E 153 Jacob Harbaugh: Building a Future in Dairy Through Passion and Purpose

Guest Profile: Jacob Harbaugh

• Young dairy farmer from Wisconsin

• Achieved success before turning twenty

• Winner of twenty-twenty-two Champion Bred and Owned Heifer title

• Established a successful fitting business

Early Life and Background

• Grew up on a twenty-acre farmette in Wisconsin

• Parents: Lynn and Sara Harbaugh, dairy industry professionals

• Family keeps fifteen to twenty dairy heifers of different breeds

Key Achievements

• Twenty-twenty-two Champion Bred and Owned Heifer title

• Twentieth Merle Howard Award winner at World Dairy Expo (October twenty-twenty-four)

• Winner of twenty-twenty-three Wisconsin State Dairy Cattle Judging Contest

• Named twenty-twenty-three Star in Agribusiness by Wisconsin FFA

• Distinguished Junior Holstein member award from Holstein Association USA

• Top recipient of twenty-twenty-four Judi Collinsworth Memorial Scholarship

Entrepreneurial Ventures

• Started a fitting business during the pandemic

• Specializes in grooming cattle for sales, fairs, shows, and barn clippings

Education and International Experience

• Pursuing an animal science degree at the University of Minnesota

• Focus on industry and business

• Selected for Team USA at the Young Breeders School in Battice, Belgium

Mentors and Influences

• Parents: Lynn and Sara Harbaugh

• Kurt and Sarah Loehr (partnership arrangement for milking cows)

Challenges and Resilience

• Childhood incident with a Durham spring calf

• Fire at family’s partnership’s milking cow facility (June twenty-twenty-three)

Future Vision

• Aspires to excel as a herd manager or in sales/consulting

• Plans to own a small herd of Holsteins and other breeds

• Emphasizes the importance of technology in advancing the dairy industry

Key Takeaways

• Success in dairy farming requires passion, dedication, and continuous learning

• Mentorship plays a crucial role in developing young talent

• Embracing both tradition and innovation is key to the industry’s future

https://www.thebullvine.com/youth-profiles/jacob-harbaugh-building-a-future-in-dairy-through-passion-and-purpose/