WEBVTT 00:00:10.220 --> 00:00:14.039 Creeping across the pasture land. Got dirt on 00:00:14.039 --> 00:00:18.719 the boots and a working hand. From the milk house 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:24.000 home to the auction call. These are the folks 00:00:24.000 --> 00:01:03.109 standing strong and tall. Yeah, this is... Hey 00:01:03.109 --> 00:01:05.049 everyone, and welcome back to the Bullvine Podcast. 00:01:05.250 --> 00:01:07.549 I'm your host, and today I've got a story that's 00:01:07.549 --> 00:01:09.430 going to completely change how you think about 00:01:09.430 --> 00:01:12.069 agricultural advocacy. Forget everything you 00:01:12.069 --> 00:01:14.569 know about feel -good farm PR and county fair 00:01:14.569 --> 00:01:17.489 cheerleading. I'm talking about Sarah Hagenow, 00:01:17.590 --> 00:01:20.670 Wisconsin's 78th Alice in Dairyland, and her 00:01:20.670 --> 00:01:23.849 data -driven approach. This isn't your grandmother's 00:01:23.849 --> 00:01:26.790 agricultural ambassador story, folks. This is 00:01:26.790 --> 00:01:29.390 about turning sustainability metrics into profit 00:01:29.390 --> 00:01:31.730 margins. and transforming show ring evaluation 00:01:31.730 --> 00:01:35.090 skills into market positioning advantages that 00:01:35.090 --> 00:01:39.010 secure premium processor contracts. Let me paint 00:01:39.010 --> 00:01:43.170 you a picture. It's 2016, and 13 -year -old Sarah 00:01:43.170 --> 00:01:46.230 Hagenow is walking through the barn at City Slickers 00:01:46.230 --> 00:01:49.709 Farm in Cross Plains, Wisconsin. The morning 00:01:49.709 --> 00:01:52.209 light is filtering through those dusty barn windows, 00:01:52.409 --> 00:01:55.189 and she's approaching a pen holding a brown Swiss 00:01:55.189 --> 00:01:58.920 heifer named Sassy. Now, sassy isn't your typical 00:01:58.920 --> 00:02:01.840 show -stopping heifer. This girl had shattered 00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:04.819 her leg as a calf. Talk about overcoming adversity. 00:02:05.280 --> 00:02:07.959 She was, in Sarah's own words, going to fall 00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:11.159 about middle of the pack at each show. But here's 00:02:11.159 --> 00:02:14.180 the thing. What Sarah couldn't have known in 00:02:14.180 --> 00:02:17.000 that moment was that this humble, middle -of 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:19.240 -the -pack heifer was about to become the catalyst 00:02:19.240 --> 00:02:23.039 for a journey that would make history. Fast forward 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:26.090 to today. and Sarah is half of the first sister 00:02:26.090 --> 00:02:28.669 pair to ever hold the title of Alice in Dairyland. 00:02:29.229 --> 00:02:32.469 But more importantly, she's standing at the intersection 00:02:32.469 --> 00:02:35.569 of tradition and transformation, armed with a 00:02:35.569 --> 00:02:38.610 business degree, a global perspective, and an 00:02:38.610 --> 00:02:41.610 unshakable belief that agriculture's future belongs 00:02:41.610 --> 00:02:44.729 to those who can speak both barn language and 00:02:44.729 --> 00:02:48.330 boardroom language. Now, let me tell you why 00:02:48.330 --> 00:02:51.030 Sarah's different from the 76 women who came 00:02:51.030 --> 00:02:54.270 before her. The Alice in Dairyland program has 00:02:54.270 --> 00:02:57.009 a rich history. We even had Julia Nunes serve 00:02:57.009 --> 00:02:59.449 two consecutive years due to COVID restrictions. 00:02:59.750 --> 00:03:02.830 But Sarah? She's bringing something unprecedented 00:03:02.830 --> 00:03:06.150 to the table. Ashley was a little bit more into 00:03:06.150 --> 00:03:08.250 showing horses, where I went down the cattle 00:03:08.250 --> 00:03:11.469 path, Sarah explains, talking about her sister 00:03:11.469 --> 00:03:15.569 Ashley, who served as the 76th Alice. In school, 00:03:15.810 --> 00:03:18.389 we've had different interests as well. I took 00:03:18.389 --> 00:03:20.520 a little bit more of the business path. and she 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:23.500 took more of the marketing path. This wasn't 00:03:23.500 --> 00:03:26.419 some casual decision, folks. This was strategic. 00:03:26.919 --> 00:03:30.099 While traditional Alice candidates focus on communications 00:03:30.099 --> 00:03:33.840 and public relations, Sarah brings a deep understanding 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:36.659 of commodity markets, supply chain logistics, 00:03:36.979 --> 00:03:39.919 and the economic forces that actually drive agricultural 00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:43.500 decisions. Her comfort with agriculture extends 00:03:43.500 --> 00:03:46.520 way beyond show ring placings to the real decisions 00:03:46.520 --> 00:03:49.830 driving modern dairy operations. Here's where 00:03:49.830 --> 00:03:52.590 it gets interesting. Sarah's agricultural heritage 00:03:52.590 --> 00:03:55.250 didn't start on some family farm with generations 00:03:55.250 --> 00:03:58.550 of tradition. It started in the scientific precision 00:03:58.550 --> 00:04:01.889 of animal nutrition. Her father, Bob Hagenow, 00:04:02.009 --> 00:04:05.330 works as a feed nutritionist at Vita Plus, that 00:04:05.330 --> 00:04:07.750 Madison -based company that's been building its 00:04:07.750 --> 00:04:10.370 reputation on cutting -edge technology and nutrition 00:04:10.370 --> 00:04:14.909 science since 1948. Picture this. Sarah's growing 00:04:14.909 --> 00:04:17.370 up in a household where dinner table conversations 00:04:17.370 --> 00:04:20.509 aren't about the weather or local gossip. They're 00:04:20.509 --> 00:04:23.250 about dairy cattle, farmers, feed conversion 00:04:23.250 --> 00:04:26.889 efficiency, and component optimization. Bob's 00:04:26.889 --> 00:04:29.569 influence runs deeper than most people realize. 00:04:29.910 --> 00:04:33.069 As a regional business manager at Vita Plus with 00:04:33.069 --> 00:04:35.810 nearly four decades of experience, he's been 00:04:35.810 --> 00:04:38.509 leading teams, maintaining key dealer partnerships, 00:04:38.870 --> 00:04:41.269 and providing nutrition and business consulting 00:04:41.269 --> 00:04:44.500 to farm customers. This guy has significantly 00:04:44.500 --> 00:04:47.300 impacted today's producers through company -led 00:04:47.300 --> 00:04:50.079 research projects covering amino acid nutrition, 00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:53.600 housing developments, forage management, and 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:57.420 automated milking system technology. So when 00:04:57.420 --> 00:04:59.800 Sarah talks about agricultural issues with producers, 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:02.519 it stems from someone raised in an environment 00:05:02.519 --> 00:05:04.959 where agricultural discussions were grounded 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:08.060 in practical outcomes that directly impact the 00:05:08.060 --> 00:05:10.959 farm's bottom line. But here's the most telling 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:14.250 aspect of Sarah's story. It's not her family's 00:05:14.250 --> 00:05:17.290 influence that defines her. It's what she chose 00:05:17.290 --> 00:05:22.470 to build with it. So we're back to 2016 and that 00:05:22.470 --> 00:05:25.269 pivotal moment with Sassy. Mike Hellenbrand from 00:05:25.269 --> 00:05:28.209 City Slickers Farm approaches Sarah about exhibiting 00:05:28.209 --> 00:05:31.129 this heifer. For Sarah, who had been leasing 00:05:31.129 --> 00:05:34.829 cattle from Langer Dairy Farm since 2013, this 00:05:34.829 --> 00:05:37.329 wasn't just an opportunity. It was a character 00:05:37.329 --> 00:05:40.329 test that would define her entire approach to 00:05:40.329 --> 00:05:43.879 agricultural business. Mike Helenbrand had built 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:46.740 his reputation on meticulous care and incredible 00:05:46.740 --> 00:05:50.019 attention to detail. His trademark became incredible 00:05:50.019 --> 00:05:53.019 care from embryo to getting a healthy calf on 00:05:53.019 --> 00:05:55.439 the ground that was ready to thrive at its next 00:05:55.439 --> 00:05:58.500 home, as Bob Hagenow recalls from working with 00:05:58.500 --> 00:06:02.000 Mike to establish feeding programs. The feeling 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:04.120 that Mike had put his trust in me to take on 00:06:04.120 --> 00:06:06.819 this project and be responsible for this heifer 00:06:06.819 --> 00:06:09.560 made me feel very capable and proud of the work 00:06:09.560 --> 00:06:13.069 I was doing, Sarah remembers. and you can still 00:06:13.069 --> 00:06:15.930 hear the wonder of that 13 -year -old in her 00:06:15.930 --> 00:06:20.069 voice. Now, Sassy wasn't glamorous. She wasn't 00:06:20.069 --> 00:06:22.470 going to win championships. But working through 00:06:22.470 --> 00:06:24.730 the methodical process of preparing an animal 00:06:24.730 --> 00:06:27.009 that had overcome adversity, Sarah discovered 00:06:27.009 --> 00:06:30.370 something profound. Success wasn't measured solely 00:06:30.370 --> 00:06:34.250 in purple ribbons. It was built on trust, responsibility, 00:06:34.410 --> 00:06:37.310 and the patient work of turning potential into 00:06:37.310 --> 00:06:40.980 performance. The real validation came after the 00:06:40.980 --> 00:06:45.079 2016 show season at World Dairy Expo. Mike Hellenbrand 00:06:45.079 --> 00:06:47.939 and his partners, Ken Main and Peter Vail, made 00:06:47.939 --> 00:06:50.339 a decision that changed Sarah's trajectory forever. 00:06:50.699 --> 00:06:54.279 They gifted her half -ownership in Sassy. Looking 00:06:54.279 --> 00:06:56.980 back, it probably doesn't seem that significant 00:06:56.980 --> 00:07:00.259 or monumental to have half -ownership in a heifer 00:07:00.259 --> 00:07:03.319 that was just a 4 -H project, Sarah reflects. 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:06.459 However, it felt like the biggest accomplishment 00:07:06.459 --> 00:07:09.290 and meant the world to me. From a girl who could 00:07:09.290 --> 00:07:11.509 only dream of being involved in the industry, 00:07:11.709 --> 00:07:15.209 mall, to finally having my name on a paper, I 00:07:15.209 --> 00:07:17.329 can remember feeling like I had somewhat made 00:07:17.329 --> 00:07:21.389 it and a new door had opened. That door led to 00:07:21.389 --> 00:07:24.829 breeding her first heifer from Sassy, Sarbo Wisdom 00:07:24.829 --> 00:07:27.910 Sassafras, with the prefix name being a tribute 00:07:27.910 --> 00:07:31.790 to Sarah and her father Bob. When Sassafras won 00:07:31.790 --> 00:07:34.069 the champion bred and owned Brown Swiss heifer 00:07:34.069 --> 00:07:37.149 at the 2018 Wisconsin State Fair Junior Dairy 00:07:37.149 --> 00:07:39.860 Show, it represented the ultimate entrepreneurial 00:07:39.860 --> 00:07:42.980 milestone, creating a new asset from a previous 00:07:42.980 --> 00:07:46.300 investment. For you dairy producers listening, 00:07:46.500 --> 00:07:49.720 Sarah's journey from lease to ownership to genetic 00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:52.339 improvement mirrors the exact same strategic 00:07:52.339 --> 00:07:55.120 thinking that drives successful farm expansion 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:58.879 and herd development decisions. Sound business 00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:01.100 principles apply whether you're managing one 00:08:01.100 --> 00:08:03.980 heifer or a thousand cow operation. The skills 00:08:03.980 --> 00:08:06.699 Sarah learned with SASE became invaluable when 00:08:06.699 --> 00:08:08.779 she joined the University of Minnesota's dairy 00:08:08.779 --> 00:08:12.220 cattle judging team. Participating in dairy cattle 00:08:12.220 --> 00:08:14.879 judging was perhaps the most influential activity 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:17.680 I did as a youth to develop my public speaking 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:21.500 and critical thinking skills, she explains. Standing 00:08:21.500 --> 00:08:24.199 in those Minnesota judging rings, Sarah practiced 00:08:24.199 --> 00:08:26.639 a discipline that requires a rigorous analytical 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:32.019 process. Observation, analysis, decision, articulation. 00:08:32.220 --> 00:08:35.009 In the show ring, Judges must rank four animals 00:08:35.009 --> 00:08:37.470 comparatively while weighing dozens of dairy 00:08:37.470 --> 00:08:40.590 characteristics, frame, body capacity, and mammary 00:08:40.590 --> 00:08:43.070 system attributes. But the real test comes in 00:08:43.070 --> 00:08:46.049 giving reasons, a formal, timed public speech 00:08:46.049 --> 00:08:49.149 defending placings with precise, logical, and 00:08:49.149 --> 00:08:52.269 persuasive language. I learned to identify precise 00:08:52.269 --> 00:08:54.830 details and articulate those points with clarity 00:08:54.830 --> 00:08:59.669 and confidence, Sarah explains. These same analytical 00:08:59.669 --> 00:09:03.039 skills translate directly to helping farm families 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:06.299 navigate difficult conversations about expansion 00:09:06.299 --> 00:09:09.840 financing with lenders, sustainability initiatives 00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:12.700 with regulators, or succession planning with 00:09:12.700 --> 00:09:15.659 the next generation. Situations where precise 00:09:15.659 --> 00:09:18.879 communication and logical reasoning can mean 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:21.440 the difference between securing resources and 00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:25.419 losing opportunities. Here's where Sarah's story 00:09:25.419 --> 00:09:28.580 takes an international turn. In January 2024, 00:09:29.370 --> 00:09:31.809 She embarked on a study abroad program in Germany, 00:09:31.929 --> 00:09:34.970 focusing on renewable energy and climate smart 00:09:34.970 --> 00:09:37.929 technologies. The program exposed her to the 00:09:37.929 --> 00:09:40.710 integrated, community -based approach to sustainability 00:09:40.710 --> 00:09:43.970 practiced in the town of Saerbeck, where municipal 00:09:43.970 --> 00:09:46.950 renewable energy systems, geothermal heating, 00:09:47.110 --> 00:09:50.149 and agricultural methane digesters work together 00:09:50.149 --> 00:09:53.480 with comprehensive public education. Standing 00:09:53.480 --> 00:09:55.840 in the bioenergy park in Saerbeck, witnessing 00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:58.779 community collaboration that transformed a former 00:09:58.779 --> 00:10:01.519 German ammunition base into a renewable energy 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:05.519 hub, Sarah gained what she calls diplomatic intelligence. 00:10:06.100 --> 00:10:09.179 I was also just in awe of the communal support 00:10:09.179 --> 00:10:12.500 behind such a large project. Farmers, civilians, 00:10:12.899 --> 00:10:15.279 businesses, schools, and leaders have all come 00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:17.799 together to realize this project, she recalls. 00:10:17.899 --> 00:10:20.809 But here's the brilliant part. Sarah didn't come 00:10:20.809 --> 00:10:23.230 back from Germany as some convert to European 00:10:23.230 --> 00:10:26.110 models. Walking through Saerbeck's renewable 00:10:26.110 --> 00:10:29.450 energy park, she found herself thinking not about 00:10:29.450 --> 00:10:32.470 what America should copy, but about what Wisconsin 00:10:32.470 --> 00:10:35.889 farmers were already doing right and how to articulate 00:10:35.889 --> 00:10:38.710 that difference to skeptical consumers back home. 00:10:39.070 --> 00:10:41.649 She developed this sophisticated understanding 00:10:41.649 --> 00:10:45.350 of context -specific solutions. What works for 00:10:45.350 --> 00:10:48.169 Europe works for them because of their specific 00:10:48.169 --> 00:10:51.340 societal needs and historical development and 00:10:51.340 --> 00:10:53.860 what works in the United States is different 00:10:53.860 --> 00:10:56.259 and fitting for us because of our own societal 00:10:56.259 --> 00:11:00.980 needs. This nuanced perspective transforms potentially 00:11:00.980 --> 00:11:03.679 defensive conversations about American agriculture 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:06.720 into sophisticated discussions about tailored 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:09.720 approaches, crucial for an ambassador representing 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:12.740 Wisconsin agriculture on the global stage and 00:11:12.740 --> 00:11:15.159 equally valuable for dairy producers who need 00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:17.840 to explain their practices to neighbors and community 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:22.340 members. While most agricultural advocates focus 00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:25.100 on either farm -level production or consumer 00:11:25.100 --> 00:11:28.000 -facing marketing, Sarah's internship with Viking 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:30.879 Dairy Company gave her something rare, insight 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:33.279 into what she calls the middle of the supply 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:36.639 chain. The nitty -gritty of markets, purchasing, 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:40.419 economics, and logistically moving products excited 00:11:40.419 --> 00:11:43.080 me because this area is such a critical part 00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:46.019 of the whole that gets food to consumers, Sarah 00:11:46.019 --> 00:11:48.850 says. and you can hear the genuine enthusiasm 00:11:48.850 --> 00:11:52.529 in her voice. Picture Sarah standing in the Viking 00:11:52.529 --> 00:11:55.009 dairy warehouse that first morning, watching 00:11:55.009 --> 00:11:57.730 pallets move through complex logistical arrangements, 00:11:58.129 --> 00:12:00.710 finally understanding the intricate dance of 00:12:00.710 --> 00:12:03.269 transactions that transform farm commodities 00:12:03.269 --> 00:12:06.590 into consumer products. This knowledge helps 00:12:06.590 --> 00:12:09.210 her explain to dairy producers how their farm 00:12:09.210 --> 00:12:12.129 gate decisions ripple through entire supply chains. 00:12:12.830 --> 00:12:16.340 But her summer 2024 internship with the Animal 00:12:16.340 --> 00:12:18.759 Agriculture Alliance in Arlington, Virginia, 00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:22.139 fundamentally reshaped her understanding of agricultural 00:12:22.139 --> 00:12:26.240 advocacy. Through my work at the Animal Ag Alliance, 00:12:26.539 --> 00:12:29.159 my preconceptions of advocacy were challenged 00:12:29.159 --> 00:12:32.000 by showing me that advocacy extends much further 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:34.440 beyond those personal conversations at events, 00:12:34.620 --> 00:12:38.340 she reflects. Walking into those Arlington offices, 00:12:38.940 --> 00:12:41.419 Sarah's eyes were opened to the strategic landscape 00:12:41.419 --> 00:12:44.039 of engaging restaurant stakeholders, grocery 00:12:44.039 --> 00:12:47.360 chains, food influencers, and nutrition organizations, 00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:51.039 the crucial gatekeepers who shape food system 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:54.500 narratives. I realized that this group is critical 00:12:54.500 --> 00:12:57.080 in supporting farmers, processors, and ranchers 00:12:57.080 --> 00:13:00.139 by buying or promoting certain foods, she discovered. 00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:03.600 This experience taught her that modern agricultural 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:06.919 advocacy requires understanding not just what 00:13:06.919 --> 00:13:09.580 farmers do, but how their work connects to the 00:13:09.580 --> 00:13:13.019 broader food system. The lessons learned in Sassy's 00:13:13.019 --> 00:13:15.840 stall and refined through her internships proved 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:19.039 invaluable when Sarah faced skeptical consumers 00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:22.879 at the Wisconsin State Fair. Perhaps nowhere 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:25.919 is Sarah's analytical approach more evident than 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:28.820 in her systematic framework for addressing agriculture's 00:13:28.820 --> 00:13:31.980 most contentious issues. When confronted with 00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:34.480 the emotionally charged question, why do you 00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:37.480 separate calves from their mothers? At the Wisconsin 00:13:37.480 --> 00:13:41.100 State Fair, Sarah didn't lead with industry justifications. 00:13:41.929 --> 00:13:44.309 Standing there among the fairgoers, watching 00:13:44.309 --> 00:13:46.830 their expressions soften as she connected an 00:13:46.830 --> 00:13:49.789 unfamiliar practice to universal human experience, 00:13:50.490 --> 00:13:53.070 Sarah realized something profound about the power 00:13:53.070 --> 00:13:57.149 of empathy in advocacy. I said that it's ultimately 00:13:57.149 --> 00:13:59.909 for the safety and health of the calf, just like 00:13:59.909 --> 00:14:02.929 doctors for humans do a health check on newborns 00:14:02.929 --> 00:14:05.610 to ensure that they are safe and prepared for 00:14:05.610 --> 00:14:09.429 a healthy life as a baby, she explains. This 00:14:09.429 --> 00:14:12.009 interaction helped me see the importance of relating 00:14:12.009 --> 00:14:15.110 to others and being able to hear them out, no 00:14:15.110 --> 00:14:18.070 matter what their initial perspective is. I truly 00:14:18.070 --> 00:14:20.429 believe that listening with empathy is at the 00:14:20.429 --> 00:14:23.409 heart of agricultural advocacy and allows us 00:14:23.409 --> 00:14:26.250 to ground conversations by coming from a place 00:14:26.250 --> 00:14:30.230 of understanding. This approach, connecting unfamiliar 00:14:30.230 --> 00:14:33.730 agricultural practices to universal human experiences, 00:14:33.990 --> 00:14:36.669 exemplifies her broader communication philosophy. 00:14:37.470 --> 00:14:40.090 Her systematic communication framework could 00:14:40.090 --> 00:14:42.850 be a model for farm families to navigate difficult 00:14:42.850 --> 00:14:45.549 conversations about sustainability initiatives. 00:14:46.330 --> 00:14:49.009 Sarah's vision for her year as Alice involves 00:14:49.009 --> 00:14:51.590 striking a delicate balance between honoring 00:14:51.590 --> 00:14:54.750 tradition and modernizing the program for contemporary 00:14:54.750 --> 00:14:58.370 advocacy needs. She plans to maintain the strong 00:14:58.370 --> 00:15:01.850 partnerships that 76 predecessors worked to establish 00:15:01.850 --> 00:15:04.830 while embracing digital tools to reach audiences 00:15:04.830 --> 00:15:08.960 beyond Wisconsin's borders. Utilizing social 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:11.600 media and digital forms of storytelling are a 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:14.220 great way to keep agricultural advocacy up to 00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:16.720 date and take advantage of reaching audiences 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:19.200 outside of our local communities in Wisconsin, 00:15:19.580 --> 00:15:22.860 she explains. But her modernization strategy 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:26.299 goes beyond simply posting more content. Sarah 00:15:26.299 --> 00:15:28.700 sees an opportunity to showcase what she calls 00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:31.840 the business and technology of agriculture, highlighting 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:34.360 the advanced systems that farmers use to enhance 00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:38.179 sustainability and animal care. The Hagenau Flair 00:15:38.179 --> 00:15:41.460 isn't a single entity, but a brand with two complementary 00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:44.940 dimensions, Ashley's marketing expertise and 00:15:44.940 --> 00:15:49.080 Sarah's business acumen. By differentiating her 00:15:49.080 --> 00:15:51.279 approach while honoring her sister's contributions, 00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:54.159 Sarah creates a compelling narrative around agricultural 00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:58.320 expertise that spans multiple disciplines. Sarah's 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:01.299 approach to youth engagement reflects her business 00:16:01.299 --> 00:16:03.720 -minded perspective on what is fundamentally 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:07.500 a human resources challenge. With Wisconsin's 00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:11.860 agricultural sector supporting 353 ,900 jobs, 00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:14.919 Sarah sees her role as showcasing opportunities 00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:18.580 across the entire spectrum, from soil scientists 00:16:18.580 --> 00:16:21.539 and truck drivers to food marketers and event 00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:24.960 planners. I see a critical need to ensure that 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:27.600 positions all along the food chain are filled 00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:29.960 to maintain the security and abundance of the 00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:33.139 state's food supply, she explains. Her strategy 00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:36.080 combines digital storytelling to virtually bring 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:39.080 young people to farms and processing facilities 00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:41.799 with promoting long -term mentorship programs, 00:16:42.179 --> 00:16:44.879 an approach she directly links to corporate talent 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:48.200 development practices. Long -term mentorship 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:51.200 programs are also incredibly valuable for young 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:54.039 people, which I've learned from my business experience, 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:57.820 Sarah notes. Standing before classrooms of students, 00:16:58.059 --> 00:17:00.679 Sarah envisions more than just inspiring moments. 00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:03.840 She sees sustainable career pipelines that will 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:06.539 ensure Wisconsin agriculture has the talent it 00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:09.720 needs for the next generation. In an industry 00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:12.200 grappling with labor shortages that have reached 00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:15.079 crisis levels, her talent pipeline approach to 00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:18.160 youth engagement offers practical solutions for 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:21.559 farms struggling to find reliable workers, transforming 00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:25.299 agricultural education from inspiration to strategic 00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:28.259 workforce development. Here's what you need to 00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:30.950 understand. While traditional agricultural ambassadors 00:17:30.950 --> 00:17:34.609 focus on emotions and marketing, Hagenow leverages 00:17:34.609 --> 00:17:37.609 supply chain analytics, genomic testing protocols, 00:17:37.950 --> 00:17:40.950 and component optimization strategies that directly 00:17:40.950 --> 00:17:44.450 impact your milk check. As Sarah began her historic 00:17:44.450 --> 00:17:48.690 tenure on July 7, 2025, she represents more than 00:17:48.690 --> 00:17:51.869 just another year in the program's long history. 00:17:52.619 --> 00:17:55.619 With an annual salary and the demanding responsibility 00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:58.960 of traveling approximately 50 ,000 miles annually 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:02.119 across Wisconsin, she carries both the financial 00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:04.819 investment the state makes in agricultural promotion 00:18:04.819 --> 00:18:07.839 and the weight of unprecedented expectations. 00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:12.180 When asked about making Wisconsin's $160 .3 billion 00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:15.359 agricultural economy personally relevant to urban 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:18.359 audiences, Sarah doesn't rely on abstract statistics. 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:21.980 Instead, she grounds that massive number in human 00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:25.420 experience. Three times a day, maybe less or 00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:28.380 maybe more, every single person sits down and 00:18:28.380 --> 00:18:31.099 has a plate with food on it. This mental picture 00:18:31.099 --> 00:18:33.579 is one that every person can likely relate to, 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:36.319 and it brings them face to face with the product 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:40.559 and purpose of agriculture. Standing now on the 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:43.440 threshold of her year -long journey across Wisconsin's 00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:46.000 agricultural landscape, Sarah Hagenow carries 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:49.079 with her not just the sash and tiara of Allison 00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:51.859 Dairyland, but the lessons learned in a barn 00:18:51.859 --> 00:18:55.140 stall with a heifer named Sassy. That 13 -year 00:18:55.140 --> 00:18:57.759 -old who felt the weight of responsibility for 00:18:57.759 --> 00:19:00.579 a broken -legged heifer's care has evolved into 00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:03.619 a woman who understands that agriculture's greatest 00:19:03.619 --> 00:19:06.680 strength lies not in the perfection of its animals 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:09.480 or the efficiency of its systems, but in the 00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:12.059 trust placed between people who believe in something 00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:16.980 larger than themselves. Serving as the 78th Alice 00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:20.180 in Dairyland is a dream come true, Sarah said. 00:19:20.359 --> 00:19:23.119 I can't wait to start visiting communities all 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:25.759 across the state, learning more about the diverse 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:28.680 people and places that make Wisconsin the agricultural 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:32.000 powerhouse it is, and giving voice to their stories 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:36.210 of dedication and inspiration. The morning light 00:19:36.210 --> 00:19:38.849 that first illuminated her path to Sassy's Pen 00:19:38.849 --> 00:19:41.849 has evolved into the bright spotlight of statewide 00:19:41.849 --> 00:19:45.470 agricultural ambassadorship. The principles remain 00:19:45.470 --> 00:19:48.930 unchanged. Earn trust through competence, create 00:19:48.930 --> 00:19:52.630 value through strategic thinking, and never forget 00:19:52.630 --> 00:19:55.630 that agriculture's most powerful stories are 00:19:55.630 --> 00:19:58.210 rooted in the personal connections that transform 00:19:58.210 --> 00:20:02.269 individual lives. As Sarah embarks on her 50 00:20:02.269 --> 00:20:05.460 ,000 -mile journey across Wisconsin, She carries 00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:07.880 more than promotional materials and talking points. 00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:10.579 She carries the business plan for elevating an 00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:14.519 entire industry. In her hands, the Alice in Dairyland 00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:17.579 program isn't just continuing a tradition. It's 00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:19.859 writing the blueprint for agricultural advocacy 00:20:19.859 --> 00:20:23.619 in an age when the business of believing in agriculture 00:20:23.619 --> 00:20:27.140 has never been more important. The question isn't 00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:29.539 whether she's ready for the role. It's whether 00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:32.220 agriculture is ready for the kind of strategic, 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:35.630 analytical, and globally -minded advocate it 00:20:35.630 --> 00:20:39.049 needs for the challenges ahead. In Sarah's story, 00:20:39.289 --> 00:20:42.150 from that humble barn stall to the state's highest 00:20:42.150 --> 00:20:45.009 agricultural honor, lies proof that sometimes 00:20:45.009 --> 00:20:48.009 the most profound transformations begin with 00:20:48.009 --> 00:20:50.670 the simple act of placing trust in potential, 00:20:50.970 --> 00:20:53.750 whether in a broken -legged heifer or a determined 00:20:53.750 --> 00:20:56.349 teenager who dared to dream beyond middle -of 00:20:56.349 --> 00:20:59.529 -the -pack placings. So here's my challenge to 00:20:59.529 --> 00:21:01.750 you, the progressive dairy producers listening 00:21:01.750 --> 00:21:05.859 to this podcast. If you're still relying on traditional 00:21:05.859 --> 00:21:09.339 farm tours and county fair conversations to build 00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:11.839 market position, you're missing the sophisticated 00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:14.519 advocacy strategies that turn sustainability 00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:18.039 metrics into profit margins. Sarah Hagenow's 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:20.460 story proves that the future of agricultural 00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:23.660 advocacy isn't about warm, fuzzy farm stories. 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:27.500 It's about data -driven approaches that deliver 00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:30.920 measurable ROI, component -focused messaging, 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:34.299 strategic stakeholder engagement, and systematic 00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:37.140 communication frameworks aren't just nice ideas. 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:40.079 They're profit drivers that can transform your 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:43.259 operation. The business of believing in agriculture 00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:46.619 has never been more important, and Sarah Hagenow 00:21:46.619 --> 00:21:49.259 is showing us exactly how to turn that belief 00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:52.119 into bottom -line results. Thanks for listening 00:21:52.119 --> 00:21:55.299 to the Bullvine Podcast. I'm your host, and remember, 00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:58.660 in this industry, the numbers don't lie, but 00:21:58.660 --> 00:22:01.279 the stories behind them can change everything.