Farmer-to-Farmer Mentorship Program
Get 1-on-1 guidance from an experienced organic farmer who can help you:
- Learn best practices for your type of organic farming operation
- Develop skills to add a new enterprise to your farm
- Move your organic farm forward with experienced guidance
Marbleseed offers various opportunities to learn directly from experienced farmers. We add new opportunities as they become available.
“I wish I could sponge up every bit of information she gives. Bottom line, we love [our mentor] . . . This has been a fulfilment of [our] dreams of many years. Thanks so much for putting us in touch with her.” -Kevin K., 2023 mentee
Organic Dairy Coaching
Are you a dairy farmer curious about organic production or considering a transition to organic? Marbleseed's Organic Dairy Coaches are experienced farmers and professionals who offer personalized, one-on-one technical assistance to support you at any stage of the organic journey. Whether you’re exploring if organic is the right fit, preparing for a transition to organic or navigating organic certification requirements, coaches can provide practical guidance, share real-world experiences, and help you understand next steps.
Reach out to an Organic Dairy Coach to ask questions, build confidence, and connect with trusted support as you move toward organic dairy production. Use the contact information listed in our coaches' profiles below. Not sure where to start? Contact Tay Fatke, Farm Education Manager, at tay.fatke@marbleseed.org or call 888.906.673.7724.
MEET OUR COACHES
Melissa Weyland
Location: Green Bay, WI – Brown County
Melissa currently milks 90 cows with robots and rotationally graze/hay 126 acres. Her parents transitioned to organic in 2001, and she started her own organic dairy farm from scratch in 2022. Melissa has worked professionally with conventional dairies that are transitioning to organic since 2009.
“Organic dairy and organic transitioning is my specialty. I really enjoy farming this way, and I enjoy working with fellow dairy farmers of all sizes and set-ups,” says Melissa. “From the first phone call when organic transition is an idea to the first time we meet, and I get to know your farm goals, all of the way through the day you have your first organic milk pickup, I enjoy hearing about your journey. I like diving into numbers and planning financials. My mentorship is what you want it to be. I am open to sitting down and creating detailed plans, meeting regularly, or only being contacted on an as-needed basis.”
AREAS OF EXPERTISE:
- Organic certification & recordkeeping tips
- Transitioning to organic
- Grazing & livestock management
- Growing forage
- Weed & pest management
- Equipment & infrastructure
- Financials
- Start-ups/Beginning Dairy Farmers
- Grazing/organic with Robotic Milkers
Melissa can offer phone or email support; on-farm visits within; and virtual meetings.
Contact Melissa by email, melissa.weyland23@gmail.com, or call at 920.915.0787.
Contact anytime.
Tom Moos and Deb Jakubek
Moos Farms, New Auburn, WI, Chippewa County
Tom and Deb own and operate a 40 cow dairy and manage approximately 300 acres of pasture and forage. The herd was certified organic in 2005 and certified grass-fed since 2016. They currently milk once a day and raise their replacement heifers and a couple steers/bulls utilizing nurse cows. Tom and Deb both work on the farm full time.
Tom and Deb are passionate about farming and want to share that passion and knowledge with others. They understand how hard dairy farming is, but also appreciate the rewards to be had raising a family and living this lifestyle. Community and family support is necessary for success in farming and they want to be a part of that.
Reach out to Tom and Deb about:
- Organic certification & recordkeeping tips
- Transitioning to organic
- Soil health & fertility
- Grazing & livestock management
- Growing forage
- Equipment & infrastructure
- Work-Life Balance / Mental Health Support
They can offer phone or email support, on-farm visits, and virtual meetings.
Contact Tom & Deb at:
tomdebfarm@gmail.com or call 715.828.8268 Tom) or 715.590.2130 (Deb). Afternoons are best.
Dale Peacock
Port Wing, WI / Bayfield Co.
Dale Peacock has owned two different farms – one located in Thorp, WI (1999-2011), that was 80 acres owned and 20 acres leased. He milked about 36 cows with a simple parlor. They were certified organic and utilized rotational grazing. Their second and current farm, located in Port Wing, WI (2010-current), is 100 acres owned and 250 acres leashed. Until 2019, he milked cows with a homemade parlor; this farm was certified organic until 2024. We converted to beef farming completely after 2019. Both operations (dairy and beef) were operated with rotational, managed pastures for the cattle as the majority source of their feed. In 2014, he started a private label beef business – certified organic and grass-fed. They also produce hay and sell compost (not certified). In 20124, he sold the majority of the beef animals and leased the farm to new producers who bought the cattle. The new operators did not keep up the certified organic status of the farm, and their venture failed. Dale is now looking at new options for the farm (re-certify, cattle, small grains, hay).
Reach out to Dale about any of these areas:
- Organic certification & recordkeeping tips
- Transitioning to organic
- Soil health & fertility
- Grazing & livestock management
- Growing forage
- Equipment & infrastructure
- Farm transition, market potentials for on farm produce.
Dale can meet by phone, email, virtual meetings, or make on-farm visits.
Contact Dale at heavydale@gmail.com or call 715.685.4291 (cell) or 715.318.1156. Evenings are his preferred time.
