1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:09,060 Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast, your trusted source for insights and stories from the heart 2 00:00:09,060 --> 00:00:11,720 of the dairy industry. 3 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:18,600 In our 174th episode, hosts Bella and Douglas dive into the remarkable career of Bob Hagenow, 4 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:23,620 a true legend who has been transforming the dairy world for over four decades. From his 5 00:00:23,620 --> 00:00:28,740 roots on a Wisconsin Holstein farm to his current role as a regional business manager 6 00:00:28,740 --> 00:00:34,400 at Vita Plus Corporation, Bob's journey is a testament to the power of genuine connections 7 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:40,400 and servant leadership. Get ready for an inspiring conversation about innovation, mentorship, 8 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:45,360 and the future of dairy farming. Now, here are your hosts, Bella and Douglas. 9 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:50,600 Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast. I'm Bella and with me today is Douglas. We're excited 10 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:56,560 to share an inspiring story about a true legend in the dairy industry, Bob Hagenow. 11 00:00:56,560 --> 00:01:01,280 That's right, Bella. Bob Hagenow has been transforming the dairy industry for over four 12 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:06,760 decades through genuine connections and servant leadership. His story is a testament to the 13 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:09,920 power of helping others succeed. 14 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:15,080 Let's dive into Bob's journey. Douglas, can you give our listeners an overview of what 15 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:16,560 we'll be covering? 16 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:22,120 Certainly. We'll start with Bob's early years growing up on a Holstein farm in Wisconsin, 17 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:27,360 then explore his philosophy of service that's guided his career. We'll discuss his impact 18 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:33,480 at Vita Plus Corporation, his community involvement, and his dedication to mentoring the next generation 19 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:39,520 of dairy leaders. Finally, we'll look at Bob's vision for the future of the industry. 20 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:44,520 Sounds fascinating. Let's begin with Bob's background. Douglas, how has Bob's upbringing 21 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:46,080 shaped his career? 22 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:51,660 Bob grew up on a registered Holstein dairy farm in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. From 23 00:01:51,660 --> 00:01:56,680 an early age, he learned that success in this industry isn't just about the work you do, 24 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:03,160 but about the people you do it with. He was active in 4-H, FFA, and dairy judging programs, 25 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:05,720 which laid the foundation for his future career. 26 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:10,640 That's a great start. Can you tell us about Bob's education and early career? 27 00:02:10,640 --> 00:02:15,420 Bob received his bachelor's in dairy science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 28 00:02:15,420 --> 00:02:20,060 He began his career at the National Brown Swiss Association as an area field representative 29 00:02:20,060 --> 00:02:25,080 for two years before joining Vita Plus in 1987, where he's been an employee owner for 30 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,200 over 35 years now. 31 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:32,760 Impressive. Let's talk about Bob's career at Vita Plus. What roles has he held there? 32 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:37,280 Bob has grown from a nutritionist to sales manager, and now serves as a regional business 33 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:43,080 manager. He leads multiple teams and maintains key dealer partnerships while continuing to 34 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:48,400 provide nutrition and business consulting to farm customers. His impact reaches all 35 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:52,440 400-plus employee owners at Vita Plus. 36 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:56,880 That's quite a journey. What sets Bob apart in his approach to business? 37 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:01,920 What truly sets Bob apart is his unique ability to combine technical expertise with genuine 38 00:03:01,920 --> 00:03:07,840 care for the success of others. His philosophy is helping others become successful rather 39 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:14,000 than seeking personal recognition. This approach has created lasting positive impacts across 40 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:15,360 the dairy industry. 41 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:21,080 It sounds like Bob is deeply involved in industry education. Can you elaborate on that? 42 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:27,400 Absolutely. Bob regularly conducts farm team meetings and training sessions. He analyzes 43 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:33,340 complex data from feed software, TMR programs, and dairy management systems to help producers 44 00:03:33,340 --> 00:03:38,160 make informed decisions. He's also a frequent speaker at industry events and has written 45 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:44,180 articles for national dairy magazines on topics ranging from team management to farm transitions. 46 00:03:44,180 --> 00:03:48,760 Let's talk about Bob's involvement with the World Dairy Expo. What role has he played 47 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:49,760 there? 48 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:55,600 Bob has been a fixture at the World Dairy Expo for 40 years, serving as a ring steward. 49 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:59,920 He's also on the World Dairy Expo Board of Directors, serves on the executive committee 50 00:03:59,920 --> 00:04:05,300 as treasurer, and chairs the financial committee. His contributions have earned him the honor 51 00:04:05,300 --> 00:04:10,440 of being named World Dairy Expo's Friend of the Year. 52 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:15,360 That's an incredible commitment. Douglas, how important are volunteers like Bob to events 53 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:17,560 like the World Dairy Expo? 54 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:23,200 They're absolutely essential, Bella. The World Dairy Expo is a massive undertaking, and it 55 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:29,220 simply wouldn't be possible without dedicated volunteers like Bob. His 40-year commitment 56 00:04:29,220 --> 00:04:34,200 as a ring steward and his leadership on various committees have been crucial to the event's 57 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:35,200 success. 58 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:39,800 Bob seems to have a special focus on mentoring the next generation. Can you tell us more 59 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:40,800 about that? 60 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:47,100 Bob's commitment to mentoring is truly remarkable. He's written hundreds of letters of recommendation 61 00:04:47,100 --> 00:04:52,840 for students over the years, coached numerous dairy judging teams, and served as an advisor 62 00:04:52,840 --> 00:04:59,560 for various collegiate agricultural organizations. He's also been instrumental in developing 63 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:04,240 innovative personality assessment and team-building approaches for farm teams. 64 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:08,560 That's impressive. What recognition has Bob received for his efforts? 65 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:13,620 Bob was inducted into the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame in 2020 for his exceptional service 66 00:05:13,620 --> 00:05:20,280 to youth development. In 2006, he received the Honorary Recognition Award from the UW 67 00:05:20,280 --> 00:05:26,800 Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the highest honor bestowed by the college. 68 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:32,760 He's also one of only three employees in Vita Plus's 75-year history to receive the company's 69 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:35,220 Award of Excellence twice. 70 00:05:35,220 --> 00:05:40,080 As we wrap up, Douglas, what do you think is the most important lesson we can take from 71 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:41,960 Bob Hagano's career? 72 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:46,900 I think it all comes back to Bob's philosophy of helping others succeed. His approach to 73 00:05:46,900 --> 00:05:52,000 leadership, characterized by that firm handshake and genuine desire to make a difference, is 74 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:58,840 something we can all learn from. As Bob says, to reach your goals, help others succeed. 75 00:05:58,840 --> 00:06:03,160 Thank you, Douglas, for sharing these insights about Bob Hagano. 76 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:09,320 To our listeners, we hope this story has inspired you as much as it has us. Remember, in the 77 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:14,000 words of Bob Hagano, success in the dairy industry isn't just about milk production 78 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:18,840 or profit margins. It's about the lives we touch, the relationships we build, and the 79 00:06:18,840 --> 00:06:21,480 difference we make in our communities. 80 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:26,040 And the next time you shake hands with someone in the industry, remember Bob's example. Aim 81 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:32,160 for their soul, not just their hand. That's how lasting change happens. One handshake 82 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:33,240 at a time. 83 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:38,320 That's all for today's episode of the Bull Vine Podcast. If you enjoyed this story, please 84 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:43,960 share it with your fellow dairy farmers and industry colleagues. Until next time, I'm 85 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:44,960 Bella. 86 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:49,340 And I'm Douglas. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you on the next episode of the Bull 87 00:06:49,340 --> 00:06:50,640 Vine Podcast. 88 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:55,680 You've been listening to the Bull Vine Podcast. For more in-depth articles, industry news, 89 00:06:55,680 --> 00:07:02,480 and engaging content, visit our website at www.thebullvine.com. Don't forget to subscribe 90 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:07,740 to our podcast and join us next time for more captivating stories from the world of dairy. 91 00:07:07,740 --> 00:07:26,120 Until then, keep innovating, keep connecting, and keep moving the industry forward.