Staff
Larry Adams - Herdsman
Larry grew up in Northwest Montana on a small dairy farm. He attended Mount Ellis Academy and later Walla Walla College where he earned a BS degree in Biology and worked at the Walla Walla College Farm where he subsequently spent twenty-one years as herdsman and farm manager. During that time he received a Masters Degree in animal science from Montana State University and Helped his wife raise two children. He then spent five years in Southern Idaho working for dairymen as herdsman before beginning his work at Andrews University. He enjoys most outdoor activities but especially fishing and learning to play golf as well as spending time with his wife and family and small group activities at PMChurch.
Mike Carpenter - Herdsman
Mike grew up in Bangor, MI. He attended Andrews University and graduated with a degree in Agriculture. Mike is married to Heather and now lives in Buchanan, MI with their 5 children. For fun he milks his Nubian goats.
Dennis Willis - Assistant Herdsman
Born in Michigan in 1958 (just a short time ago). When he was nine his family, including mom, dad and two brothers, moved to Californital. He started milking cowns when he was just 13 years old. He always loved working with the animals. He met the love of his life and got married in 1976. In 1986 he moved his family to Michigan and now has 4 beautiful children, 2 grandchildren and another on the way. Hobbies include collecting milking equiment and doing projects at home.
Mike Harrington - Feeder
Mike was born in 1958 and raised in Centeral New York. He joined the SDA church at age 7 and attended Vienna SDA Elementry school from 2nd to 8th grade. From there he attended Herbert Hills Academy, a self supporting SDA school. In the spring of 1977 he applied to Andrews University and went home to wait and see if he was accepted. Two months later he received a letter indicated he was accepted, but upon arival to the campus he learned that his application was placed in the wrong pile. After consideration it was established that Mike could attend the "Occupational Education" program and in 1978 he recived a certificate in Auto Mechanics and was employed at College Wood Products till its closing a few years later. A few years later he was able to come on as a full time staff employee at the AU Dairy. Mike is married with two children and enjoys riding snow mobiles, motorcycles, feed trucks and tractors. He enjoys a wide variety of foods. Mike is an active member of the Village SDA Church in Berrien Springs where he serves as a Deacon and Kindergarden Sabbath School Teacher.
Cyndi Birney - Building Supervisor
Cyndi was born in Sacrameto, California but mostly grew up in Meadow Vista, (north of Sacramento). Her dad had several cows/calves for her two older brothers to raise. Her family pasteurized their own milk. They had goats, chickens, bunnies and at one point had pigeons, along with plenty of dogs and cats over the years. Her mother grew flowers and had a huge garden so she LOVES flowers and does a little gardening still. Cyndi attnded all 4 years of high school at Rio Lindo Academy in Healdsburg, CA where she made some life-long friends. She has a degree in Early Childhood Education from PUC. While there she met and married her husband Dayle at the farm (where they both worked) over 30 years ago. Dayle and Cyndi have two grown daughters. Jenny completed a degree in Agriculture here at AU and is now working on her masters in Church Managment. Jolene also graduated from AU in Pre-Veterinary Medicine and is a Veterinarian as of 5/7/10. Her hobbies include hosting dinner parties for friends and family (plus any stragglers that come along), watching flowers bloom in the spring, spending time with Dayle (espeically since they are empty nexters) and getting to see the many students she has become attached to come back and visit. Cyndi's favorite food is chocolate ice-cream!
Dayle Birney - Crops Manager
Dayle has never gotten over a love of playing with tractors. It all started on his grandfather's farm in Saskatchewan and his uncle's farm in Alberta. He graduated from Pacific Union College in California with a BS degree in Agriculture. Since college he has worked on dairys in Washington and Oregon before moving to Michigan to work at the AU Dairy.