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The Wisconsin Dairy Athlete of the Month sponsored by WisSports.net (WSN) in partnership with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin (DFW) aims to connect consumers with Wisconsin’s dedicated dairy farmers and the youth who grow and raise food for their local communities.  

DFW and WSN are recognizing high school student-athletes who are actively involved on a Wisconsin dairy farm and participate in at least one WIAA-sanctioned varsity sport. Dairy is a vital part of the economy in nearly every Wisconsin county, whether urban or rural. Family-owned farms, dairy processors and dairy-related businesses generate thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of economic activity while contributing to local income and tax revenues.

Nominate a high school athlete for the Wisconsin Dairy Athlete of the Month by clicking here.

Matthew Winch
Fennimore High School
Class of 2025
Winch’s Pine Grove Farms, LP

Sports:

Winch: I participate in football where I play linebacker and offensive line. I am also the captain and help bring the team together and lead the team both on and off the field. I was second team all-conference in 2023. During the winter I play basketball where I have started on the varsity team for the past 2 years. I have been all-conference for pole vaulting and discus in track.

How do you balance farm, school and athletics?

Winch: Balancing farm work, school, and athletics has been a struggle my entire high school career. In order to keep being involved in all these, I had to take away from my sleep time. I wake up early to do chores, go to school and lift, then have classes and then practice. After I practice, which is late, I come back home to do any chores that are left or to breed cows. After I stay up late doing homework.

What hobbies / interests do you have outside of dairy farming? 

Winch: Outside of dairy farming, my hobbies include helping at local vet clinics, clipping show cattle along with showing them, dairy judging, and hanging out with friends.

How else are you involved in your local community?

Winch: I am currently serving as president of my FFA Chapter.  I am also in 4-H, band, student council, and National Honors Society.

ON THE FARM

What is your farm story and how long have you been involved in the operation?

Winch: Our family dairy, Winch’s Pine Grove Farms, LP milks 240 cows. I have been a part of the farm and in the barn since I was a baby. The cows are milked with 4 DeLaval robots. We also have an automatic calf feeder. Our farm has had the opportunity to host many different groups over the years to share our story about technology.

What is your role on the farm?

Winch: On the farm, my main role is breeding. I do the majority of all the breeding on the farm, except when I am at school. I also take care of calving cows, and process and feed the newborn calves. I work with my dad on selecting sires. During the summer I do a lot of work in the fields, cutting, raking, and hauling hay. My day-to-day jobs include feeding calves and raking and scraping free stalls as well.

Who do you farm with?

Winch: I farm with my parents on my family's farm as well as with my two brothers.

What is your favorite part of being involved with the farm?

Winch: My favorite part about being involved with the farm is the satisfaction I get out of breeding a cow, which she calves, raising the calf to where it is producing milk, and helping the farm make money. It shows that what I am doing allows life to thrive on the farm, which makes me feel good.

What is your most proud moments or farm achievements/awards?

Winch: In 2023 our 4-H dairy judging team placed 2nd at state and got to judge at the All-American contest where we placed 4th. That same year our FFA judging team won state and went on to place 3rd at the national contest. I was 2nd high individual and 1st high in oral reasons. This success earned us an invitation to go to Ireland and Scotland this past summer to judge. 

I have a small herd of Milking Shorthorn and Red and White Holstein cattle that I show across the state and country. My animals have won multiple awards, including Milking Shorthorn Junior Champion of the junior show at the North American International Livestock Exposition in 2022 and honorable mention at World Dairy Expo in 2023. This year, I had an animal who was named Reserved Champion Bred and Owned at the state fair. I won the Master Showmanship contest this year at our county fair. 

What product is your milk turned into?

Winch: Our farm ships our milk through Scenic Central Cooperative. It ends up at Meister Cheese where it is made into cheese for Chipotle Restaurants through the Cows First Program.

What sustainability practices do you employ on your farm?

Winch: On our farm we have a pasture for grazing the cows. We practice no-till, minimum tillage, and have our crop ground laid out in contour strips. Our manure is dragged line to minimize run-off. There are numerous waterways throughout out crop ground as well. Within the dairy, water from the plate cooler is collected and recycled in the waterers for the cows.

Future Plans:

Winch: I plan to attend Iowa State University for an undergraduate major in animal science in hopes of later attending vet school to become a veterinarian, specializing in large animals and embryo transfer.

Nominate a high school athlete for the Wisconsin Dairy Athlete of the Month by clicking here.

One athlete will be selected from nominations received each month.  Selected student athletes will be featured on www.wissports.net as well as DFW and WSN social media channels. 

About Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin

Funded by Wisconsin dairy farmers, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is a non-profit organization that focuses on marketing and promoting Wisconsin's world-class dairy products. For more information, visit our website at wisconsindairy.org.