than an academic advisor to me, acting as a mentor, father figure and good friend.

He has always pushed me to learn more, try harder and better myself. He facilitated my exposure to the dairy industry and forage sciences. He expected high quality work from me and taught me a tremendous work ethic with respect to scientific research.

How will you be of most help to producers in your region or area of expertise?
I look forward to conducting field trials and interpreting scientific data and studies. This company offers a unique perspective because we have the opportunity to work with many different kinds of farms.

With my scientific background, I can help to find and offer timely solutions for challenges that might arise, collaborating with both staff and farmers to produce better quality forages and maintain healthier herds. These solutions may come from scientific trials that have already been performed or through field trials that I can help to initiate.

Why did you choose this company?
I chose to work here because it maintains a core set of values consistent with my own. Those values guide everything the company does as a business, both internally and with others. This company stood out because it is an employee-owned company and I saw an obvious difference in the attitudes of the employees due to that ownership.

This company is a growing company that is consistently at the forefront of scientific research and discovery, and it offers employees limitless opportunities for growth and learning.

What goals would you like to accomplish while in this position?
My goal is to help farmers produce the best quality silage and maintain the healthiest animals possible, while adding to the growing body of knowledge and research for the future of agriculture.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In five years, I see myself as an integral part of both the forages and dairy technical services here, leading outreach and communication of research that will benefit dairy farmers. Historically, my focus has been on scientific data and terminology. I see myself being more fluent in the practical farming aspect of this job. I hope to see myself as a valuable, utilized resource for Vita Plus staff, dealers and customers. PD