Special Report

Dairyman of the Year

The World Dairy Expo Dairyman of the Year is Hank Van Exel of Lodi, California. Exels Holsteins and Jerseys is home to 2,200 cows and has sold genetics around the world. Hank has also judged dairy cattle shows around the world including Holstein and Jersey shows at World Dairy Expo. He says the California dairy industry is facing some big challenges with the drought, the cost of land, regulations and the milk price. He says diversity is going to be key to the survival of dairy in his state. One big “plus” for his operation is they raise their own feed on the farm’s 2,300 acres and he has the next generation already in the farm. “It’s exciting to see what the next generation will bring.”