Building a High-Performing Dairy Team: Lessons from Danielle Ware-Dreier at Shiloh Dairy
How Clear Expectations, Consistent Protocols and People-First Leadership Drive Results
Leading 54 People and 2,900 Cows With Clarity and Respect
In part 2 of her conversation with Peggy Coffeen, Danielle Ware-Dreier shares how she leads a team of 54 people while managing parlor performance and milk quality for 2,900 cows at Shiloh Dairy in Brillion, Wisconsin. Her people-first approach centers on understanding individuals, setting clear expectations and holding consistent standards.
A key example comes from helping a team member who struggled early on. Instead of reprimanding him, Danielle and the leadership team brought him in to understand his background and help shift his mindset around cow handling.
Respect and Accountability Across the Dairy
One guiding principle Danielle reinforces is the golden rule: “Do unto others as you want done to you.”
She uses it for everything from scheduling to accountability. If someone calls in sick minutes before a shift or requests last-minute time off, she asks them to consider how they would feel if a coworker did the same to them. This is all part of the heavy importance she puts on fairness and healthy work culture.
Three Years of Growth
In the last three years, Shiloh Dairy expanded by 500 cows and grew its team from 35 to 54 employees. Danielle has taken on longer days, after-hours calls and the pressure of leading people. She admits, it’s not easy and it takes a lot of time, yet, she says the people make it worth it. Team members wave to her around town, give hugs and share wins from their personal lives. That’s a connection she values deeply.
Danielle says repetition is what holds the operation together. This includes regular retraining, reinforcing basics and maintaining the same cow-prep routine even when the parlor falls behind.
Building People Into Leaders
If another dairy manager asked her how to replicate Shiloh’s culture, Danielle says the first step is simple: Get to know your team.
Her three pillars:
People First
Set and Follow Protocols
Training and Follow-Through
She goes on to explain how intentionally recognizing team members when they do something right is another key aspect of the role. She shared a story about an employee who cared daily for an injured cow that later calved, stood up and entered the fresh pen. Letting the team member know that the cow made it through the rough patch because he cared for her. That appreciation and reflection can be a very powerful tool.
What Drives Her as a Leader
Danielle draws inspiration from her late father, mentors like Gordon and Travis Speirs and her daughters. Her dad’s advice guides her daily: “No one can go back to yesterday and change, but anybody can start today and start a new beginning.”
She shows up each day wanting to be respectful, passionate, driven and an example for others.
To hear the full story from Danielle Ware-Dreier, stream the episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or watch the full interview below.
Catch up on part 1 of the conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.
