Scaling with Intention: How Steve Abel Built Leadership and Systems at Abel Dairy

A measured approach to growth, people and technology at a multigenerational Wisconsin dairy

Steve Abel oversees what he describes as “everything with a dollar sign and a heartbeat” at Abel Dairy Farms in Eden, Wisconsin. Abel reflected on the farm’s strategic expansion, the systems built to support employees and the leadership mindset that helped the operation scale while maintaining stability and culture.

Strategic Growth Set the Stage for Expansion

Abel Dairy’s growth didn’t happen overnight. Steve said planning began nearly a decade before the most recent expansion. The farm invested in off-site heifer facilities, sand separation and facility redesigns before committing to a new parlor.

About three years ago, the dairy completed its expansion, moving from a 20-stall parallel parlor milking about 1,800 cows to an 80-stall rotary serving roughly 4,300 cows. Steve described it as “measured growth,” noting the family and employees were prepared for the change.

Middle Management Was Built Before It Was Needed

One advantage during expansion was having leadership already in place. Steve said Abel Dairy invested early in developing middle managers across departments including parlor, herd, feeding and cropping.
“Those same managers are with us today,” he said. Because they were involved in planning from the beginning, the transition went smoothly. Labor increased with growth, but leadership continuity helped guide the process.

Weekly Team Meetings Created Alignment and Accountability

A key leadership practice at Abel Dairy is a weekly management meeting held every Wednesday morning. The team reviews minutes from the prior week, discusses upcoming priorities and shares updates across departments.

“We email the minutes out to everybody, not just the team, but our veterinarians and consultants,” Steve said. The approach ensures transparency and prevents miscommunication as the dairy evolves.

Delegation Marked a Personal Leadership Shift

Steve admitted that delegation didn’t come easily early in his career. After the first expansion in the 1990s, he described himself as “a full-time fireman.” Over time, guidance from trusted consultants helped him shift from reacting to problems to developing people who could manage them.

“It took years,” he said, noting that building up managers was just as important as hiring them. That transition allowed the farm to handle challenges as a team rather than relying on one person.

Technology and Integration Drive Efficiency and Engagement

Technology has played a major role in supporting Abel Dairy’s teams. Steve said the farm embraced cloud-based systems for herd management, feeding, accounting, cropping and time tracking.
“Having that access on their phone is important,” he said, especially for younger employees. While technology continues to evolve rapidly, Steve believes the next major opportunity lies in better integration across platforms to tie performance more directly to profitability.

Taken together, Abel Dairy’s approach shows how long-term planning, clear communication and investment in people can support growth without losing stability.

Hear the full conversation with Steve Abel on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and watch the complete episode below.