Wyse Honored as Friend of the Cattlemen Agri-View: Livestock News

Phil Wyse has a long history with UW-Platteville and the Wisconsin Beef Improvement Association. Wyse was recognized by the Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association as Friend of the Cattlemen at the WCA Winter Conference Feb. 15 and 16 in DeForest.

Wyse graduated from UW-Platteville in 1969 with a bachelor degree in animal science and following graduation moved into a career with Hormel located in Austin, Minn. in the area of livestock procurement.

Shortly after starting with Hormel, Wyse was drafted during the Vietnam conflict.

“I spent two years in the military,” he said. “One year in Germany.”

When Wyse returned from his military duties, he decided to get his masters and he and his wife returned to Platteville. His wife, Janean, also wanted to finish her undergraduate degree in physical education.

When the couple returned in 1971, Wyse served as a dormitory director while completing his masters in agriculture industry and agriculture education. In 1972, the farm director position became available and it was offered to Wyse.

Wyse didn’t plan to stay in the position for over 35 years, but has found it to be a great fit.

“I been here since 1972,” he said. “It’s been a great experience for me.”

Wyse enjoys being involved in all facets of agriculture through the farm and being part of higher education through the university.

“It’s been a great career for me I think,” he explained.

Wyse and Janean lived on the UW-Platteville farm for 19 years before building a house just a few miles away. Wyse usually takes those few miles to work on his bicycle.

“It’s close. I am able bicycle back and forth to work,” he said. “If there’s not snow and ice on the road I venture out.”

Physical work is no stranger to the Wyses. Janean taught physical education at grade school, high school and university levels and served as a gymnastics coach at a gymnastics school she operated.

As director of the Pioneer Farm he oversees the entire operation. He’s responsible for overall management of the farm including the financial aspect, cattle improvements, and Wisconsin Agriculture Stewardship Initiative research.

Wyse makes sure the farm is meeting its mission.

“Our mission is education,” he said. “It’s important we do the best we can with the resources we have here at the farm to meet that mission,” he said.

Following that mission is not always easy.

“We do have to wear several hats,” he said. “We have a responsibility to the farm and the university students, and also to do good quality research. We have a responsibility to the citizens of the state.”

Wyse credits his UW-Platteville Farm team for their hard work and dedication to the mission.

“We’ve got a great team,” he said - specifically for the beef enterprise n Alicia Prill-Adams and Fred Koeller.

“They do a great job with the beef enterprise,” he commended.

Wyse has seen a lot of change during his tenure. The dairy enterprise has been changed and remodeled building structures three times from a straight four milking parlor, milking around 60 cows to a 200 cow freestall barn with robotic milkers and double five herringbone.

The beef enterprise has seen a lot of advancement through biotechnology including embryo transfer.

“That’s how we built our present beef herd that we have right now,” he said. “It’s predominately Red Angus.”

The WBIA bull test and sale have been held at the farm since 1970. Wyse has been working with the sale and data collection since he has been working with the farm.

“We’ve had the bull sale at the farm since 1970,” he said. “There has only been two years when we have not had the bull test with the bulls present on the farm.”

Wyse has seen thousands of bulls and met hundreds of consignors through the test.

“That’s over 5,000 bulls and hundreds and hundreds of consignors,” he said.

The relationship between the Farm, WBIA, consignors and buyers has been positive.

“It’s been a great collaborative effort with beef producers in the state and particularly Wisconsin Beef Improvement Association,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate to work with great boards all these years.”

When not putting in time at the Farm, Wyse can be found with his family or outdoors. They have three grown children, Alyssa, Wade and Jenna and two grandchildren.

“Family is most important to me,” he said. “I try to be a decent husband and a father first.”