Accelerated Genetics

The 2007 Young Producer Summer Meltdown was a sizzling hot event with learning, fellowship and food. A large group of producers and their families from across Wisconsin, Minnesota and even one couple from Michigan participated in the event held in the rolling hills of Montfort and Livingston, Wis.

The day kicked off at 10 a.m. at the Lepeska Dairy owned and operated by Jim and Linda Lepeska along with their children Erika, Kristen and Ryan. The feature of the tour was their Compost Bedding Pack Barn that was built in 2005. “Cows are lasting longer simply due to them being more comfortable, we have quite a few older cows that simply wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the Compost Barn,” commented Erika Lepeska. The young producers at the event were excited to learn about the successful dairy and asked numerous questions.

Following the farm tour producers drove a short distance to the Memorial Park in Livingston, Wis. for a lunch break of Fried Chicken and all the fixings. This was a great chance for all to sit and visit with one another. Before leaving the park, producers and their families got to go head-to-head with the Ag Olympics, where everyone who participated ended up a winner, but it was very competitive.

After lunch producers headed to Trelay Seeds located just down the road from the park. Here producers learned the history, business structure and the long success Trelay Seeds has had directly from the Biddick Family. Trelay Seeds has been firmly planted in the seed business for 101 years in the Upper Midwest. They set a high standard in the seed industry providing customers superior regional genetics. In 1983 the company experimented with popcorn and thus born Rural Route 1 Popcorn and an opportunity for them to diversify. Producers got to taste the products first had at the shop located on Hwy. 18 in Montfort, Wis. The flavors available beyond the white and yellow popcorn include the favorites of cheese (many varieties), carmel, Almond K’Nuckle (medley of almonds and white fudge) and for the sweet lovers they had a Cherry Cheesecake, plus many other flavors. Over all it was a fun-filled day of learning, fellowship and food.

Upcoming young producer activities include the Fall Conference – October 27-28, 2007 in Dodgeville, Wis. at the House on the Rock Inn; the Winter Get-Away – February 2-3, 2008 in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. at the Kalahari Resort and Waterpark; and the Leadership Conference – March 29-30, 2008 in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. at the Wintergreen Resort and Conference Center.

The Young Producer Program was designed to help producers develop friendships, build leadership qualities and strengthen communication skills through an educational, supportive network in a fun environment. As a cooperative, Accelerated Genetics understands the importance of producer leadership. The Young Producer Program was developed to help build leaders for the future of the cooperative and all of agriculture. For more information about the Young Producer Program call 1-800-451-9275 or email kstanek@accelgen.com.