He Started Out as a Milker Nearly 30 Years Ago. Now, He's the Manager and a Leader in Technology at Wisconsin's Largest Family-Owned Dairy

2023 Milk Business Leader in Technology Award Winner – Chris Szydel

It’s another busy day at Pagels Ponderosa Dairy in Kewaunee, Wis.

“We try to make everything as comfortable for our people and for our animals as possible,” says JJ Pagel, CEO of Pagel Family Businesses.

This is a mantra the family has been following since the early days of the operation.

“In 1946, our grandfather returned from World War II and him and our grandma borrowed some money from a neighbor and started (the farm) with eight cows, some pigs and some chickens,” JJ says.

Today, the family milks thousands of cows across multiple locations. And technology is a big part of their day-to-day.

“Our dad and our grandfather were both very aggressive when using technology,” JJ adds.

Veterinarian Don Niles, head of dairy operations at Pagel Family Businesses, has worked with the Pagels since 1983.

“I love standing up here on the platform watching the rotary go around and seeing the cows getting milked and chewing their cud. Anytime a cow is just standing there relaxed and chewing her cud you know she is feeling good. And that makes you feel good,” says Dr. Don Niles, head of dairy operations at Pagel Family Businesses.

“John and I would start traveling around the country to go look at dairies, equipment and other things we might utilize to modernize our dairies here in Kewaunee county,” Don adds.

From the beginning, the goal and the dream of John Pagel was to be the best.

“We wanted to grow and we wanted to make our farm one of the top in the country. So, what we did is we learned from the best people in the industry to do the best job we could do to take the best care of our cows,” said John Pagel in 2017 when he was a finalist for the Top Producer of the Year.

One year later, John and his son-in-law, Steve Witcpalek, along with an airplane pilot, were lost in a plane crash in Indiana. While John is no longer here, his vision for the farm and his family lives on.

“The one thing John helped to teach us and that we are able to carry on is putting the cows first and taking the best care of the cows that we can,” says Chris Szydel, herd manager and this year’s Milk Business Leader in Technology award winner.

Szydel joined Pagels Ponderosa as a nighttime milking technician in 1995. A decade later, he was promoted to herd manager and now manages both the Pagel Ponderosa and Hilltop Farm dairies, overseeing three different parlors and 65 employees.

“Anything that will reduce stress and make [the cows] more comfortable is the key for us,” Szydel says.

That means reducing headlock times, giving cows more time to walk and lay down, utilizing comfortable flooring, rubber mats and clean bedding.

“In the past, we would have people outside to separate the cows that [needed attention.] Now [we have] sort gates and can type into Dairy Comp system, that talks to SCR which talks to the sort gates, and we’re able to automatically separate the cows that we need,” Szydel says.

A system built by Parlor Boss and SenseHub work together in the rotary to allow the team to perform many herd management tasks while the cows are being milked.

“When we started with the SCR collar technology, within three weeks Chris said, ‘Alright JJ, we’re getting rid of spray paint.’ I was like, let’s not get the cart before the horse. And he said, ‘It’s the only way we’ll know if it works,’” Pagel recalls.

“The technology is doing a great job of letting us know which cows need attention,” Szydel says. “If a cow is coming into heat, the technology lets us know that. If a cow is not feeling well, the technology is going to let us know that. And it gives us the information in real time.”

Out in the barn, temperature control systems help optimize temperatures to help keep cows cool and fly free.

“We have people from all over the country and all over the world that come here, and we like to help educate the people that stop by the dairy and let them know what’s working for us and what isn’t. We try to be honest with them and share the technology,” Szydel says.

Constantly looking at technology in other industries is also helping the team to innovate. They recently implemented a pulse, needle-free injector from the swine industry. They looked at wastewater treatment plants in city municipalities. They also tried a bedding dryer from the sawmill and wood industry.

“It’s very, very cool to see as hard as the guys and gals on Chris’ team work to see them get recognition for all the things they do. Because for the hundred things they do right, there’s always some things that happen and go wrong. But they’re always willing to put themselves out there and try, and they go all in,” Pagel says.

“When we do the work day-in and day-out, you tend to think that it becomes pretty routine. But when we have opportunities like this and receive an award, it tells you that it’s special here,” Niles adds.

Pagels Ponderosa is indeed a special place with a special bond. And they’re willing to attempt the unknown.

“I see a little bit of John in everything that goes on here still,” Niles remarks.

Congratulations to Chris Szydel and the team at Pagels Ponderosa Dairy, winners of the 2023 Leader in Technology Award.

For more on the MILK Business Conference Award winners, read:

• Meet the 2023 Milk Business Conference Award Winners
• At Just 31 Years Old, He Bought The Dairy Farm From His Parents. And In The 1st Year, The Growth Has Been Incredible
• At 15-Years-Old, He Worked to Put Money on the Table. Now, This Employee Brings 34 Years of Growth and Experience