The Uplevel Dairy podcast features Doug DeGroff of Progressive Dairy Solutions, whose career has spanned three dairy epicenters during their most transformative eras—from New York to Wisconsin to California’s Central Valley. Host Peggy Coffeen explores not only DeGroff’s witness to industry evolution over nearly three decades, but also the profound personal experiences that shaped his perspective on what truly matters in life and work.
DeGroff’s dairy journey began in Wyoming County, New York, where his father was a large animal veterinarian and he worked on progressive operations milking 900 cows—considered massive for the Northeast in the 1980s. After graduating from Cornell in 1996, he joined Monsanto and immediately relocated to Tulare County, California, experiencing culture shock as he encountered operations with thousands of cows in open lots rather than the freestall barns he knew. His career path included managing a Wisconsin dairy while Dairy Dreams was being built, teaching him that “it’s a lot easier to tell someone how to do something than to actually do it on a consistent basis.” This hands-on experience developed his empathy for managers and his understanding that “every problem on a dairy starts with a two-legged problem.”
The conversation takes a profound turn as DeGroff shares two life-altering accidents that redefined his perspective. In 2009, he survived being buried under 20 tons of silage, breaking his back but making a full recovery. Years later, a severe ATV accident left him with 11 broken vertebrae, 12 broken ribs, and a long rehabilitation involving 16 different therapists. These experiences, symbolized by two back braces hanging on his office wall as “reminders,” taught him a crucial lesson: “Professionally, we’re all replaceable… but family won’t pivot and move on.” His message resonates deeply—while dairies would find another nutritionist, his absence would have forever changed his wife and children’s lives. Looking forward, DeGroff sees continued consolidation in the industry but remains optimistic about dairy’s future, driven by his passion for helping producers succeed and his pride in “helping feed the world.”