The holiday season is upon us once again, and it is both a magical and stressful time of year. While I look forward to Christmas traditions and creating new memories with loved ones, I also know there is a lot of work associated with the closing year transitioning to the next one.

It’s also the season of gift giving. For many of us, we choose to show our appreciation for family, friends and team members by exchanging gifts. And that expectation can add to one’s stress load. I have found that one of the best gifts we can give is the gift of lifelong learning. Not only is it a gift we can give to ourselves and our team members, it’s an investment in our skills, expertise and leadership development that will never expire.

In today’s dairy industry, we’re fortunate to have a variety of options that fit the needs of everyone on the team. Whether it is in-person events, peer networks or on-demand training when it fits your schedule, I encourage everyone to look for the right course or program in your area. As a board member of Professional Dairy Producers (PDP), their programs are my first stop for options. Having said that, there are many top-quality programs across the country that can meet the needs of every dairy team.

Here are a few reasons to consider giving the gift of learning to everyone on your team, including yourself.

Set the example

A culture of learning and continuous improvement starts with you. Investing in your own skills and expertise sets the standard for the rest of the organization. By including learning opportunities in your dairy’s annual planning process, you’re positioned to assess what skills need to be improved on as your business grows or transitions.

Incentivize and celebrate your team

Give standout team members recognition and the opportunity to build their technical and management skills. Programs like Herdsperson Conference and Calf Care Connection are great opportunities to enhance specialized skills, and investing in leadership development programs such as Dairy Managers Institute and Cornerstone Academy helps prepare the next generation of managers and leaders. Providing a hotel stay for multi-day programs is also an opportunity for key employees to get away with their family members while they’re off-site in training sessions.

Make it a getaway

That same concept applies to the leaders of the dairy. Make the most of a one- or two-day workshop by stepping away from the office, turning off the cell phone and focusing on the program content. Take time to learn new skills, create connections and build expertise for the future while temporarily looking away from your to-do list. Turn it into a getaway with dinner out or night at a hotel.

Build new friendships and connections

When attending an educational program, make a point to meet someone new. Ask questions, introduce yourself and be intentional about expanding your network. Making new connections with fellow dairy professionals who have similar questions and experiences can be deeply satisfying – and informative – as you consider new practices, equipment or technologies for your own operation. Many lifelong friendships, and even partnerships, got their start with a simple introduction at an educational program.

See the world

PDP offers once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that combine learning with travel to U.S. and international destinations. They take care of the travel planning and logistics, giving you a tax-deductible opportunity to see the natural wonders and history of places like Australia, California, Germany, Italy and more. The programs feature dining, sightseeing and more, along with visits to farms and agricultural businesses, all pre-planned for you and with fellow dairy producers as travel companions. The annual Managers Academy for Dairy Professionals is annually held in January – deliberately in warm-weather locations around the U.S. – to provide executive-level training and out-of-industry tours to learn from national leaders and experts. In 2025, Managers Academy will be Jan. 7-9 in Dallas, Texas.

Stay on top of the latest issues and trends

From new research to novel technologies and changing consumer expectations, our industry is changing faster all the time. Watch for training programs with leading researchers and industry experts to bring you the latest news. Two to consider: the two full days of programming at PDP’s 2025 annual business conference or three-times-weekly one-hour broadcasts of The Dairy Signal webinar.

Take a quick break

Find your favorite podcast, webinar or newsletter and be intentional about the time you spend. Don’t just scan or listen on the go. Watch, listen or read the content without interruption and give yourself the time and mental bandwidth to focus on the subject matter.

Invest in the future

Every event you attend makes your team and your business stronger, helping you to build a foundation for productivity, profitability and sustainability for today as well as for the next generation.

I wish everyone the best in the holiday season and the new year. May you work proficiently through the areas that need attention and then take time to rest, enjoy family and friends, reflect on the past year and recharge for the new one.

John Haag owns and operates Haag Dairy LLC, in Dane, Wisconsin, with his son Josh. Haag Dairy raises all their replacements on the 150-cow dairy in addition to selling approximately 50 cows a year to other farmers for their replacements. He serves as president of PDP board of directors and has been involved with the Dane County Promotion Committee, serving as a director-at-large for the past four years. He’s also been Lodi FFA alumni president for 12 years and an East Central/Select Sires delegate for seven years.

This column is contributed by Professional Dairy Producers (PDP), the nation’s largest dairy producer-led organization of its kind. PDP focuses on producer professionalism, stakeholder engagement and unified outreach to share ideas, solutions, resources and experiences that help dairy producers succeed.