Growing within agriculture

Some visions have changed for Mark and Natalie Schmitt’s four kids — Jonathan, Katie, Michael and Austin — who were featured in Kids Corner in the Oct. 9, 2004 edition of Dairy Star. But some have not, including the dream of having a “merry-go-round,” aka rotary parlor.

“It’s still my dream,” Austin said. “It’s the ultimate way to milk cows.”

All four attended the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Jonathan majored in applied plant science with an emphasis in agroecology and a minor in dairy science.

Michael received his undergrad at the U of M in animal science with an emphasis in dairy production and a minor in applied economics, then earned a master’s degree in cattle genetics from the University of Florida.

Katie majored in animal science with an emphasis in industry and business and minored in communication studies and agricultural food business management.

Austin majored in animal science with an emphasis in dairy production and a minor in agronomy and ag business.

Jonathan Schmitt

Jonathan is an agronomist at Peterson’s North Branch Mill in North Branch, Minnesota. He consults with farmers on seed, chemicals and fertilizer, scouts fields and samples soil.

“Growing up on the farm I was always more interested in the crops than the cows,” Jonathan said. I’d rather spend 18 hours a day sitting in a tractor than two hours in the barn.”

Growing up on a dairy farm influenced his career choice because it provided him with the opportunity to learn about a variety of aspects of agriculture he said. At his parents’ farm, he had the ability start helping with test plots by the age of 10.

“I am passionate about plants and growing high-quality grains and forages and problem-solving,” Jonathan said. “We have to be able to figure out what is wrong with a plant by looking at it and it’s a fun challenge.”

Jonathan’s favorite job growing up on the farm was hauling chopper boxes. Now his favorite farm memories revolve around bringing his three kids — Ethan, Emma and Ava — out to the farm.

“Seeing my kids play with grandpa and help grandpa and grandma on the farm is a pretty good memory,” Jonathan said.

Michael Schmitt

While Michael shared a similar dream to Austin of a rotary parlor, his career took a turn to science. Michael now serves as a director of PEAK Genetics based out of Shawano, Wisconsin, which supplies A.I. bulls to Alta Genetics Inc., GENEX Cooperative, Jetstream Genetics and CRV. He is responsible for the dairy cattle breeding program.

“I’ve seen both sides of this business by growing up on a farm that sold bulls to A.I. companies … and now I get to work for a company that makes and buys A.I. bulls, so it is kind of a full circle,” Michael said.

On the farm, Michael took interest in making selections for their breeding program. His interest in this aspect of farming is one of the reasons he chose the field. He said he also enjoys the people he works with.

“They bring (energy) to work in the industry,” Michael said. “I really like working with folks like that.”

The challenges that arise daily are another reason Michael enjoys working with dairy genetics. He said he is constantly pushed to improve animals and has a great support system.

“We had a really close community of people that were involved in the farm and supportive of us,” Michael said.

Katie Schmitt

Growing up with all brothers did not get Katie out of any chores, including stacking straw bales, but it did create some great memories for her.

“We probably made memories every day that have been impactful in our lives,” Katie said.

After growing up on the farm, she moved to Madison, Wisconsin, and started working for World Dairy Expo doing marketing and communications.

Katie has been the outreach specialist for the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding for almost two years. Her main role is interacting with farmers and providing them with information about genetic selection traits and research being done to make a more profitable cow.

“My goal and mission in life is to do good,” Katie said. “Working in the dairy industry and for CDCB, a nonprofit, I have the ability to do that and help people like my family be more profitable.”

Katie said she gives a lot of credit to growing up on her parents’ farm for the reason she has been able to grow in her positions and industry as much as she has.

“(It) gave me a really great understanding of what the dairy industry is,” Katie said. “I got to see a diverse dairy industry across the country and around the world even though home is a very modest farm in central Minnesota.”

Austin Schmitt

What started out as helping with chores after school turned into a lifelong venture of dairy farming near Rice, Minnesota.

“After college I came home and farmed for a couple of years,” Austin said. “I had plans on going to manage a dairy somewhere else. Those plans changed when they asked me to come back until (my uncle) healed from surgery.”

Austin spent two and a half years at the home farm before he went to manage a dairy farm in South Dakota. During his 18 months there, he received hands-on experience with robots, parlor systems, employees and work schedules, and learned how to work with people who are not family.

“I wanted to be in control of my own future, take chances, reap my own rewards and go the route I want to go without having to check in all the time, so I came back (to the home farm),” Austin said.

On the home farm, Austin milks around 90 cows in a tiestall barn. He said it is a joy when his siblings come back home.

“We are pretty spread out geographically, so it is always nice when they come back and we laugh about stories and visit with each other again,” Austin said. “We all have our interests, but we are all intertwined with each other.”