Indiana Milk Quality Professionals Conference

Dr. Andrew Hubner – Purdue University

Dr. Andy Hubner is a veterinarian at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. Before joining the faculty at Purdue, he was in private practice for thirteen years in southern Wisconsin. During his time in private practice, he worked with farms ranging in size from 30 to 3,500 cows. Dr. Hubner became a Purdue faculty member in October of 2021. He divides his time between regular farm visits for clients around West Lafayette, teaching, and research. His primary areas of interest related to dairy farms are milk quality and transition cow health.

Dr. Jonathon Townsend – Merck Animal Health

Dr. Jonathan Townsend has been the Dairy Technical Services Veterinarian for Merck Animal Health since December 2020.  Previously, Dr. Townsend was the Assistant Professor of Dairy Production Medicine at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. He also serves as a Diplomat for the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners and the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. Dr. Townsend’s education includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science from the University of Maine, his DVM from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, his Residency in Dairy Production Medicine and his PhD in Ruminant Nutrition and Physiology from Purdue University.

Fabian Bernal – Dairy Grazing Alliance

Fabian Bernal is an agricultural sustainability expert with nearly 20 years of experience working across the U.S. dairy value chain on environmental measurement, modeling, and strategy. He currently serves as Senior Director of Sustainability Impact & Strategic Modeling for the Dairy Grazing Alliance (DGA), where he leads the development of science-based standards, metrics, measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MMRV) systems to support grazing-based dairy systems. In parallel, Fabian works as an independent sustainability consultant, advising agricultural organizations, cooperatives, and food companies on life cycle assessment (LCA), greenhouse gas accounting, economic feasibility of mitigation strategies, and the integration of environmental metrics into practical on-farm and supply-chain decision-making. His work bridges applied science, economics, and producer-focused implementation, with a strong emphasis on clarity, credibility, scalability, and real-world outcomes. Fabian has spoken nationally on dairy sustainability, milk production practices, GHG mitigation, and environmental performance measurement, and has collaborated with producers, universities, NGOs, and industry leaders to advance resilient and profitable dairy systems.

Steve Obert – IDP

Steve Obert is a 1984 graduate of Purdue University. After graduation, he spent three years working in Agricultural and Commercial Banking. In 1988, he returned to his family’s dairy and grain farm. He spent nearly thirty years helping grow and manage the farm to its present size of 1200 cows and 1300 acres. He has been married to his wife, Kelly, for 37 years. They have three sons and six grandchildren. Their sons have joined the farm’s team and are increasingly assuming more responsibility. 

Eric Bousman – Purdue University Dairy Farm

Eric Bousman is the Manager of the Purdue University Dairy Unit in West Lafayette, Indiana, where he oversees herd management, milk quality, and daily farm operations while supporting Purdue’s teaching and research mission. Eric grew up in Muncie, Indiana on a small family dairy cattle farm. Although the family did not operate their own milking facility, their cows were housed and milked at a nearby farm that specialized in Milking Shorthorn show cattle. This early exposure to dairy cattle and the close collaboration with working dairy instilled in Eric a deep appreciation for cow care, milk production, and the importance of quality management from an early age. He initially attended Ball State University pursuing a degree in Special Education. In 2013, however, Eric accepted an opportunity to join the National Farmers Organization (NFO) as a Field Representative. This career shift placed him directly in the dairy industry, where he spent five years working with producers on milk quality improvement, troubleshooting farm challenges, and strengthening relationships between farmers and the marketplace. During this time, he developed a strong foundation in mastitis management, milk quality monitoring, and practical on-farm problem solving. Eric later joined Organic Valley as a Milk Quality Coordinator covering Indiana and Michigan. Over six years, he worked closely with organic dairy producers to maintain high milk quality standards, assist farms with somatic cell count management, and provide technical support to improve herd health and milk production. He joined Purdue University’s Dairy Unit as Lead Feeder, where he worked early mornings managing herd nutrition and daily cow care while applying his milk quality expertise to improve farm performance and operational efficiency. In the fall of 2024, Eric was appointed Manager of the Purdue Dairy Unit. Eric’s career reflects a blend of hands-on dairy management, field-level milk quality expertise, and a passion for helping farms succeed. His experience across cooperative field work, milk quality programs, and university dairy management provides a practical perspective on improving milk quality

and herd performance in modern dairy operations.

Sara Horning – Indiana Board of Animal Health

Sara is currently a Milk Sanitation Rating Officer for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health’s Dairy Division and has been in that role since 2018. She is also a milk plant inspector and farm inspector with a territory in the central eastern portion of the state. She has been with the Dairy Division for 15 years. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University in 2004 with a major in Animal Agribusiness. She currently is a member of Council 3 and the Aseptic Committee for the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments. Sara and her husband purchased The Horning family farm in 2006 and are raising two boys that keep them busy with hunting, fishing, football, baseball, wrestling, golf, raising cattle to show in 4-H, and all things outdoors. Sara also volunteers her time to be a member of the Madison County 4-H Board, and the Madison County Farm Bureau Board. 

Brandon Ewers – Michigan Milk Producers Association

Brandon Ewers is an MMPA Member Representative serving the Northern Indiana region. A 2010 Ferris State University Biology alumnus, Brandon brings over 13 years of industry experience to his role, including a six-year tenure in food safety and quality. For the past seven years, he has focused on member advocacy and support within the dairy cooperative. Brandon lives in the region he serves and spends his free time golfing and following University of Michigan athletics.

Jazlyn Hilliard – Crossroad Farms Dairy

Jazlyn Hilliard is a Senior Quality Assurance Manager with extensive experience in dairy and food manufacturing, specializing in food safety, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. She currently supports operations at Kroger’s Crossroads Dairy facility, where she leads quality systems focused on ensuring product integrity, consumer safety, and regulatory excellence. With a strong foundation in biology from Indiana University and hands-on experience across multiple manufacturing environments, Jazlyn has developed expertise in HACCP, FSMA, SQF compliance, environmental monitoring, and risk-based quality systems. She has successfully led initiatives to strengthen food safety culture, improve product quality, and enhance operational efficiency, including audit readiness programs and data-driven process improvements. Jazlyn is passionate about building high-performing teams and fostering a proactive approach to food safety. She is known for her ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into practical, sustainable solutions that drive results on the production floor. In addition to her technical leadership, Jazlyn is committed to mentoring others in the industry and advancing the next generation of food safety professionals. Her work reflects a strong dedication to protecting public health while supporting innovation and growth within the dairy industry.

Corey Geiger – CoBank

Corey Geiger is the Lead Dairy Economist for CoBank, one of the nation’s largest providers of credit to the dairy and animal protein industry. Prior to joining the Farm Credit System, Geiger was editor for Hoard’s Dairyman for nearly three decades. He led the launch of publication’s fourth language edition, Hoard’s Dairyman China and traveled to 48 states and four continents covering dairy farming and dairy processing. In greater industry service, Corey has served as President of Holstein Association USA, director and Chair of the Education Committee for World Dairy Expo, director for the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding, board advisor for U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action; and director for the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. In addition, he recently accepted an appointment as board advisor for the National Dairy Checkoff managed by Dairy Management Inc.  A six-generation farmer who manages his family 376-acre farm, Geiger is the author of two award-winning books that have won four national writing awards. Those books - On A Wisconsin Family Farm and The Wisconsin Farm They Built - have sold copies in all 50 U.S. states. 

Bernardo Callejas – Dairy Management Inc.

Bernardo Callejas is a global marketer and new business developer with over 20 years of experience driving positive results through high-impact projects. In 2018, he joined Dairy Management Inc. as Vice President of Global Innovation Partnerships, implementing strategic initiatives across food service, dairy coops, and health/wellness partners. Through these partnerships, Bernardo has led high-performing teams in consumer insights, product development, marketing innovation, and supply chain.  Today, he serves as Senior Vice President for Growth Platforms and Innovation, working closely with NDC on the Mayo Clinic collaboration and with R&D on the commercialization of novel dairy technologies. Before DMI, Bernardo worked with banana producers in Central America in developing and executing a 3-year innovation roadmap for fresh bananas via new product formats, market diversification, and operational efficiencies. From 2009 to 2015, Bernardo served as Global Brand Manager for Abbott Nutrition International, implementing consumer and healthcare professional programs for infant nutritional brands, including Similac®, Pedialyte®, and PediaSure®. Bernardo lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife and three daughters.

Erica Turley - Prairie Farms Dairy

Erica grew up on a farm in Northeast Missouri and graduated from the University of Missouri-Rolla in 1995 with a BS in Life Science. She has worked for Prairie Farms Dairy in the corporate lab for 30 years, moving from lab tech to Manager to Director of the Corporate lab. This role includes overseeing all the Prairie Farms Dairy labs and managing the Corporate Lab. She is also a property manager for a commercial condominium complex. Erica is a mother of three and soon to be an empty nester. She was a Girl Scout leader for 11 years and guided two of her troop members to their Gold Award. In her spare time, she enjoys attending her children’s sports events, golfing with friends, and relaxing with a good book.

Pat Mitchell – Ecolab

Pat Mitchell’s dairy career started as a general laborer at 13 years old. He went to Michigan State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science with an emphasis on dairy management. After graduating, Pat worked for a smaller 150 cow dairy as herdsman. Pat then went to a larger herd and managed the herd. The next stop was a Westfalia/Surge dealer as the route truck driver. Eventually, Pat worked more of a milk quality role. In 2005 he went to work for Ecolab and has been there ever since. His territory is the state of Michigan. Pat says that he has had the pleasure of working with some of the best dairymen in the state. He takes great pride in helping producers work to improve and maintain milk quality. Pat resides in Addison, Michigan near his daughter and two stepchildren who are grown and on their own. 

Wes Collins – Ecolab

Wes Collins has spent the last thirty-three years in the dairy industry, not counting his first eighteen years he worked on his family’s 188-year-old family farm. Wes’s first nine years were in various roles in fluid dairy processing with Melody farms before he began his 25-year career with Ecolab, where he is currently. Prior to entering the dairy industry, Wes attended Michigan State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science. Besides working for Ecolab, Wes is also the current owner/operator of the oldest family-owned farm in Eaton County, Michigan and enjoys collecting antique tractors. He has also been a high school football official for the past thirty-three years. Wes and his wife of twenty-two years are proud parents of three children, Brody who is 20, Marra who is 18, and Delaney who is 15. 

Denise Derrer Spears – Indiana Board of Animal Health

Denise serves as public information director for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH), where she works to develop outreach, education and training programs for livestock producers, veterinarians, consumers and others with a stake in the health of Indiana’s animal population. She regularly participates in disaster training and exercises for all types of hazards (not just agricultural) through an inter-agency partnership with Indiana Department of Homeland Security. Denise is part of the multi-agency communications team that activates during large-scale disasters, such as the 2012 Henryville tornadoes and the coronavirus pandemic. Before joining BOAH, Denise wrote for national and regional farming publications. Denise completed the Indiana AgriInstitute’s Ag Leadership Program, Class 13. In 2020, she was named a Distinguished Alumni of Purdue’s Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication. In her free time, Denise enjoys cycling, skeet shooting and sewing. She lives out her passion for foster children as a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate.

Patrick Hash – BOAH

Patrick Hash’s 2017 appointment to Director of the Dairy Division at the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) marks a return to the agency. Patrick previously served as a dairy inspector for Southeastern Indiana for two years until 2013. In the interim, Patrick worked as a dairy inspector and Pasteurization Specialist for three years for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Patrick holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Youth Development and Ag Education from Purdue University. He began his career as a high school Ag Science and Business teacher, as well as FFA chapter advisor. A native of Greensburg, Ind., Patrick is an active volunteer in his community, along with his wife Paige and four children.

Kerry Estes – Estes Farm & Dairy LLC

Kerry Estes did not grow up on a farm nor was he trained in the field of agriculture, yet that did not deter him from making the choice to raise his family on a farm. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business operations management. Married in 1997, Kerry began working with his father in his metal fabrication plant located in Indianapolis, IN. He purchased 188 acres in 1999 on contract from a local farmer. He continued working in management for his father while cleaning up the farm and converting it from a conventional row crop farm to a grazing operation. His initial goal was to custom raise replacement heifers. Unsuccessful at procuring a heifer contract, he invested in Holstein heifers of his own. After two disastrous purchases of several free martins, Kerry began buying and raising crossbred dairy heifers in a rotational grazing system. Experiencing successful growth rates on grass and a longing to work as a family full-time on the farm, he freshened 100 cross-bred heifers to start his seasonal dairy experience in March of 2005. Increasing his herd to 180 cows and their home by 4 children, Kerry is living out his vision. In May of 2023, Kerry had the honor of presenting the coveted bottle of milk to the winning driver at the Indianapolis 500. Kerry also coached football at New Palestine High School for 15 years and has been a part of four state championship teams. Currently, Kerry, his wife, and four children operate a seasonal, grass-based dairy, milking 180 A2A2 crossbred cows. 

Todd Janzen – Janzen Schroeder Ag Law

Todd J. Janzen is an attorney and co-founder of Janzen Schroeder Agricultural Law LLC, a law firm dedicated to serving the needs of farmers, ag technology providers, and agribusinesses, located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Todd also serves as the Administrator for the Ag Data Transparent project, a national effort to bring transparency to contracts between farmers and technology providers. Todd has testified before the US Senate Agricultural Committee, as well as US Senate and House subcommittees. Todd grew up on a grain and livestock farm in Kansas. Todd served as the chairs of the American Bar Association’s Agricultural Management Committee and the Indiana State Bar Association’s Ag Law Section. In addition to his regular law practice, Todd serves as counsel for the NASA Acres project and as the general counsel to the Indiana Dairy Producers. Todd publishes a national ag technology blog, the Janzen Ag Tech Blog. 

Sheri Shipp – ADAI

Sheri Shipp, RD has been the Youth Wellness manager for the American Dairy Association Indiana for the past three and a half years. Prior to joining the ADAI team, she served as the Executive Director for the Indiana School Nutrition Association where she developed relationships with school nutrition program operators and the industry that supports them over an eight-year time span. It was an easy transition for her into the Executive Director role having been the Assistant Director of a school nutrition program in the Indianapolis area where she managed student allergies, developed menus that met federal guidelines, helped to create the district wellness policy and more. Sheri has been a Registered Dietitian for twenty plus years and remains focused on youth. Her work at ADAI is anchored in the science-based nutrition information that she feels confident communicating to Indiana’s youth and those that have an interest in the youth wellness, including educators, parents, food service professionals, coaches, and the community.

Chris Kaufmann – IHSAA, Inc.

As an IHSAA Assistant Commissioner, Chris Kaufman oversees boys’ and girls’ golf along with boys’ and girls’ tennis. Kaufman also manages, develops, and administers all IHSAA media properties and serves as the official spokesperson for the Association. Specifically, Chris oversees all aspects of the innovative IHSAA Champions Television Network and IHSAATV.org web video streaming. He serves as the liaison for corporate partnerships, community relations, business media, and provides support for the 24 IHSAA state championship events. In 2023, Kaufman assumed an additional role within the IHSAA as he was named the President of the IHSAA Foundation. Previously, Kaufman was a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations National Record Committee from 2011-2014. The NFHS recognized his outstanding achievements with an NFHS Citation of Merit in 2019. Kaufman was originally hired at the IHSAA as Director of Communications in 2006. He served in that capacity until he was elevated to Assistant Commissioner in 2012. Prior to joining the IHSAA, Chris served as Director of Marketing and Communications for Cathedral High School in Indianapolis for 16 years. In addition to his administrative duties, Kaufman served as an assistant football coach for 16 years and assistant baseball coach for 7 years. Kaufman also served (1993-2005) as the Sports Information Director for the Indiana Basketball All-Stars who compete annually in the Indiana/Kentucky All-Star Series. In addition, he has assisted numerous events such as the Indiana Football North/South All-Star Game, four men’s and women’s NCAA Final Four Championship tournaments, and the Women’s Big 10 Championship tournaments. In 2000, Kaufman was awarded the Ken Leffler Memorial Award by the Indiana Football Coaches Association for his contributions. Kaufman graduated in 1990 from the University of Indianapolis earning a B.S. degree in Business Administration while playing for the Greyhounds Football and Baseball teams on scholarship. He competed as a place-kicker and punter for the Greyhounds earning All-Conference and Pre-Season All-American honors. A Kokomo native, Kaufman graduated from Northwestern High School in 1984, earning eight varsity letters in football, basketball, and baseball. Kaufman and his wife, Stephanie, have two children, Mary Katherine (Katie), and Blake. Stephanie is a graduate of Warren Central High School and was a member of the school’s 1984 State Runner-Up basketball team. She was named an Indiana All-Star and played collegiately at the University of Indianapolis. They reside in Indianapolis.

Gabrielle Poirier – Ascension St. Vincent Sports Performance

Gabby Poirier is a registered dietitian (RD), working as a Sports Dietitian Fellow with Ascension St. Vincent Sports Performance. Gabby earned her bachelor's degree in Dietetics & Applied Nutrition from Johnson & Wales University in 2022 and later completed her master's degree in Exercise Science from the University of Indianapolis in 2023. She enjoys working with athletes at the collegiate level as it allows them to develop key life skills related to nutrition as a young adult. 

Nathan Campbell – Indiana Board of Animal Health

Nathan Campbell serves as the Deputy Director of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health’s Dairy Division. He also serves as one of Indiana’s two full-time Milk Sanitation Rating Officers (MSRO). Since joining BOAH in 2008, Nathan has served a variety of roles within the Dairy Division, including roles of field inspector, plant supervisor, and chief MSRO. Nathan earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Ball State University where he majored in environmental management. Nathan has served a variety of roles with the Dairy Division since he first began in 2008, including roles of field inspector, plant supervisor, and chief MSRO, and from 2010-2012 he stepped away from BOAH to fulfill the responsibilities of Quality Assurance manager for Schenkel’s Dairy. In 2022, Nathan served as President for the National Association of Dairy Regulatory officials, and he currently serves on the Technical Review Committee, Council I, and the Executive Board for the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments. 

Ashley Stockwell – Stockwell Farms, Inc.

Ashley is a third-generation dairy farmer who farms with her husband Kyle and their four kids in Hudson, Indiana. While Kyle oversees the dairy operations and management, Ashley oversees the financial side. Outside of the dairy, Ashley works professionally in finance, specializing in transition and succession planning for agricultural families. She partners with farmers to help them prepare for the next generation — aligning business structure, and succession planning to ensure the farm is able to continue for future generations. Her work is rooted in real-world experience, bringing practical insight from her own experiences. 

Ashley also serves in key industry leadership roles. She is a board member of the American Dairy Association Indiana, helping guide dairy promotion and consumer engagement efforts across the state. Nationally, she serves on the National Dairy Board and the Dairy Management Inc. boards, contributing to strategy that strengthens dairy demand, builds consumer trust, and ensures farmers have a voice at the national level.

Tim Haynes – Superior Dairy LLC

Tim Haynes and his family have been milking 250 cows in our robotic barn since 2017. Their farm is a true family operation, Consisting of Tim and his wife Mandy, along with his brother David and his wife Deb acting as the senior partners, with the next generation including Tim’s son Tyler and his wife Natalie, and his nephew Ryan and his wife Lindsay. When the barn was built, the family made sure to include ways to help connect with the public and share our story. They worked hard over the years to answer questions and be open about what they do in today’s dairy industry. Tim has been involved in dairy promotion in Indiana for more than 20 years, which led to one of the coolest moments of his life, handing off the bottle of milk at the Indianapolis 500. It was a great experience to see how much that tradition means to farmers and fans alike. Always remember, Winners Drink Milk!

Janet Dague – Dague Farms

Janet Dague’s farm is near the small-town Kewanna, in Fulton County located in North Central Indiana where she owns and operates a fourth generation 1500-acre grain and 200-head dairy farm with her husband, Andrew, her in-laws Jim and Peggy Dague and her children Adrianna Smith and Austin Dague. She has been a member of the American Dairy Association Indiana board since 2011 in which she is currently President for the second term. In 2016, she had the honor of serving as the Indianapolis 500 Milk Presenter for the 100th running of the race.  

Don Lamb – Indiana Department of Agriculture

Don Lamb is the Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, appointed by Governor Eric Holcomb on March 1, 2023. Don is a second-generation farmer for Lamb Farms in Boone County where, alongside his father, brother, and nephews, they produce corn, popcorn, seed soybeans and seed wheat. They also own two other enterprises, including AgRecycle which is a composting business and Lamb Farms Agronomy which provides neighboring farmers with agronomy products and services. Don stays involved in management aspects of the farm and joins in operations whenever he can. Don has been involved in many community and agricultural activities and organizations. He currently is a board member for AgriNovus and is a member of the State Fair Commission. Previously Don served as Boone County Council’s Vice President, Western Boone School Board member, a member of the Purdue Dean of Agriculture Advisory Council, board member of the Boone Co. Farm Bureau and served on the Recycling and Market Development Board for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Don was named the Outstanding Young Farmer of Boone County in 1996 and was named the Agricultural Professional of the Year in 2014 by the Boone County Chamber of Commerce. Don is a 1989 graduate of Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics. While at Purdue he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. Don is a member of class 8 of the Indiana Agriculture Leadership Program (ALP) and he credits the ALP program for instilling a desire to lead the agriculture industry forward. In September of 2023, Don was selected as an At-Large member for board of directors for the National State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). In 2012 Don’s family farm started Agristewards, a nonprofit which teaches farming practices and subsistence farmers in Africa, Asia, the Caribbeans and Central America. Don and his wife Jodie are long-time members of New Hope Christian Church where he serves as Deacon. They have four daughters and one granddaughter. The family loves to do agricultural mission work where Don has traveled to Uganda, Kenya, Jamaica, and multiple times to Panama, Costa Rica and Haiti. Don’s main priorities are leading ISDA’s five divisions, which include agricultural advocacy, economic development, youth development, environmental stewardship and the Indiana Grain Buyers and Warehouse Licensing Agency.

Kimberly Judge - Indiana State Police

Kim Judge is the Motor Carrier Inspector Administrator of the Indiana State Police. She has been a member of the department and Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Section since 1988.

Trooper Sean Swaim - Indiana State Police

Indiana State Police Trooper Sean Swaim has been a member of the department and Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Section since 2004.