Leadership, Longevity and Critical Thinking at High Plains Ponderosa Dairy
How leadership maturity and personal discipline support performance at scale
Greg Bethard of High Plains Ponderosa Dairy reflects on how leadership has evolved as the operation has grown. In a conversation with Uplevel Dairy host Peggy Coffeen, he discussed the role experience plays in managing stress, building resilient teams and maintaining long-term focus across a large dairy operation.
Experience Shapes Leadership at Scale
Looking back on the year, Greg Bethard described a shift toward a more layered management structure, with emerging leaders stepping into expanded roles and taking ownership across the operation.
“We have people now that really own their areas,” Bethard said, explaining that leadership depth has changed how the dairy functions day to day. While growth brought new challenges, prior experience shaped how the team responded. Having already lived through earlier expansions, leadership approached new facilities with clearer expectations and greater confidence rather than reacting under pressure.
Stress, Fatigue and the Responsibility of the Leader
Bethard spoke candidly about how stress management has evolved over time. He explained that experience alone does not eliminate pressure, but it changes how leaders respond to it.
He shared that showing up tired affected not only his own decision-making but the entire organization. Leadership stress filters down, shaping morale and culture across the dairy.
Health, Routine and Long-Term Thinking
The conversation moved beyond operations and into personal longevity. Bethard outlined the habits he follows to support long-term health, including consistent sleep, running and attention to diet.
He described health as an investment, not a reaction, noting that sustainability applies to people just as much as cows or facilities.
Technology as a Tool, Not a Replacement
Bethard addressed artificial intelligence and automation with a clear stance. Technology can support efficiency and early detection, but it cannot replace critical thinking on the dairy.
“You still need people who can think,” Bethard said, emphasizing that data and alerts only matter if teams understand how to interpret and act on them. He added that dairies continue to rely on employees who can adapt, assess situations, and solve problems in real-time, rather than relying solely on systems.
Developing the Next Generation of Thinkers
A recurring theme was the importance of developing young leaders who think independently. Bethard highlighted how younger team members bring curiosity and motivation, particularly around technology and culture. He stressed the need to preserve critical thinking and avoid overreliance on systems that remove decision-making from daily work.
Bethard’s perspective underscores how leadership, health and experience combine to support long-term performance on today’s dairies.
For more from this conversation with Greg Bethard, stream the full episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or watch the complete episode below.
