A product of the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems and the Farm and Industry Short Course

Home >> Accomplishments >> Our Graduates >> Interview: Mike Tomandl

Mike Tomandl: Two Time Seminar Participant

Why did you decide to go to the WSBDF?

Mike Tomandl spent two months in New Zealand on an internship in 2000

Well I had heard about it everywhere - Dick Cates was on a few pasture walks put on by my grazing group. We talked a lot about the School for Beginning Dairy Farmers and short course, and since it takes place during the slowest part of the year it fit well into my schedule and I decided to go.

The grazing class is what really sold me. It's what I was interested in and was the most practical thing to do because of all the material it covered.

Why did you go to school go when you grew up on on a grass-based dairy?

School goes beyond just learning. Getting away from home, getting to stay in the city for an entire semester - you learn a lot of things that don't necessarily come from the classroom.

There's just no way you can learn everything on your home farm.

Have you already used things you learned in school?

Sure, but it was a lot of small changes rather than anything big. Things like getting the cows out sooner in the Spring, a different way to make hay, changes in bailing... a lot of small changes that add up over time.

Do you want to start your own farm?

Yes, someday. I want it to be my family's farm, and my Dad is nowhere near retirement - so for right now I've got a job that I just love.

How did the school help you think about getting together your own farm?

That's what the school is set up to do, and it does it in three terms.

The first term is an introduction to grazing and will help everyone who either hasn't ever been a grazer or wants to learn how to do it by the book.

The second goes into banking and financial things, to help students understand the business end of the farm.

The term that I learned the most in was the third term when we talked about individual business plans. By making us go through the planning process - and presenting it to a panel farmers and bankers who will critique you and give you pointers on how to do it for real - was really helpful. It was an excellent practical experience.

You did an internship in New Zealand?

Another holstein on Mike Tomandl's family farm

Yes I did. Anyone who wants to graduate from the School for Beginning Dairy Farmers needs to do an internship. It used to be that it had to be in the state.

During that first semester you talk a lot about New Zealand and all the great things they've done in the area of grazing. So we decided to try to see if we could find a way to have a few students sent over to learn directly from them.

One other student and myself were able to go, and we stayed for two months on two separate farms - pretty close together - north of Auckland.

What was that like?

It was subtropical, a little too much rain for grazing and the temperature really fluctuated. The average farm over there is about 200 cows, and the farm that I stayed on was 700 cows - so farm management was critical to my experience. I think I got to see a better class of farmer because of all the difficulties we had to overcome every day.

Were there lessons you could bring back with you?

There was a mindset that they have down there, "how do I solve this problem quickly and in the most cost effective way?" That sort of thing can be used anywhere.

"It's not something that I'll ever forget."

Mike Tomandl, Class of 2001 and 2002



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Home >> Accomplishments >> Our Graduates >> Interview: Mike Tomandl Mike Tomandl: Two Time Seminar Participant Why did you decide to go to the WSBDF? Well I had heard about it everywhere - Dick Cates was on a few pasture walks put on by my grazing group. We talked a lot about the School for Beginning Dairy Farmers and short course, and since it takes place during the slowest part of the year it fit well into my schedule and I decided to go. The grazing class is what really sold me. It's what I was interested in and was the most practical thing to do because of all the material it covered. Why did you go to school go when you grew up on on a grass-based dairy? School goes beyond just learning. Getting away from home, getting to stay in the city for an entire semester - you learn a lot of things that don't necessarily come from the classroom. There's just no way you can learn everything on your home farm. Have you already used things you learned in school? Sure, but it was a lot of small changes rather than anything big. Things like getting the cows out sooner in the Spring, a different way to make hay, changes in bailing... a lot of small changes that add up over time. Do you want to start your own farm? Yes, someday. I want it to be my family's farm, and my Dad is nowhere near retirement - so for right now I've got a job that I just love. How did the school help you think about getting together your own farm? That's what the school is set up to do, and it does it in three terms. The first term is an introduction to grazing and will help everyone who either hasn't ever been a grazer or wants to learn how to do it by the book. The second goes into banking and financial things, to help students understand the business end of the farm. The term that I learned the most in was the third term when we talked about individual business plans. By making us go through the planning process - and presenting it to a panel farmers and bankers who will critique you and give you pointers on how to do it for real - was really helpful. It was an excellent practical experience. You did an internship in New Zealand? Yes I did. Anyone who wants to graduate from the School for Beginning Dairy Farmers needs to do an internship. It used to be that it had to be in the state. During that first semester you talk a lot about New Zealand and all the great things they've done in the area of grazing. So we decided to try to see if we could find a way to have a few students sent over to learn directly from them. One other student and myself were able to go, and we stayed for two months on two separate farms - pretty close together - north of Auckland. What was that like? It was subtropical, a little too much rain for grazing and the temperature really fluctuated. The average farm over there is about 200 cows, and the farm that I stayed on was 700 cows - so farm management was critical to my experience. I think I got to see a better class of farmer because of all the difficulties we had to overcome every day. Were there lessons you could bring back with you? There was a mindset that they have down there, "how do I solve this problem quickly and in the most cost effective way?" That sort of thing can be used anywhere.	"It's not something that I'll ever forget." Mike Tomandl, Class of 2001 and 2002