This year’s Women in Dairy Conference will mark the 10th anniversary of this biannual event designed to provide inspiration and insight for Pennsylvania women engaged in the dairy industry. It will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Best Western Premier Hotel, 800 East Park Drive, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Attendees are invited to be part of a pre-conference reception on Tuesday evening, Nov. 4, from 7 to 8 p.m.

The conference has become a highly anticipated event among Pennsylvania’s dairy women, offering a chance to spend a day with peers, sharing challenges and opportunities, and gaining knowledge on current issues within the industry.

Alexa Stoner, marketing manager, AgChoice Farm Credit, said, “Female dairy leaders continue to see the many opportunities that await us in this industry we all love. I believe the variety of topics at the conference, from production to financing a farm operation, gives attendees the information they need to be successful farm operators and industry leaders. The conference also allows participants to network with others in the industry and learn from each other.”

Planned and carried out by women in the industry, the conference is organized by the Penn State Extension Dairy Team.

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Cost to attend is $95 per person, and the registration deadline is Oct. 29.

Keynote speaker is Dr. Mike McGrann, director of the Family Business and Entrepreneurship Initiative at Saint Joseph's University, who will discuss “Family Farm Businesses & Intergenerational Transfers.” A panel of women will speak on their own stories of family transitions.

Breakout sessions include:

  • “Best Milking Practices,” Amber Yutzy, extension educator
  • “On-Farm Crisis Management,” Cindy Weimer and Laura England, Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association
  • “Dairy Women's Health,” Ginger Fenton, extension educator
  • “Building a Strong Foundation: Manage Your Finances for a Successful Future,” Chrystal Standish, AgChoice Farm Credit
  • “Transparency and Engagement: How We are Working to Change the Conversation about GMOs,” Kate Hall, Biotechnology Industry Association

Scholarships of $50 are available to the first 20 Pennsylvania Dairy Producer registrants, reducing registration cost to $45 per individual. These scholarships are available from the Center for Dairy Excellence on a first-come, first-served basis.

A special promotion offers a fourth person to attend free with the registration of three individuals. All four registrants must be registered together, all at the same time, as one group.

Sponsors include AgChoice and Mid-Atlantic Farm Credits, Elanco, Center for Dairy Excellence, Mid Atlantic Dairy Association, Schneiders Dairy and Merck.

Lisa Holden, Ph.D., professor of dairy science at Penn State and part of the extension dairy team, said, “One of the reasons this conference has been successful is the diversity of the planning committee – from dairy producers, to milk processors, agribusiness professionals and Center for Dairy Excellence staff – working with our Penn State faculty and extension educators to achieve excellence. Another reason for success is the focus on the perspective of women in the industry and the structuring of the program to best meet those unique needs.”

For more information and to register, visit the Penn State Extension website. PD

—From Penn State Extension news release