Sept. 30 2019 11:42 AM

Topics include economic outlook, nutrition, risk management, immigration, mental health, ag advocacy

The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

Get informed, empowered and inspired at the 2019 Central Plains Dairy Women’s Conference, Nov. 5-6, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bloomington, Minn. Sarina Sharp, a dairy market analyst and risk manager for Ag Business Solutions, Grand Rapids, Mich., kicks off the biennial event and will address the recovering dairy market. Sharp will offer her feed, milk, and livestock price outlook for the upcoming year.

Nine additional speakers fill out the 2019 Central Plains Dairy Women’s Conference program. Topics and presenters include:

  • 7 Consumer Trends Influencing the Future of Food & Agriculture – Nikki Putnam Badding, Alltech
  • Got Risk? Top 5 Reasons Why Risk Management is Extremely Important to Your Dairy – Tanya Schlenker, Marsh & McLennan Agency, LLC
  • Immigration Law – Michelle Eaton Scimecca, Vogel Law Firm
  • Beyond Balance: Organizing Strategies for Successful Careers and Families – Shannon Cowan, Fresh Perspective Organizing Services, LLC
  • Mental Health – Moderator Colleen Carlson, University of Minnesota extension, and Panelists Megan Roberts, University of Minnesota, and Monica Kramer McConkey, Eyes on the Horizon
  • Navigating Industry Activist Behavior – Marissa Hake, Midwest Veal, LLC
  • The Changing Consumer – Brianne Henderson, Midwest Dairy Association

“We’ve prepared a program that captures the many forces that confront dairy women – day in and out,” said Christina Zuiderveen, managing partner, Black Soil Dairy, LLC, Granville, Iowa. “This event focuses on women whose duties often reach beyond the typical dairy management duties of cattle nutrition, milk harvest and reproduction. They also need tools and resources to handle a dairy operation’s milk marketing, insurance, mental health, human resource, employee training, social media and advocacy work.”

In addition to its valuable information and resources, this conference offers an opportunity to network with dairy farm women from across the Central Plains. “The conference’s goal is to support women in dairy,” said Zuiderveen. “We strive to inform, empower and inspire.”

To register for the conference, go to: www.centralplainsdairy.com/womens-conference. Register by Oct. 31 to get the reduced registration rate of $150. The registration fee increases $25, starting Nov. 1. Interested individuals may register on site for $175. The student registration fee is $100.

The hotel room block rate of $129 ends Oct. 15, and is subject to availability. Call 952-922-1234 or go to: http://bit.ly/CPDairyWomen to reserve a hotel room.

For more information, contact Renee Brod at: renee@centralplainsdairyexpo.com.

The Central Plains Dairy Women’s Conference is 24 hours of networking, learning and fun, and is coordinated by Central Plains Dairy Association’s volunteers and staff. The Central Plains Dairy Association (CPDA) is a non-profit trade organization that works to grow the dairy industry in the Central Plains states through education and communication activities. CPDA’s current events include the Central Plains Dairy Expo, a trade show held annually in March, the Central Plains Dairy Golf Classic, a scramble golf tournament held the first Wednesday in August, and the Central Plains Dairy Women’s Conference, a two-day conference held biennially (odd years) in November.