LEONARD POLZIN
Leonard Polzin grew up on a century-old Wisconsin dairy farm and received bachelor’s Degrees in Dairy Science and Agricultural Business from UW River Falls. He completed his graduate work in Agriculture and Resource Economics from Michigan State University. He brings extensive experience as an educator and analyst to the position, having developed and provided programing on topics including market analysis, outlook and market expectations, risk management, and policy analysis.
KEN HEIMAN
Ken Heiman and his wife, Joellen, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary! They have been blessed with 3 children - Michelle, a teacher in the WI Rapids public school district; Ryan, head of maintenance at Nasonville Dairy; and Josh, in charge of crops and cows at Heiman Holsteins dairy farm.
Though Ken was literally raised in cheese plants, his actual schooling led him to a degree in architectural design. After a few years in the design world, he found his way back to the cheese plant after his father was in a milk truck accident, leaving him in a pretty tough spot - as we know, blood is thicker than water - so Ken went where he was needed and that move led to his ultimate destiny - general manager and partner of Nasonville Dairy. At the time the Heiman family moved to Marshfield in late 1960 (that is Ken's parents, brothers and sister), the cheese plant was running around 7500# of production per day. Today, the plany is running over 1.8 million pounds per day.
Ken's first goal is the well-being of all the Heiman families, their employees and the farmers that are producing the milk supply. In any business, you can never forget the community in which you live. For that reason, Ken has served on a number of local boards including the bank, Marshfield Clinic Foundation Board, Camp Victory and others. On the dairy/trade side, Ken has also been active in the regional Central WI Cheese and Buttermakers Association (CWCBA) board, state level WI cheese Makers Association (WCMA) board, and the Dairy Farmers of WI (DFW, previously WI Milk Marketing Board (WMMB)).
He is a firm believer in working with the opportunities that you are given in life - even when some of them seem more like challenges at first. A few of his highlights, in addition to his children and grandchildren, include his 4 Master Cheesemaker Certifications, the WCMA (WI Cheese Makers Association) Life Member Awards, and the Central WI Cheese and Buttermakers Lifetime Achievement Award (a special honor his father earned years prior, and he shares with his younger brothers and business partners Kelvin and Kim).
MSGR. JOSEPH HIRSCH
Msgr. Joseph Hirsch, Director of Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II orphanage in Lurin, Peru is a priest of the Diocese of La Crosse. Growing up in a family of 11, life was always an adventure, much like his life is now with the children at Casa Hogar. Msgr. Hirsch, ordained in 1986, has worn many hats in his priesthood, as pastor at the Cathedral of Joseph the Workman and several rural parish assignments. Early in his priesthood he taught grade in La Crosse and high school in Wisconsin Rapids, with his last assignments in La Crosse being Vicar of Clergy and Director of Vocations. Msgr. Hirsch was then called to missionary work, first in Santa Cruz, Bolivia and finally at Casa Hogar. Msgr. Hirsch feels strongly that what he learned and did at all of the assignments prepared him for his current role, as the Director of Casa. For 11+ years, he has taught, counseled, prepared young people for their vocation and of course, provided the pastoral ministry that the children need, all with a little music and a guitar.