Business Consultants Available to Help Dairy Farm Families

With Succession Planning, Business Planning and More

PUBLISHED ON November 6, 2024

HARRISBURG, Pa. — To help Pennsylvania dairy farm families with transition planning, business management consulting, and risk management planning, the Center for Dairy Excellence has several consultants available to work with Pennsylvania dairy farm families. Dr. Brian Reed and Dr. Charlie Gardner both serve as consultants provided by the Center to help dairy farm families navigate the complex process of transition planning, business plan development, and business transformation through one-on-one consulting and support.

With years of experience in the dairy industry, the Center taps the knowledge and expertise of these consultants and offers their services at no charge to dairy farm families across the state. The farm families who have utilized one-on-one consulting through the Center have focused on:

• Transitioning ownership and developing succession plans:

 “It was very valuable having a summary after the meetings about what was discussed, so both of us [family members] could look at it. I appreciated those action items. Dr. Gardner wasn’t afraid to tell us when it was time to get some of those actions accomplished, too. Overall, we feel good. Without the grant, we wouldn’t be where we are. Some of us didn’t want to talk about [the transition] or face reality, but the meetings made us stop and talk about it. It would be hard to spend that money upfront for an advisor without the grant. But I wouldn’t do it without a third-party consultant walking alongside us. It’s so valuable.”

–Kerry Zeiset, a dairy producer from Lancaster County, Pa.

• Giving every family member a voice.

 “I see so often that we wait and wait. Then, the next generation can’t even afford it or doesn’t have enough time in life to purchase a place or take over a dairy operation. It’s just too expensive or time consuming for them. So, the earlier you can start for a young couple, the better. I don’t know if Dr. Reed told us anything we didn’t know, but it’s always good to hear it from an outside third party – especially when you’re working with family. [The process] gave us all a voice in the decisions. I was a little concerned about how to make everything fair and make it work financially for both parties. Dr. Reed helped us through all that.”

–Curtis Zimmerman of Homestead Acres in Lebanon County, Pa.

• Developing business and transformation plans:

“About five years ago, I started on a journey to open my own dairy store. Dr. Charlie Gardner helped me write my business plan and has been an exceptional resource to ask questions, get advice, and get other contacts in Pennsylvania who have been working on similar projects.”

–Amy Brickner of Destiny Dairy Bar at Stover Farms in Cumberland County, Pa.

• Strategizing and evaluating farm viability:

 “The Center for Dairy Excellence recommended Dr. Brian Reed. We were looking for some guidance on how to transfer the farm property to the next generation. He’s seen good and bad transfers, which gives him insight into our situation. We spent the majority of our time looking into the viability of the farm operation. Our goal right now is figuring out how to increase and diversify our income streams. The Center for Dairy Excellence and Dr. Reed helped us better understand our strengths and weaknesses.”

–Breckbill Acres of Lebanon County, Pa.

The Center also partners with other organizations across the dairy industry, including Horizon Farm Credit and Penn State Extension, to connect farms with consultants who have experience in specific areas of business. To view a list of consultants, visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/transition-consultants.

To learn more about the Center’s business consultants who are available to dairy farm families at no cost, contact Melissa Anderson at [email protected] or call 717-346-0849 to be paired with a consultant.

–Emily Barge, Center for Dairy Excellence