Joshua Butler has been with Allied Cooperative since 2016, where he serves as a Sales Specialist with supervisory responsibilities. As a Large Herd Specialist, he works with dairy producers across all three locations, helping them optimize both cow health and overall profitability.

A graduate of UW–River Falls with a degree in Dairy Science, Joshua brings a strong educational foundation paired with hands-on agricultural experience. Originally from Watertown, WI, he grew up helping his uncle on a 90-cow registered Holstein farm, which shaped his lifelong passion for the dairy industry.

What Joshua enjoys most about his work is the opportunity to connect with customers who share the same love for dairy cows and the impact they have on our lives. He encourages producers to stay open to new ideas and adapt to the ever-changing dairy and ag industries. His approach to customer partnerships focuses on driving profitability while ensuring herd health remains a top priority.

Outside of work, Joshua enjoys spending time outdoors—especially duck hunting and walleye fishing.
 

Jason Berdan has been part of Allied Cooperative for 16 years, where he serves as a Livestock Production Specialist with a strong focus on dairy. He holds a B.S. in Agricultural Studies with minors in Dairy Science and Agronomy, giving him a well-rounded foundation to support producers in an ever-changing industry.

Originally from Auburndale, Jason’s passion for agriculture runs deep. Both his parents and in-laws are actively farming, and his children proudly show pigs at the local county fair—keeping the next generation rooted in agriculture.

Jason enjoys working with customers because of the new challenges each day brings. He believes that “change is inevitable—we must be aware of those changes and find ways to move forward.” By taking time to understand a producer’s truest goals and identifying the biggest limitations to reaching them, Jason partners with customers to create practical, results-driven solutions.
 

Allison brings her years of personal and professional experiences to any operation she works with. It’s a multi-level approach that she’s garnered over the years in various areas within the agricultural industry.

The foundation of her dairy knowledge begins right at her roots with growing up on a 50-cow dairy farm in Eau Claire County. While pursuing her Dairy Science and Agricultural, Food and Business Management degrees from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Allison continued to build on her knowledge through various internships within Wisconsin as well as abroad.

Those experiences have helped build a wide range of skills that  allows her to help customers create and reach their goals. Not only is she another set of eyes on your farm, but she is a nutrition consultant, product advisor, data collector and most importantly a valuable part of your team.

Chris Curran joined Allied Cooperative in 2024, bringing with him decades of experience in dairy nutrition, forage quality, and feed sales. He grew up on his family’s dairy farm near Taylor, WI, where he was active in 4-H and FFA, and went on to earn a B.S. in Broad Area Agriculture with a minor in Agronomy from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls.

Chris began his professional career with Land O’Lakes Feed, serving as a Livestock Production Specialist at Tomah Coop Services and Federation Coop. He later returned home to farm alongside his parents, running the family dairy for 18 years. After selling the herd, Chris re-entered the cooperative system in 2012 with Purina, once again focusing on dairy nutrition in Trempealeau and Buffalo counties before joining Allied.

With a deep understanding of both the producer and consultant perspectives, Chris enjoys building strong relationships with farm families and being part of their team. He works to provide not only nutrition expertise but also practical guidance and collaboration with other Allied team members to help solve challenges and improve results on the farm. His guiding philosophy is simple: “We need to work with what we have today and plan for tomorrow.”

Chris and his wife, Mary, have lived on their farm for 31 years, where they maintain a small beef herd and rent cropland and a feedlot to a neighboring farmer. Outside of work, he values time with family, the farming lifestyle, and supporting local agriculture.
 

Steve Heckel has been part of the cooperative system for 35 years, bringing extensive knowledge and experience in livestock production and quality assurance to Allied Cooperative members across central Wisconsin. A graduate of UW–Platteville with a degree in Agronomy (1982), Steve has worked in feed sales and service since 1991, specializing in dairy and multi-species nutrition.

What Steve enjoys most about his role is the opportunity to work outdoors and alongside farmers who share his passion for agriculture. Originally from Mosinee, WI, he grew up in rural Marathon County and continues to help care for his family’s land today.
 

Katie Murphy has been serving Allied Cooperative members as a nutritionist since 2016, specializing in livestock and dairy nutrition. She holds a degree in Animal Science from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls and began her career in agriculture as an artificial insemination technician before joining Allied.

Katie takes pride in working side by side with producers, helping them reach and surpass their goals while building long-lasting relationships based on trust. She enjoys teaching and equipping customers with practical tools they can use every day—from adjusting forage moistures and timing harvests correctly to enhancing calf health and management practices. Her philosophy is simple: do the best you can with the resources available to you.

Originally from eastern Minnesota, Katie and her family crop farm corn and soybeans, raise performance Quarter Horses, and regularly compete in barrel racing. Outside of work, life is busy and full at home with 12 horses and four large dogs.

John Schneider has been serving Allied Cooperative members since 2014, bringing more than a decade of experience as a Livestock Production Specialist and Seed Sales Specialist. Based out of Seymour, John works closely with dairy, beef, show feed, and seed customers, providing tailored solutions to help each operation thrive.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, John grew up on his grandfather’s dairy farm in Black Creek, Wisconsin, and later owned a herd of beef cows for nearly ten years. Today, he and his family continue their agricultural traditions through his daughters’ involvement in showing pigs at local county fairs and the Northeast Youth Livestock Show.

John enjoys getting to know his customers personally and learning about the unique aspects of their farms. His approach is simple: treat each operation as if it were his own, making recommendations he would confidently follow himself. His favorite advice to share with farmers is, “Do what works best for you, not what works best for others.”

Outside of work, John lives in Pulaski and enjoys hunting and supporting his daughters’ extracurricular activities.

Nicholas Schuster has been a Livestock Production Specialist with Allied Cooperative since 2022, specializing in dairy nutrition. He grew up on a 40-cow dairy in eastern Wisconsin and went on to earn a Dairy Herd Management Certificate through the University of Wisconsin–Madison Farm and Industry Short Course. His hands-on experience includes working as an assistant herdsman at both an 80-cow dairy and a 1,500-cow dairy, giving him a strong foundation in herd management and production practices.

Today, Nicholas partners with producers to help them achieve their herd’s nutrition and production goals while also maximizing crop harvests to support feed needs. He values tailoring his approach to each customer, recognizing that priorities vary from farm to farm, and always keeps the cows’ well-being at the center of his recommendations. Known for being consistent, detail-oriented, and reliable, Nicholas continually builds his knowledge by learning from peers at Allied Cooperative and Purina to deliver the best resources to his customers.

Outside of work, Nicholas enjoys developing and preparing cattle for shows at local, state, and national levels. He supports FFA members by providing animals for projects at the Fond du Lac Fair and Wisconsin Junior State Fair and has proudly helped develop multiple Champion and Reserve Champion animals at the national level. He also maintains a small herd of his own and manages 30 acres of hay land for both personal use and sales.