A26-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Hay 6, 2000
Shelly Hershey, William Heald,
Lisa Holden, Larry Hutchinson
the team meeting as well as out
side the team meeting. An effec
tive coordinator keeps the team
focused on the importance of in
creased productivity, profitabil
ity, and satisfaction for the
producer.
During a team meeting, a
coordinator keeps a meeting
moving, and welcomes ideas
from everyone, especially shy
team members. Appropriately
established ground rules encour
age shared thoughts in a trust
ing atmosphere. A coordinator
What is a Dairv The Ro,e of the fosters this atmosphere by con-
Advisorv Team 9 Team Coordinator: trolling dominating conversa-
A Dairy Advisory Team The Daif y Advisory Team lions and by helping team
works together with dairv nro- process includes data analyses, a members listen to one another.
Zer S SeXtwE S P ». SWOT a„a lys ls (sttiphs. ■ /*■*»!- P* « ■*
goals, and achieve a vision. The weaknesses, opportunities, and ? ath . ered du ™g a
dairy producer chooses team threats), problem solving, goal tram meeting. It is my respon
members who best complement se « m 8- act ‘ on planning, moni- sibdity as a coordinator to
farm goals and are often se- torm B> and continuous quality design a system of tabulating
lected from current advisors. In- improvement. In order to facili- data and to share it with the
stead of meeting one on one with ate this process effectively, the other team member
the producer kev consultants team must have a skillful coor- Ihe system may be as simple
meet**together’ to share informa- dinator. The team coordinator as listing critical data, writing a
tion and improve farm goals. P' 3 ? B an important role during short summary statement,
Teams often include veterinari- making written action plans and
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field persons, accoun
tants, partners, experi
enced producers,
consultants, and busi
ness management ex
perts. Teams typically
have five members
with more complex
businesses having
larger teams. One
third of the dairy advi
sory team should be
farm decision makers.
One team member
serves as a coordinator
who works with the
producer to organize
and facilitate team
meetings. Team meet
ings are short, focused,
and regular. Advice
given by team mem
bers is always in har
mony with the
producer’s goals,
values, and con
straints. While all
team members con
tribute to and learn
from the advisory pro
cess, the farm owner
makes all decisions
and determines all ac
tions taken.
and Beth Moore
Spring has arrived and many
producers want to accomplish
more in a day. While some pro
ducers struggle with the issue of
time management, many are
finding new ways to solve prob
lems more effectively with less
time spent. Over ninety Pennsyl
vania Dairy Advisory Teams
were started over the last four
years to improve farm business
while saving time.
The• Rewards Of
Being
A Team Coordinator:
Scott Hodgson,
Sales & Nutrition
Manager of Cumber
land Valley Coopera
tive, has been a
coordinator of two
Dairy Advisory Teams
in Pennsylvania. He is
also a member of two
additional teams.
Hodgson says that ad
visory teams help him
better manage his
time.
“I meet with each
team once a month
and am always ready
to make an additional
visit or phone call if
there is a problem be
tween meetings.
Teams help producers
verbalize their frustra
tions and challenges.
Making a difference
on the farm requires
the team to under
stand the problems
and issues that the
farm faces.
Dairy Advisory Team Coordinators Save
Time And Improve Problem Solving
Having key consult
ants together around one table
puts these problem issues into
perspective,” Hodgson said.
He has also benefited from
networking with other agricul
tural business people on the
team. “I am able to provide
better services to my customers
with the knowledge gained from
team members.” Scott enjoys
the sense of accomplishment
that he feels when teams exceed
their goals.
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reporting monthly progress.
Action plans determine tasks,
spread the workload among the
team, and set deadlines. Major
outcomes should be shared in
written form to all team mem
bers after each meeting.
Together with the producer,
the coordinator can use action
plans to set an agenda for the
next meeting. The team coordi
nator summarizes farm data
and creates a “Dairy Advisory
Team Meeting Report.” Hodg
son says that this meeting report
includes information from all
aspects of the farm and is a great
tool to monitor team progress
toward goals.
Who Should Coordinate?
Few people are experienced
team coordinators. Talented
people need to be identified and
encouraged to develop their
team skills. An enthusiastic
person who possesses excellent
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communication skills and un
derstands social dynamics
makes a great team coordinator.
The coordinator will use these
interpersonal skills when facili
tating a meeting of diverse per
sonalities. Coordinators tend to
be organized people with a ser
vice background: veterinarians,
consultants, lenders, etc.
For more information about
Dairy Advisory teams and coor
dinators, please contact: Beth
Moore, Dairy Advisory Teams,
Project Manager, Department of
Dairy and Animal Science, The
Pennsylvania State University,
(717) 375-2639 Voice and Fax,
beth@innemet.net E-mail; or
Shelly Hershey, Dairy Advisory
Teams, Project Liaison, Depart
ment of Dairy and Animal Sci
ence, The Pennsylvania State
University, (814) 865-4685
Voice, (814) 865-7442 Fax, sher
shey@das.psu.edu E-mail.
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