John T. Pagel is owner of Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, LLC. In 1978, he took over the family farm, which his parents started in 1946. His operation is currently milking 4,400 cows with a total of 4,600 cows on the main farm, along with 1,900 heifers at his heifer facility in Coleman, Wisconsin, and 3,000 calves at his calf facility in Kewaunee. In addition to his own farm, Pagel is part owner of Dairy Dreams, a dairy farm of 3,000. He also has passion for environmental protection with dairy facilities. Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy was involved in the Discovery Farm Program, which studies surface water and tile line runoff under different management systems. Pagel has also installed a methane digester in 2009 on his new facility, reducing odor and making electricity for over 1,800 homes.

Pagel was a founding member and is vice president of the Dairy Business Association. He is president of DBMMC, a new milk marketing cooperative in Federal Order No. 30. He is also on the board of directors for Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, and is on the School Board for the Kewaunee School District.