The heart of dairy at U of M

On a crisp fall day, there’s nowhere Les Hansen would rather be than visiting a dairy farm alongside members of the University of Minnesota’s dairy judging team.

The lead coach of the team for 38 years, Hansen has committed countless hours to helping students prepare for competitions throughout the year. As a result, the team has taken home numerous awards, including winning the national contest at the World Dairy Expo 4 times in the past 10 years.

It’s part of a legacy that Hansen has built throughout his career as a professor of Animal Science in the U of M’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS). Since joining the faculty 43 years ago, Hansen has dedicated himself to student and youth development, while also making significant research contributions in the field of dairy cattle genetics. As he prepares to retire at the end of the year, it’s hard for many colleagues and students to imagine CFANS without Hansen.

“Les has spent his career tackling contemporary issues of importance in the field of genetic improvement of dairy cattle,” said Mike Schutz, professor and head of the Department of Animal Science. “At the same time, he has been a magnificent champion for his students, an ardent supporter of dairy youth development, and a tireless recruiter for the university.”

Destined for dairy  

Growing up on a dairy farm in Southern Minnesota meant dairy cows were part of Hansen’s life from the very beginning. 

Yet as a freshman at the U of M, he chose architecture as his major because of his strong math skills. When he discovered that those skills were equally applicable to genetics, “the cows came beckoning.”

Hansen earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science and was quickly recruited by a dairy cattle breeding organization for a public relations role.

If studying dairy genetics is Hansen’s first passion, communication is a close second. Working in PR had a profound impact on him, and he relished the opportunity to sharpen his writing and public speaking skills. Throughout his teaching career, he has mentored students on the importance of clear and compelling communication. It’s no wonder that Hansen’s dairy judging teams historically receive high marks for their oral presentations. 

“My goal is to help students develop leadership skills, including public speaking. Winning competitions is always a thrill, but the real prize is the boost in their self-confidence, their decision-making skills, and their understanding of teamwork," said Hansen.

A dairy club is born

As much as Hansen enjoyed his PR position after college, it wasn’t long before he grew tired of writing about what others were doing and yearned to make his own mark on the field of genetics. He went back to the U of M to earn his master’s degree in animal science, then his PhD in animal breeding at Iowa State University. He returned to U of M as an assistant professor of Animal Science in 1981.

At the time, there hadn’t been a dairy club on campus for several years. Seeing students’ enthusiasm for the idea, Hansen helped them form the Gopher Dairy Club in 1982. Today, it is the largest student-run organization on campus. Open to any student who is interested in the dairy industry, it now has around 100 members.

Under Hansen’s leadership, the club created the Gopher Dairy Bar at the Minnesota State Fair, which raises funds to support dairy club sponsorships, the senior class trip to California, an annual awards banquet and more. Dairy Club members run the Gopher Dairy Bar during the fair and are fully responsible for its staffing, operations, marketing, and more.

“The Gopher Dairy Bar has reinforced the importance of being adaptable, being a team player, and having genuine conversations with individuals coming to purchase milkshakes,” said Haley Beukema, president of the Gopher Dairy Club, who is majoring in agricultural communication and marketing. “Les’s extensive knowledge and guidance has been instrumental for the club and all of its members. He has also been a catalyst for my own personal and professional growth.”

Inspiring students in and out of the classroom

For the past 35 years, Hansen has taught a full-semester course called Dairy Cattle Genetics. He has also served as an advisor to almost all CFANS students with an interest in dairy. One of those students was Crystal (Siemers-Peterman) Sinn, who graduated in 2017 with a degree in agriculture and food business management and is now a national account manager for Sartori Cheese.

“Les’s influence goes far beyond the classroom or the dairy judging ring. His ability to connect with students, inspire them to be their best, and push them to embrace both success and failure as part of their journey is a rare gift,” said Sinn. “I am forever grateful for the lessons he taught me, the opportunities he provided, and the unshakable belief he had in my potential.”

“I am forever grateful for the lessons he taught me, the opportunities he provided, and the unshakable belief he had in my potential," said Sinn.

Department head Schutz is also a former student of Hansen’s. He says the numerous accolades Hansen has received over the years are well deserved, including UMN’s Morse Distinguished Teaching Award, the Purina Mills Outstanding Teaching Award, and the Hoard’s Dairyman Youth Development Award, to name a few.

“Les’s contributions to teaching, as well as student and youth development, will have a long-lasting impact,” said Schutz. “He has been a tireless recruiter of active 4-H and FFA dairy youth to the University of Minnesota, where many have distinguished themselves in dairy judging, student leadership and classroom scholarship. Additionally, many of his graduate students have participated in important genetics research and established impressive careers in the field.”

Digging in and speaking up

As a researcher, Hansen has focused on non-production traits of dairy cattle such as fertility and health. He closely studied genetic relationships and inbreeding of Holstein cattle, helping to quantify the impact of losing genetic diversity within the breed. It has been, at times, a controversial topic in the industry given the longstanding preference for purebred cattle. Yet Hansen never shied away from the topic, and that has inspired many of his students.

“The dairy industry is built upon tradition, and Les has reminded students that it’s important to be open to change,” said Ben Styer, an animal science major and vice president of the Gopher Dairy Club. “He cares deeply and is unafraid to speak his mind, both attributes that I admire and hope to emulate in my future career.”

Hansen credits his parents for encouraging candid conversation at the dinner table when he was a child. “The way I was raised, I was taught to speak up and not to avoid difficult conversations. I try to approach these things with a sense of humor and engage people in a discussion,” he said.

His knack for engaging crowds has made him a popular speaker at international dairy events. In the past 20 years, he has traveled to 21 countries for more than 45 speaking engagements. In 2023, the National Dairy Shrine named Hansen its Guest of Honor at the World Dairy Expo, recognition that is reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to the dairy industry through service and dedication.

Forever a coach

As retirement approaches, Les says he plans to stay connected to the industry he loves so much. He’ll continue working with the U of M dairy judging team alongside other coaches. Together they will do what he has done almost every year for the past four decades: travel to dozens of dairy farms to provide guidance and feedback as students practice evaluating hundreds of cattle.

“The highlight of my fall is visiting those farms with students,” said Hansen. “Being out on the farm with all these bright young minds, meeting with dairy farmers, talking about cattle. It must be what heaven is like.”