The 2014 Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW) Business Conference will offer a diverse lineup of speakers and sessions ranging from dairy production and profitability to maintaining relationships and public trust, March 12-13 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

“Today’s dairy business is extremely demanding,” says Mark Diederichs, dairy producer from Malone, Wisconsin, and president of the PDPW board of directors. “Evolving consumer preferences, rapidly changing technology and the constant margin squeeze can bring so much pressure that we wonder if it is possible to add anything more to our plate.”

This year’s keynote speakers will focus on how dairy producers can meet and exceed expectations:

• “Profits and Public Trust: How to Become a Radically Transparent Dairy Producer” will be presented by Charlie Arnot, a business consultant and CEO of Center for Food Integrity. Arnot will explain how the bar of consumer expectations is being raised and how professional dairy producers can balance public interest, animal well-being and the environment with profitability.

• In “Exceeding Excellence: What It Takes to Be One of the Few,” Navy’s Lieutenant Commander Rorke Denver will challenge and inspire. Denver trains the men who become Navy SEALs – the most creative problem-solvers on the modern battlefield. With his years of life-and-death mission experiences and a top training role, Denver understands exactly how soldiers are recruited, sculpted, motivated and deployed. Denver helps them exceed excellence just when they thought they could do no more. He will recount epic stories from his service as a Navy SEAL, and apply the value of training, preparation, teamwork and motivation to today’s workforce.

• In “Beyond the Kitchen Walls of the White House,” former White House Chef Walter Scheib will offer an intimate, human view of the two First Families he served – the Bush and Clinton families – from the corridors of political power to interesting international personalities. Scheib is an outspoken champion of America’s bounty, and through his story we will see the opportunities for creating truly unique food that binds cultures and families together. Scheib’s story will make dairy producers feel extremely proud to produce food in America.

• Economist Dan Basse will present “Eyes on Horizon, Pencils to Paper,” focusing on future profitability as feed markets, the U.S. economy, USDA programs and world demand shift and churn. The convergence of all these global factors requires dairy producers to exceed previous financial benchmarks. Basse will walk through world dairy outlook, milk prices and feed trends.

• NFL wide receiver Jordy Nelson will tell his story, “How a Farm Kid Prepared for a Moment of Opportunity.” Drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft, Nelson spent three seasons waiting in the wings behind talented veteran receivers. He was finally given his chance to shine in Super Bowl XLV. Since that banner day, Nelson has been expected to stay at the top of his game at a very competitive and demanding level. Nelson will share what his ongoing connection to agriculture brings to his career as a professional football player.

In addition to the keynotes, 16 morning and afternoon specialty sessions take place on both March 12-13, offering broad coverage of topics of greatest concern to today’s diverse dairy farm operations. New this year, three “FreshPicks” stages, in the Hall of Ideas and Large Equipment Show, will feature 12 different “hot topic” presentations by fresh voices from around the country.

When not in sessions, dairy producers can browse the Hall of Ideas and Large Equipment Show, expanded to include more and larger exhibits, showcasing the innovative products, ideas and technologies from industry-leading companies that serve the dairy industry.

Register here for the 2014 conference or call (800) 947-7379. PD

—From PDPW news release