Jan. 14 2020 09:28 AM

Dairy’s Premier Educational Event Will Feature Best-in-Class Education & Networking

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.

Presented by Professional Dairy Producers® – (PDPW) the 2020 PDPW Business Conference will be held March 18-19, 2020 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis., The two-day professional development Conference will once again be a gathering place for dairy’s dairy producers and key thought leaders.

The 28th annual Conference, themed “Focus 2020,” will bring together farmers, animal scientists, crop advisors, nutritionists, veterinarians, and other agribusiness leaders. Attendees can expect a positive and forward-thinking atmosphere, matched with best-in-class ideas, solutions, resources, and experiences that dairymen and women can take back to the farm immediately and affect the dairy’s bottom line.

The all-inclusive event is packed with educational sessions, hands-on wet labs, workshops, a world-class trade show, the Preview Stage showcasing cutting-edge research, and the newly launched talentCONNECT™, which will highlight dairy’s up-and-coming talent, and much more to round out the experience.

With over 40 speakers including dairy science experts, researchers, and dairy producer panelists, we are proud to bring 39 unique educational sessions to the event – there is something for everyone. Led by the Conference Emcee Bill Baker, a nationally syndicated radio broadcaster and host of Dairy Radio Now, attendees will hear from 5 keynote speakers, who will challenge our attendees to re-train their brain, innovate, create, and empower team members. They’ll also help attendees differentiate between what can be controlled and what cannot, and that controlling what they can is the place to start.

Keynotes include:

  • Doug Hall, starring in two network television series and a nationally syndicated radio program. Hall was also named one of America’s top innovation experts by Inc. magazine. He’ll share that innovation and creativity is birthed from being pressed and pushed to the limits in his opening session keynote: “Dream. Adapt. Innovate.” on Wed., March 18 at 11:00 a.m.
  • Greg Schwem, trainer, author and founder of the Management Development Institute offered at San Diego State University, will challenge each attendee to “use your brain to win,” in his evening keynote: “Laugh at yourself!,” on Wed., March 18 at 6:30 p.m.
  • Eric Snodgrass, a principal atmospheric scientist, who provides frequent weather updates focused on the influence of high-impact weather events on global ag productivity, partnered with Dan Basse, well-known ag economist, will join forces and highlight the complexity and interrelated components of ag markets and the increasingly erratic weather patterns faced domestically and globally in their morning keynote: “When weather and markets collide,” on Thu., March 19 at 10:00 a.m.
  • Mark Nutsch is an inspirational keynote and former commander of the first Green Beret unit that went into Afghanistan shortly after the 9/11 bombing. His heroic story inspired the major motion picture “12 Strong” and continues to serve as an effective reminder that perspective plays a powerful role in day-to-day life. Mark will share his story in his closing keynote: “Freedom isn’t free” on Thu., March 19 at 3:30 p.m.

“PDPW was built on the desire for continuous education,” Shelly Mayer, dairy producer and PDPW executive director said. “When producers come to the Business Conference, they’re not only saturated with educational resources, they’re also surrounded by people who understand the path they’re walking. Fellow dairy producers help sharpen their saw and fill up the tank. There’s nothing like being with those who are in step with you.”

To learn more or register for the 2020 PDPW Business Conference, visit https://pdpw.org/businessconference/ or contact PDPW at 1-800-947-7379.

Professional Dairy Producers (PDPW) is the nation's largest dairy producer-led organization of its kind, focusing on producer professionalism, stakeholder engagement and unified outreach to share ideas, solutions, resources and experiences that help dairy producers succeed.