No matter your learning style, farm or business goals, there is something for everyone in the dairy industry at the 2023 Business Conference. Presented by the Professional Dairy Producers (PDPW), the conference will take place March 15-16 at Kalahari Resorts in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. The conference will feature a wide variety of keynote, breakout, hands-on and other sessions. Sessions will be simultaneously translated into Spanish.

With the theme “Empowering Success,” the sessions at the educational event will highlight new ideas, research and insights attendees can put to work right away on their farms. Emcee Michael Hoffman will kick off the general session and help facilitate the two-day conference.

Here’s a look at three producer panels:

• “Dig into cover crops,” a day-one morning specialty session, will feature dairy farmers with experience in cover crops, including how they first incorporated ground cover into their nutrient management objectives and a look at their results, learnings and obstacles. Panelists include John Koepke of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, and Duane Ducat of Deer Run Dairy LLC in Kewaunee, Wisconsin. In addition, Adam Baumann, a crop and beef producer from Marathon, Wisconsin, will share in the discussion. Amber Radatz, agriculture water quality manager with the University of Wisconsin – Madison Extension, will facilitate the panel.
  
  
• “Feeding out cost of production” is a day-one afternoon breakout session that will take a deep dive into how dairy producers calculate their cost of production with a heavy emphasis on forage. The trio of producers will also share how they determine the value of feed ingredients and quality, as well as how they measure, manage and control shrink. Dr. Andrew Bohnhoff, nutrition consultant for Prairie Estates Genetics, will facilitate the panel that includes David Trimner, co-owner and general manager of Miltrim Farms in Athens, Wisconsin; Shawn Kemp, CFO and consultant of Pico/Dos Pico Dairy in Loveland, Colorado; and Scott Brenner, dairy producer of Hunter Haven Farms in Pearl City, Illinois.
  
  
• “More than a side-hustle,” is a day-two afternoon breakout session that will get to the heart of what it takes to launch, grow and maintain a successful value-added business on an active dairy farm. Hear from panelists Ken Smith, dairy producer and owner of Moo Thru Ice Cream in Remington, Virginia, and John Rosenow of Cochrane, Wisconsin, dairy producer and owner/CEO of Cowsmo Compost Inc. Both have created new revenue streams in separate ways. The panel will be facilitated by Katy Schultz, dairy producer and owner of Tri-Fecta Farms in Fox Lake, Wisconsin.

Sessions at the conference will provide attendees with tools and insights to prioritize their own well-being to better serve their teams, farms and families.

The following sessions will center their attention on personal and relational health and wellness:

• “Nutrition for the non-ruminant,” is a day-one morning specialty session presented by health and nutrition coach Morgan Ekovich designed to focus on the nutrition necessary for the people caring for the cows. She will take a practical approach to planning meals and snacks with healthy options that fit busy lifestyles and individual taste preferences.
  
  
• “Stretching for health and mobility,” also presented by Ekovich, is a day-two morning specialty session that will offer tips to get attendees moving around. She will share and demonstrate simple methods to protect the body from the physical wear and tear of dairy farming while building endurance, strength and flexibility.
  
  
• “Goodbye, ‘help wanted’ … hello new team member!” is a day-two morning specialty session presented by Michael Hoffman, founder and owner of Igniting Performance Inc. Hoffman will help attendees rethink their approach to job postings and how they describe the qualities they are looking for in a new team member. He will also share success strategies that attract and retain team members who will be motivated to take the initiative and be a part of ongoing team success.
  
  
• “Making relationships real,” also presented by Hoffman, is a day-one Learning Lounge session. Attendees will learn techniques to allow conversations to flow naturally to subsequently develop rapport and build meaningful relationships. He will illustrate how relationships are not built solely on talking but also on effectively listening.
  
  
• “Time with Tom,” will draw attendees into Tom Thibodeau’s inner circle during a day-one Learning Lounge. Intimately familiar with the fact that so much of our response to situations in life is mind over matter, Thibodeau will share strategies to fine-tune your thinking and feel inspired to return to farm and family life. 

The 2023 Business Conference will also feature the Nexus stage to showcase new innovations and technologies and five Preview Stage sessions featuring research insights. There will also be an expanded Hall of Ideas and Equipment show, as well as Youth Leadership sessions led by Hoffman for teens ages 15-18.

Visit the 2023 Business Conference website for the conference flier, hotel and registration details, as well as information on exhibiting at the event.

The 2023 PDPW Business Conference offers 810 minutes of accredited training through such providers as Dairy AdvanCE (DACE), American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) and Certified Crop Adviser (CCA).