Joseph Chichester

As a DairyComp Support Specialist I have had the pleasure of working directly with many US and International customers to help them customize DairyComp to fit their needs. Working frequently with many of these customers has allowed me to foster lasting relationships.

As a Support Specialist, we face a large diversity of calls which range from onboarding new customers, setting up daily work lists, sync programs, vaccine programs, new integrations, reports etc. In this position, we work with all DairyComp products and I must be able to troubleshoot any issue that may arise.

Over the last several years, I have created a large document using OneNote which serves as a valuable resource for supporting DairyComp related products. This documentation also helps me assist other Support Technicians with support calls, especially new hires as they transition into this role.

I started as an assistant herdsman being responsible for feeding, overseeing dry cow and heifer care, and assisted with care of the milking herd. I also assisted in the expansion of the herd in 1999 into a new facility and oversaw all DairyComp and automation issues. In 2003, my responsibilities shifted to opening a 850 head heifer raising facility. Eventually, I oversaw all daily herd management activities at this facility plus all herd health protocols for the entire dairy (5,500 total head) which included treatments, vaccines and reproductive protocols. This role also included overseeing semen selection and contracts, genomic testing, installing CowManager, coordinating the sale of heifers, vendor relationships and managing DairyComp.

This position allowed me to return to dairy farming and acquire herdsman type skills involving the treatment of sick cows, calvings, vaccinations, feeding and reproduction. Also assisted in field work.

I began working at age twelve by helping harvest square bales of hay, milking, cleaning barns and planting corn. I continued to work here throughout high school and on weekends while attending college.