The Uplevel Dairy Young Leaders podcast recently featured Michael Neves, a 26-year-old business development manager at Progressive Dairy Solutions whose unconventional career path and entrepreneurial spirit are reshaping how the next generation approaches dairy industry challenges. Host Peggy Coffeen explores how Neves’ diverse background—from nearly owning a McDonald’s franchise at age 19 to working with tech startups—uniquely positions him to bridge the gap between traditional dairy farming and cutting-edge business innovation.
Neves’ journey began in Hilmar, California, where he grew up around dairy operations before pursuing education at Modesto College and Fresno State, where he worked as a herdsman on the university dairy. His most surprising career detour came when he pursued McDonald’s franchise ownership as a teenager, drawn to the fast-food giant’s sophisticated data systems and operational efficiency. “They’re by the second with data,” Neves explains, identifying parallels with dairy’s untapped potential. “There’s so much data being collected with robotic milking systems, but a lot of it is not being looked at because there’s too much.” This experience shaped his vision for bringing artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to dairy operations, not to replace workers but to make their jobs easier and more efficient.
Throughout the conversation, Neves emphasizes his passion for ensuring farmers get properly compensated for their sustainability practices, particularly noting how California dairies feed agricultural byproducts that would otherwise go to landfills, yet receive no carbon credits for this service. He offers practical advice for young professionals entering the industry: don’t let age hold you back, learn to read the room, show appreciation to colleagues, and never burn bridges. His philosophy of asking established farmers about unexpected changes they’ve witnessed provides valuable perspective for innovation.