Minnesota DHIA

06/26/2026

Congratulations to Scott & Michelle Herber of ShadyCrest Holsteins!

Congratulations to Scott & Michelle Herber of ShadyCrest Holsteins in Utica, Minnesota, on being recognized as a 2026 Platinum 7 lb Club Winner.
The 7 lb Club recognizes herds that produce exceptional levels of milk solids. To earn this recognition, herds must be nominated and verified to produce an average of 7 pounds of combined fat and protein per cow per day over an entire year.
We're proud to see a Minnesota DHIA herd receive this well-deserved recognition. Congratulations to the Herber family on this outstanding achievement.

06/24/2026

Last week, Minnesota DHIA staff had the opportunity to visit DRMS, (Dairy Records Management Systems), in Ames, Iowa, for hands-on training and a deeper look at the tools behind dairy herd records and reporting.

DRMS plays an important role in helping DHIA organizations turn milk testing data, herd records, and management information into useful reports and insights for dairy producers.

For Minnesota DHIA members, this continued training helps our team better support producers with record interpretation, software questions, herd management tools, and data-driven decision making. Whether it is understanding reports, navigating herd information, or finding ways to use individual cow data more effectively, our goal is to help members get more value from their DHIA records.

We are grateful for the opportunity to keep learning, strengthen our partnership with DRMS, and bring that knowledge back to better serve Minnesota DHIA members.

Pictured: Hannah Molitor, Dairy Technical Advisor; Paige Frenchick, Summer Intern; and Amy Loeschke, General Manager.

06/15/2026

Please join us in congratulating our 2026 Minnesota DHIA Field Excellence Award recipients!

The Field Excellence Award recognizes Field Technicians with 5 or more years of service who exemplify excellence in serving member herds and building trusted relationships with the dairy producers they work alongside each day.

Minnesota DHIA is proud to have field staff who choose to build long careers serving the dairy industry. Their experience, consistency, and commitment to producers are an important part of the value we provide to our members.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients:

• Pat Maciej, Holdingford • 36 Years
• Don Heise, Lake City • 20 Years
• Stephanie Tienter, Harmony • 13 Years
• Tracie Vikla, Lonsdale • 10 Years

Thank you, Pat, Don, Stephanie, and Tracie for your years of service and for the lasting impact you continue to make on DHIA members and Minnesota DHIA.

06/05/2026

Please join us in congratulating Kevin Cournoyer of Richmond, MN on receiving the Minnesota DHIA Rising Star Award!

This award recognizes Field Technicians with 2–5 years of service who have built a strong foundation at Minnesota DHIA through their reliability, continued growth, initiative, and commitment to supporting dairy producers and member herds.

Over the past several years, Kevin has become a valued member of our team through his dedication to his work and the relationships he has built with the farmers he serves. His commitment to providing quality service and being a trusted resource to producers reflects the values of Minnesota DHIA.

Thank you, Kevin, for everything you do for our members and our team. We appreciate your hard work and look forward to all that is ahead!

Amy Loeschke, General Manager, presented the award

06/01/2026

Happy World Milk Day and welcome to June Dairy Month!

Today, we raise a glass to the dairy farmers who work every day to produce high quality milk and care for their herds.

At Minnesota DHIA, we know there is a lot behind every glass of milk: healthy cows, informed management decisions, quality records, and the dedication of dairy farm families across our state.

Every milk sample tells a story, and we’re proud to help Minnesota dairy producers turn that information into insights that support confident herd decisions.

Here’s to World Milk Day, June Dairy Month, and the farmers who make it all possible!

05/28/2026

Please join us in congratulating Thompson Stelling of Rochester, MN on receiving the Minnesota DHIA Outstanding Rookie Award! Amy Loeschke, General manager, presented the award.

This award recognizes new Field Technicians in their first 2 years of work who demonstrate outstanding dedication, professionalism, and service to our member herds.

Thank you Thompson, for your hard work, positive attitude, and commitment to serving dairy producers. We are excited to have you as part of the Minnesota DHIA team and look forward to all that is ahead!

05/16/2026

05/14/2026

We love seeing Minnesota DHIA herds celebrated for the lasting value of strong cows and strong management.

This Dairy Star feature highlights Shadycrest Holsteins, whose herd includes a dozen cows on the Minnesota DHIA Lifetime Production list. What an accomplishment, and what a testament to the care, consistency, and cow longevity behind the numbers.

Congratulations to the Herber family on this well-deserved recognition!

https://dairystar.com/stories/old-girls-earning-their-keep,30907?fbclid=IwVERDUARy9_1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEek2YngsTyfrL87CcUZ-ydgmAf9qzH0zlvh_ephpFDRS_Dn0KoqgAEa4OEFFE_aem_twfsZU1zUqRtGTS9fvtT9Q

UTICA, Minn. — There is a group of old cows at Shadycrest Holsteins that has more than earned their keep. There are several cows from Scott and Michelle Herber’s dairy on the 2025 Minnesota …

04/08/2026

The deadline for the DAIRI Program has been extended to tomorrow, Thursday, April 9, at 5 p.m.

If you’re a Minnesota dairy farmer enrolled in USDA’s Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, you may qualify.

Visit mda.state.mn.us/dairi for more information and to apply.

We’ve extended the deadline for our DAIRI Program to Thursday, April 9 at 5 p.m. If you’re a Minnesota dairy farmer enrolled in USDA's Dairy Margin Coverage program, you may qualify for financial assistance. Visit www.mda.state.mn.us/dairi to apply 🐮