Dairy farming and the impact it has on youth in a variety of ways are highlighted on today’s episode from stories of the latest Dairy Star issue. Conversations include Mark Tauscher, former Green Bay Packers and University of Wisconsin-Madison offensive lineman, former Iowa Dairy Princess joining her family’s farm as fifth generation and how the reality TV show, “The Hatcher Family Dairy,” featured on Disney+ and the National Geographic platform has reached viewers around the world. Two additional conversations are also featured, including a Wisconsin store created by a former dairy farmer and South Dakota’s FFA state sentinel experiences leading on and off the farm.

We begin with Mark Tauscher’s journey from the farm field to the football field. He grew up on his parents’ Wood County dairy farm near Milladore, Wisconsin, where the family milked around 70 cows, until the herd was sold in 1990. Tauscher never dreamed he would one day cap off an 11-year career with the Green Bay Packers, part of a team that brought the coveted Lombardi Trophy home to Wisconsin. Next, we hear from former Iowa Dairy Princess Ashley Elsbernd, who is returning as the fifth generation of her family’s farm. Alongside her father, Peter and grandfather, Ray, the family is transitioning the farm to the next generation. Ashley has taken control of her role managing the youngstock, using what she learned to continue to evolve the approach. Then, we hear Max Hart, who opened Milkhouse Market in 2024. Hart grew up milking cows on the family farm, but in 2011, life changed when his father passed away in a motorcycle accident. It took four years to bring cows back to the barn, and Hart and his mother now raise and finish a herd of 25 Angus for beef production. Meat from the Hart farm is available for purchase at the Milkhouse Market, in addition to cheeses from creameries around the state. With National FFA week recently celebrated, we also hear from South Dakota FFA State Sentinel Skyler Plucker. Growing up on a dairy farm taught Plucker how to work with various personalities and solve problems. He uses those characteristics when working with FFA members and the officer team. The episode concludes with the Hatcher family, featured in the latest Dairy Star issue’s Dairying Across America. Their dairy farm and veterinary business was the focus of a show on Disney+ and the National Geographic platform nearly five years ago. For the family, success meant inspiring even one viewer to consider farming or veterinary medicine. On today’s episode, the reflect on the filming process and the growth of their on-farm creamery.

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This episode is sponsored by Darrell Crapp at Big Iron Auctions.