joe@dga-national.org

Joe Tomandl, III, is a fourth-generation dairy farmer and founder and Executive Director for Dairy Grazing Alliance (DGA), America's foremost, farmer-led organization dedicated to growing markets for grass-based dairy.

As Executive Director for the Alliance, Joe brings together players across the value chain to create and grow new markets for grass-based dairy in order to meet growing consumer demand. He provides leadership, inspiration and oversight to DGA. Joe also leads the Alliance's flagship program, Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship, and is committed to the education and success of start-up dairy grazing farmers. Joe and his wife Christy, along with their three children, own and operate three grass-based dairy farms, each milking approximately 170 cows, in central Wisconsin. This decentralized model of farming is their answer to scaling managed grazing farms with integrity.

In 2022, Joe and Christy were honored to receive the Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award in recognition of their commitment to grass-based grazing practices on their dairy farms to benefit the environment, rural communities and the health of future generations.

Joe is a former agriculture educator and nationally recognized leader in grass-based dairy. He is frequently asked to speak about grass-based dairy grazing, Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship and workforce training to farmers, conservation groups, NGO's, USDA and dairy industry groups. He has been featured in stories about dairy grazing in Agri View, Civil Eats, Country Today, Graze, Hay and Forage Grower, Hoards Dairyman, Successful Farming, among others.