DAIRY ST R World Dairy Expo Special Edition
Second Section September 14, 2024
A nely choreographed dance trip. Expo travels take Expo“I’ll run a load out to New Paulson a month York and stage the truck at Greg Evans’ or Anthony Crothers’ to complete place,” Paulson said. “They’ll By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
MADISON, Wis — Allyn “Spud” Paulson holds an unusual title in the arena of all things World Dairy Expo — he is the rst person to begin traveling to the Alliant Energy Center and the last one to make it back home. “It gets a little hectic and sometimes trying to remember where I am, and where I need to be is a challenge,” Paulson said. “It’s just what I’ve done because I need to do it. In 2022, we hauled 102 head into Expo.” In mid-September, while the show world is gearing up for the All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Paulson begins the real-life game of Tetris that is his
take care of getting it ready for their trip. I’ll y out to RuAnn Genetics in Riverdale, California. They have their own straight deck, so I’ll haul the cows and their crew will follow with their tack.” In that trip, Paulson’s destination is his farmette near Rockford, Illinois, where the RuAnn Genetics cattle and crew spend a few days recovering from the three-day trip from California. “It’s peaceful for them there, the cows are box-stalled and can get out on dirt,” Paulson said. “The RuAnn crew stays in my house and takes care of their cows until it’s time for them to head to Expo.” While the California cows PHOTO SUBMITTED and crew settle in, Paulson will Arturo Perez (front, from leŌ), Allyn “Spud” Paulson, Gerardo Ochoa and Luis Roa; (back) Dennis keep busy making preparations Rowan, gather in 2022 in Rockford, Illinois. Paulson hauls animals to and from World Dairy Expo. Turn to PAULSON | Page 2
Changing practices for the better Schoepp speaks about family, conservation ahead of virtual farm tour By Meghan Kropp
meghan.k@dairystar.com
LODI, Wis. — Early October will be busy for Ron Schoepp, one of the managing members of Schoepp Farms LLC, as he will be hosting a virtual and an onsite farm tour during this year’s World Dairy Expo. The rst is the virtual farm tour at Expo, which will begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. “It’s kind of cool to have this opportunity,” Schoepp said. “It’s a oncein-a-lifetime thing. You’ve got to do it when you get that chance.” Schoepp said Expo offers something for everyone, ranging from products and tools to information on services to cattle shows. He said the theme this year is “The Golden Age” and he hopes that tours like the ones he will be giving can help keep generational interest in farming. “My dad has had the honor of working with almost all of his grand-
sons for a summer,” he said. “I think there was an 11-year span on our farm when at least one of his grandsons summered for him. My daughters worked with him, too.” Schoepp said his goal for the virtual and onsite tours is to help people change their practices for the better by showing some of the many facets of Schoepp Farms. “You have to be able to raise your family. You have to be able to make money doing it,” Schoepp said. “I know what we’re doing, you can make a living doing it.” According to the Expo website, Schoepp Farms is a grazing and cash grain operation with more than 400 acres of corn, soybeans, winter wheat and alfalfa, as well as 110 acres of grass pasture. Schoepp and his family raise 200 dairy heifers and 30-50 dry cows while focusing on conservation. “I really think Wisconsin is as good as anybody in conservation and conservation collaboration, being able to work with so many different groups,” he said. “I really think we are ahead of the game.” Conservation for his farm includes clean water, clean air and caring about the soil, Schoepp said. “I know a lot of people still aren’t really concerned about that,” he said. Turn to SCHOEPP | Page 5
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Ron Schoepp (from leŌ) sits on a corn planter with his dad, Dave, and his son, Noah near Lodi, Wisconsin. The Schoepps will be hosƟng a virtual and an onsite farm tour during this year’s World Dairy Expo.