For Rick Roden, managing a growing dairy requires more than hard work—it requires trusted information and dependable support. Hear how DRMS helps provide the information his team, advisors, and family rely on to make informed decisions every day.
Around the Dinner Table
Roden Echo Valley Farm has grown over the years, but for Rick Roden, one thing has remained constant: the importance of staying connected to the people and values that built the operation.
“We’re from the area where both my parents grew up,” Rick said. “We have a lot of family around here. Our roots are here.”
Those roots helped shape the farm’s approach to growth. While the operation has expanded over time, the goal was never growth for the sake of growth.
“We didn’t want to be the biggest farm in Wisconsin,” Rick said. “That was never the plan.”
As the farm has grown, so has the team of people involved in helping make decisions. What started as paper records and handwritten notes has evolved into a more connected way of managing information.
Today, Rick uses Dart to help organize herd information and support decision-making across the operation. From his CentralStar Cooperative consultants to nutritionists, financial advisors, and other trusted partners, everyone has access to the same source of information.
“All the herd information is there,” Rick said. “That’s where they’re going to get their information from.”
Just as important as the information itself is the support behind it.
“The best thing I like about DRMS is their support,” Rick said. “When I call for support, the person answering the phone is going to be the person that can either walk me through the issue or fix the problem.”
For Rick, the value of having information readily available extends far beyond the farm office.
On Sunday nights, the Roden family often gathers at his parents’ house for dinner. With multiple generations involved in agriculture and a growing group of nieces, nephews, and young family members showing cattle and participating in youth activities, conversations frequently turn to calves and future show animals.
“Hey Rick, what do you think about this calf?” is a question he hears often.
Those conversations are rarely just about a single animal. They’re about family history, future potential, and helping the next generation build connections to the farm.
Having that information readily available helps keep those stories alive across generations.
“It’s all that information right at my fingertips,” he said.
For Rick, DRMS represents more than information. It helps connect the people, decisions, and family traditions that continue to shape the future of the farm.