Dr. Robert Hagevoort, a native of The Netherlands, is an Associate Professor and Extension Dairy Specialist at New Mexico State University. Prior to joining NMSU in November of 2005, Dr. Hagevoort served for over 10 years as an independent dairy management consultant primarily in California’s southern and central Valley. As an Extension Specialist, he has been working closely with the dairy industry in New Mexico and across the West regarding many regulatory and environmental issues. In an effort to rebuild a dairy program, Hagevoort is one of the co-founders of the U.S. Dairy Education & Training Consortium, which provided the incentive for a re-establishment of a minor in dairy at NMSU. A key component of his current program is the development and implementation of a comprehensive dairy workforce training & safety program. A great deal of time is spent working individually with dairies and collectively with producer associations on implementing and evaluating comprehensive workforce training programs in dairy safety, animal handling, parlor performance, calf care, feeder performance, and hospital and maternity care. A recent direction, because of expressed producer needs, is a focus on the development of effective middle-manager training programs.
Staff Category: Safety Working Group
Brandon Treichler, DVM
Brandon is the quality control veterinarian with Select Milk Producers. In that role, Brandon’s practice focuses on consulting in the areas of Milk Quality, Animal Care, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Food Safety and Worker Safety.
Dr. Brandon Treichler grew up on a family dairy farm in eastern Pennsylvania. Prior to veterinary school, Dr. Treichler worked for a major milking equipment manufacturer, troubleshooting milk quality concerns and developing training and monitoring programs on dairies. After graduating from veterinary school, he joined a 13 doctor all dairy practice in Eastern Wisconsin, where he specialized in Milk Quality consulting within veterinary practice. He joined Select Milk Producers in 2015.
Brandon is active in the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) AALC where he serves as the Vice Chair, the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO) where he serves on the board of directors. Brandon also serves on the NMC (formerly the National Mastitis Council) board of directors. Dr. Treichler is very active in the National Milk Producers Federation, where he represents NMPF on the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Animal Agriculture Liaison Committee.
Rick Naerebout
Rick Naerebout grew up on his family’s dairy farm in McBain, Michigan, where he learned the value of hard work, integrity, and an appreciation for agriculture that can only be learned on the farm. He moved west with his family after the family dairy was sold in the late 90s and shortly thereafter began a family and his schooling at the College of Southern Idaho and Idaho State University. Naerebout has been married to his wife, Angi, for 17 years, and together they have three daughters.
Rick has been with the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, Inc. for over 15 years, assisting with the Association’s environmental, legal, economic, legislative and stewardship efforts. The IDA is a progressive Association that represents all of Idaho’s nearly 500 dairy farms. Recently named CEO of the Association, he manages the day-to- day operations of the organization, which includes IDA Consulting Services, a new division within IDA that provides on-farm services, through its highly skilled staff, ranging from nutrient management planning to dairy worker training and safety programs.