After 18 years, the Central Washington Dairy Management Conference (CWDMC) will no longer be offered. Volunteer conference organizers made the decision recently, citing poor producer attendance as their main concern.

Central Washington businessmen Ken Vieira and Mike Cotterill established the conference with then Washington State University Extension Agent Eddie Thomason. Organizers created the conference to provide an effective means of delivering relevant, unbiased information to local dairy producers. The conference annually brought experts from across the nation to Sunnyside, Washington, to enable local producers to remain progressive and profitable.

The generosity of numerous local sponsors made the conference an incredible value for participants. Dairy industry outreach from Washington State University will continue through the university’s Veterinary Medicine Extension Department. The department offers online courses for producers, the Ag Animal Health newsletter and several seminars. For more information about these resources, call (509) 3350-8225.

CWDMC will continue to offer its annual $1,000 scholarship to qualified local students in the dairy industry until remaining funds are depleted (approximately five years). This award is administrated through the Yakima Valley Dairy Women who will provide application information in the Sunnyside Daily Sun sometime in the next few months.

Any questions regarding the conference may be directed to Cory Whiting, whitingc@post.com.