Recognized for their contributions

ROSEVILLE, Minn. – Sherry Siemers-Peterman and Pat and Sharlene Daninger were honored with the University of Minnesota Gopher Dairy Club’s top awards Feb. 19 in Roseville. Siemers-Peterman of Cleveland, Wisconsin, was the Distinguished Service recipient, while the Daningers, of Forest Lake, were named Golden Graduates.
For Siemers-Peterman, it was an award from a different school and state than the one that nurtured her background in dairy. The University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate is a former Badger Dairy Club president and Master Wisconsin Agriculturalist Award winner but said she became a University of Minnesota enthusiast in 2013 when her daughter, Crystal, was a student on the St. Paul campus.
“Things do change,” Siemers-Peterman said. “I might be the most vocal Wisconsin recruiter and cheerleader for the Gophers. You have something truly wonderful here; treasure it.”
An alumnus of collegiate dairy judging herself, Siemers-Peterman has assisted in coordinating judging practices for the Gopher teams. She has mentored dozens of youth throughout her career at Siemers Holsteins Inc. and Cupid Cattle Company. With her daughter and mother Marlene, she has bred, acquired, managed and developed heifers and cows that have earned 75 All-American and Junior All-American nominees.
The Gopher Dairy Club singled out Siemers-Peterman for her work coaching and hosting judging teams, serving on committees and hosting international students all the while promoting the University of Minnesota. In accepting the award, she explained her reasons for being a Gopher advocate.
“Because I want to give back to the school that has been so important to Crystal and to me,” she said.  
The Daningers were cited for similar support to the Gopher Dairy Club and its members. Both Pat and Sharlene were 1985 graduates of the university, where Sharlene was a founding member of the club. They operate a 110-cow registered Holstein dairy coupled with a micro-creamery, Autumnwood Farm. Their four adult children are also alumni of both the university and club.
Sharlene credits Dr. Les Hanson, the club advisor, for his vision of an active dairy club.
“I have so many great memories,” Sharlene said.
The Daningers began dairying on Pat’s home farm, milking 38 cows in a tiestall barn. Sharlene worked first in Extension and later for Mid-America Dairymen Inc. They began Autumnwood Farm in 2008 and now provide milk to 95 grocery stores, coffee shops and cafes. Six ice cream shops use their mix, and their on-farm store is a popular local business.
Their daughter, Mariah, works on the farm full time, and their son, Luke, works there part time.
Through Autumnwood Farm and the dairy herd, the Daningers provide hands-on experience to high school, college and veterinary students. Gopher Dairy Club members and other on-campus organizations have toured the farm, and open houses and local tours have provided connections between consumers and the dairy industry.
Pat said that when they received notification of the Golden Graduate award, he did not know what to make of it.  
“We are in large part standing on the shoulders of those who came before us,” Pat said. “Pillars and pioneers of the industry are among the past winners of this award.”
In addition to the awards given to the Daningers and Siemers-Peterman, the Gopher Dairy Club recognized its current members with a host of scholarships and achievement awards. They also recognized dairy judging and Dairy Challenge participants.
Ashley Hagenow of Poynette, Wisconsin, was named the Dr. Bill Mudge Outstanding Senior, while Isaac Rott of Elgin, Minnesota, received the R.W. Touchberry Outstanding Junior in Animal Science award. Haley Beukema of New Richmond, Wisconsin, received the Dylan Fulton Outstanding Rookie award. Keenan Thygesen of Tunbridge, Vermont, was the winner of the Douglas Siem Memorial Award for highest ranking new student.