Episode 69: Farm for Thought With Farmer Dan
“By the year 2040, 75% of Ag output will be controlled by less than 5% of farms. What that also indicates is that there’s a tremendous opportunity for smaller scale farms establishing more of a direct to consumer relationship,” explains Dan Wegmueller, a fourth generation dairy farmer in Wisconsin. Healthcare and agriculture may not seem like they have a lot in common, and you may be surprised how much of Dan’s story you relate to. Burnout, depression, and suicide are at an all time high for farmers, technology is being used to take farmers out of livestock management, and it is nearly impossible for smaller farms to keep up with ever growing production demands.
Farmers are being moved further away from their roots of caring for animals and having relationships with the consumer, and some in the industry are pushing for further automation.
Today, Dan joins host Lara to talk about the similarities between agriculture and healthcare and the lessons he has learned from pivoting to agritourism.
Farming used to be about the relationship between a farmer, the land, the animals, and the consumer. Now, the majority of farms in America look very different from Dan’s picturesque dairy farm in Wisconsin. Instead they are highly technologically advanced with thousands of animals, and both farmers and consumers have less involvement in the food production process. When Dan took control of his family’s farm, things were not looking good financially. The farm was in significant debt and operating below cost of production. Instead of giving up, he pivoted and opened the Dairy Farm Stay in 2018. This farm stay was a way to not only bring in a continuing revenue source, but also to reconnect the consumer with the food production process.
Instead of giving up and shutting down, or giving in to demands and expanding, Dan chose to do something that nearly everyone told him would never work. He chose to go back to his roots and re-establish a relationship with the local community, opening the farm up and encouraging people to learn about where their food comes from.
About Dan Wegmueller, Dairy Farmer:
Dan Wegmueller is a 4th generation dairy farmer in Green County, Wisconsin. In 2017, Dan recognized an impending crisis facing traditional farming, where Wisconsin would lead the nation in farm bankruptcies and farmer depression/suicide rates would exceed that of military combat veterans. The Wegmueller farm was not immune to the agricultural crisis, and in 2018 Dan and Ashley opened “The Dairy Farmstay”, the very first farmstay on an active dairy farm in Green County. Since then, the farm has welcomed national as well as international guests, and has since diversified into equestrian activities, including horseback experiences and guided trail rides. Says Dan, “Opening our doors has done two things. First, it has brought in a revenue stream we desperately needed to keep the farm going. Second, connecting with urban visitors has made farming fun again.”
In This Episode We're Talking About:
- Exploring the philosophical shift that views animals not as commodities, but as individuals with unique hearts and souls, deserving of respect and care.
- All you need to know about what’s wrong with the US dairy industry is to recognize that here in Wisconsin; “America’s Dairyland”; “The Dairy State”; it is easier to buy raw fish sushi than it is to go to a farm and get milk.
- Analyzing the concerning projection that by 2040, fewer than 5% of farms will control over 75% of the U.S. agricultural output, and discussing the potential impacts of this trend.
Quotes:
- “Farmer suicide is higher than that of military combat veteran suicide.” (11:24-11:30 | Dan)
- “We’ve reached a point in Ag where technology is no longer supporting management. It’s taken over management.” (17:07-17:16 | Dan)
- “By the year 2040, 75% of Ag output will be controlled by less than 5% of farms. What that also indicates is that there’s a tremendous opportunity for smaller scale farms establishing more of a direct to consumer relationship.” (17:48-18:07 | Dan)
- “Never lose track of the long term goals, because it’s absolutely worth it.” (34:38-34:42 | Dan)
- “Rather than focus on overextension, burnout, and everything else that goes with it, talk about getting back to roots, reestablishing what our true relationship is not only with land, environment, animals and consumers, but also ourselves.” (38:42-38:55 | Dan)
Links for this Episode:
Connect with Farmer Dan:
Website: www.wegmuellerfarm.com
Facebook: @WegsFarm
Connect with Dr. Lara Salyer:
Website: https://drlarasalyer.com
Catalyst Kit: https://rightbrainrescue.com/p/catalyst_kit
Instagram: @drlarasalyer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer
Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer
TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor
Thank You For Listening!
If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review! Your positive review helps other physicians find this podcast and increase the visibility.
About The Catalyst Host, Dr. Lara Salyer:
I worked as a family physician for 15 years until burnout changed the trajectory of my career. I realized I wanted to start a holistic functional medicine practice in my rural hometown and made it happen. In addition to practicing functional medicine, I now mentor practitioners who are looking to change their paths in healthcare by using what I refer to as the “Catalyst Roadmap”. I share each step of this framework with listeners so that they may apply it to their careers, relationships, personal goals, and projects.
Episode Search
Mark your calendars! The Catalyst launches episodes weekly. You can expect to find a new, insightful conversation with a catalyst every Friday!