Kris found his love for the dairy industry growing up on his grandparents dairy farm in Northern Illinois.
As a ‘04 UW-Platteville graduate with a Bachelors in Dairy Science, he partnered with his wife, Chelsea, and her family at Zirbel Dairy Farms in De Pere, WI. While overseeing the production side of the dairy, Kris specializes in fresh cow care where he can be found cow-side almost every morning. Kris enjoys the challenges of an ever-changing industry and keeps up to date with markets, current consumer concerns, and exploring new practices that will keep the dairy viable for generations to come. Kris and Chelsea proudly involve their kids, Owen (13), Olivia (10) and Evelyn (8), in any way possible on the farm.
Kris represents Foremost Farms USA as vice-chair on the FARM advisory board.
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Steve Maddox is an owner of Ruann and Maddox Dairy in California with a combined her of 4,500 cows. He is a third-generation dairy farmer with a pedigree ranking him and his dairy operation as one of the best of the best. An unselfish leader, Maddox had dedicated many years serving the dairy industry he loves while building a strong family business.
Steve’s commitment to dairying extends beyond his own dairy operation and into other sectors of the dairy industry. He was a member of the initial board of directors for California Dairies, Inc., to which both RuAnn and Maddox Dairies continue to ship milk, and he served as board secretary for 10 years.
He also assisted in establishing DairyAmerica Inc., a producer-owned dairy cooperative in the U.S., formed to supply quality dairy ingredients both nationally and internationally. During his time with the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) was created. In addition, he plays integral parts in the Dairy Sustainability Alliance, National Dairy Council and Dairy Management Inc.
Nathan Chittenden farms alongside his two brothers and his parents at Dutch Hollow Farm LLC, in Schodack Landing NY. Starting with a small herd of 55 registered Jerseys in 1976, the family has grown steadily through internal growth to the herd of 800 today. The families commitment to the registered Jersey breed as well as their public outreach has earned them a spot in the National Dairy Shrine. After receiving his BS in Animal Science at Cornell in 2000, Nate returned home to the family farm where he married his wife Jill. Today they have 3 children, Zachary, Jonathan, and Anna. In addition to managing the calves and young heifers, Nathan has also been active as a 4H leader and past president and Vice President of the local board of directors of Cooperative Extension. Nathan has also served as President and Vice President of the YC’s of his Coop, Agrimark.
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Karen and her husband, Norman Jordan, Jr. own and operate Brush Creek Swiss Farms. Norman is third generation dairy farmer and Norman and Karen have operated the all registered Brown Swiss herd for over 34 years. Current herd size is 90 mature cows and they raise all of their replacement animals. Karen also operates Large Animal Veterinary Services with most of her veterinary career focused on dairy herd health.
Karen and Norman are producer members with Dairy Farmers of America where Karen serves on the Southeast Area Council. Karen is chair of the NMPF Animal Health and Wellbeing Committee and has served as chair of the Technical Writing Group of the NMPF National Dairy FARM Program. Karen has also served on the technical writing committee of the Milk and Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention: Producer Manual of Best Management Practices. She has also been actively involved in the North Carolina Dairy Biosecurity efforts and active in the Mid Atlantic Secure Milk Supply efforts. In the past she has also represented NMPF on the Animal Agriculture Liaison Committee of the American Veterinary Medical Association. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Institute for Animal Agriculture.
Dr. Marcia Endres is a Professor and the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Minnesota. She holds an extension and research appointment. Her research team has studied how various housing and management systems can influence health, welfare and performance of dairy cattle.
In recent years, Dr. Endres and her team have also conducted research and outreach on precision dairy technologies, including robotic milking systems, automated milk feeders and individual cow behavior sensors. She has published 58 peer reviewed research articles, and numerous abstracts, proceedings, and popular press articles, in addition to 7 book chapters and being the editor for the upcoming book “Understanding the Behavior and Improving the Welfare of Dairy Cattle”.
She teaches two classes in dairy herd management and coaches the University of Minnesota Dairy Challenge teams. Dr. Endres serves as director and committee chair on the PAACO (Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization) Board (the national organization that certifies animal welfare audits and auditors) and recently served as President of the Dairy Cattle Welfare Council. In addition, Dr. Endres has chaired US and International Precision Dairy Conference Planning Committees and serves as chair of the International Precision Dairy Farming Association. Dr. Endres received her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, M.S. from Iowa State University, and Veterinary Medicine degree from University of Parana, Brazil.
Paul was born and raised on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, and earned his bachelors of science in animal science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After working for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Paul found his way to Foremost Farms USA, where he serves as procurement and regulatory affairs manager. In addition to working with field representatives and members in the Mideast region on animal care and milk quality, Paul is a certified FARM Program trainer for the evaluators at Foremost Farms.
Nina is a professor and chair of Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Industrial Research in Animal Welfare at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia. She is recognized internationally for her research on care and housing for cattle. Because of her work as an educator on farm animal care, the impact of her research can now be seen on farms around the world.
Antone is the director of farm practices for Northwest Dairy Assoc., directing second- and third-party animal care evaluations. In addition to his duties at Northwest, he serves on the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shippers’ Executive Board, Council III Committee, and the Liaison and Third Party Certification Committee. He is a member of the National Milk Producers Federation’s Animal Health and Well-Being Committee and chairs NMPF’s Regulatory Advisory Committee. He is also a member of U.S. Animal Health Association’s Animal Welfare Committee, the Washington State Dairy Industry Producer Advisory Committee and the Oregon Department of Agriculture Regulatory Advisory Committee.
Antone grew up on a dairy farm in Idaho. He holds two bachelors of science degrees in ag economics and animal science from Brigham Young University, as well as an MBA from the City University of Seattle. He is actively involved with his brothers on the home farm growing alfalfa, oats and barley, and running a small cow calf operation.
