DAIRY NEWS – The 2023 Professional Dairy Producers® (PDPW) Business Conference brought together nearly 1,400 dairy producers and industry professionals March 15-16 at Kalahari Resorts in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.
“Empowering success” was the theme of the annual conference, which featured nearly 60 speakers during two days of learning, interactive sessions and networking opportunities. The event also featured an expanded Hall of Ideas trade and equipment show, the Nexus® Stage previewing new technologies and innovations, and youth leadership programming.
Speakers and facilitators challenged dairy farmers and industry professionals to not only expand their knowledge and skills for their own operations and businesses, but also to watch for opportunities to strengthen their communities and the dairy industry.
“The definition of ‘empower’ is to strengthen another person in one way or another. That’s what we’re doing here at Business Conference by providing the information, connections, conversations and inspiration to help dairy farmers strengthen their farms, families and communities,” said Katy Schultz, outgoing PDPW board president and Fox Lake, Wis., dairy producer. “It’s exciting to think about the value all our conference attendees will bring back and put to work on their farms to improve how they care for their animals, land and teams.”
Keynote speakers Dan Basse, president of AgResource Company; Jacob Shapiro, partner and director, Cognitive Investments; and Dr. Ed Seifried, professor emeritus of Economics and Business, Lafayette College, provided insights and analysis of the economic, geopolitical and market factors currently impacting the dairy industry. They also shared practical tips and strategies to strengthen their businesses in the near and longer-term future. Best-selling author Dr. Rick Rigsby closed out the event by inspiring attendees to rediscover what is most important in their career and personal life.
2023/2024 PDPW board elected
Conference attendees were introduced to their 2023-24 PDPW board members at the close of the recent event. Elected were Patty Dolph, Dolph Dairy LLC, Lake Mills, Wis.; JJ Pagel, Pagels Ponderosa Dairy LLC, Kewaunee, Wis.; and Laura Raatz, Wagner Farms, Oconto Falls, Wis.
Other PDPW board members include Janet Clark, Vision Aire Farms LLC, Rosendale; Paul Lippert, Grass Ridge Farm, Pittsville; and Brady Weiland, Weiland Dairy LLC, Columbus. Ken Feltz, Feltz Family Farms Inc., Stevens Point; John Haag, Haag Dairy LLC, Dane; and Corey Hodorff, Second-Look Holsteins LLC, Eden. Serving as PDPW board advisers to the 2023-24 board are Eric Birschbach of Ag Site Crop Consulting LLC, Curtis Gerrits of Compeer Financial, Josh Mullins of Mullins Cheese and Roger Olson of Zinpro Corporation.
2024 Business Conference theme, dates announced
Plans will soon be underway for the 2024 PDPW Business Conference. Set for March 13-14, 2024, at Kalahari Resorts in Wisconsin Dells, the theme will be “driving innovation.”
The 2023 PDPW Business Conference was held by Professional Dairy Producers® (PDPW) and occurred March 15-16, 2023, at the Kalahari Resorts in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. Dairy producers gathered for professional development and networking with fellow producers and other industry professionals. More highlights from the conference are available at www.pdpw.org. PDPW is a dairy-producer-led organization that provides educational programs and services to dairy producers and other industry professionals.
