The 2018 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit highlights a well-diverse program for dairy
farmers, including a mix of presentations, discussions and breakout sessions that
bring insight to management styles and a changing industry. This year's Dairy
Summit is scheduled for Feb. 21 and 22 at the Penn Stater Conference Center.
The Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania and Center for Dairy Excellence
host this premier dairy event annually for dairy farmers of all production
methods.
Keynote and breakout speaker Ron Hanson, Harlan Agribusiness Professor
Emeritus, will speak on overcoming family challenges in relation to farm
succession as well as planning for success within the next generation. As a
retired University of Nebraska professor, Hanson has received university and
national award recognitions, including the USDA Excellence in University
Teaching Award. He has counseled with Nebraska farm families for over 40 years
to help resolve family conflicts in a more positive manner and to improve
family relations through better communication.
Investigative reporter Nina Tiecholz, who authored "The Big Fat
Surprise," will be a keynote speaker. She will discuss her thoughts on the
conventional wisdom about all fats with the groundbreaking claim that more, not
less, dietary fat -- including saturated fat -- is what leads to better health,
wellness, and fitness. Science shows that we have been needlessly avoiding
meat, cheese, whole milk and eggs for decades and that we can, guilt-free,
welcome these "whole fats" back into our lives.
Ron St. John, founder of Alliance Dairies in Trenton, Fla., will share his
insights and experience in growing a dairy business by bringing in and
transitioning to non-family partners and his tips for successfully turning it
all over to the next generation. Originally a New Yorker, St. John relocated
his family's dairy to North Central Florida in 1986, and blazed a trail of
innovation and expansion in dairy farming with Alliance Dairies; now the
largest free-stall dairy in one location within the state with more than 5,000
mature cows and employing more than 120 people.
Walt Coleman III, National Football League referee and family operator of Hiland
Dairy in Little Rock, will be an opening speaker. Coleman will share his
experiences and observations about the game of football and life, focusing on
leading through adversity. Officiating in the NFL since 1989, Coleman has
refereed 26 years of pre-season and regular season games, nine divisional
playoffs, six wild card playoffs and two conference championships and was an
alternate in Super Bowls XXXIV and XLII.
This year's summit will include four breakout tracks: Around the Table, At the
Desk, With the Cows and In the Field. Some of the breakout session topics
featured this year include:
- "Balancing Your Life: Farm, Self and Family" with Myra Handy of
Farm First. This session will discuss how to cope with stress, identifying
symptoms and signs of stress, and resources to help those with depression and
stress.
- "Constructing an Informed Financial Plan" with Tom Anderson of
Riverland Community College. This session will discuss financial models that
lead to sound business decisions, how to record and analyze those records, and
how financial models can benefit in volatile markets.
- "Maintaining/Growing a Productive and Satisfied Work Force" with
Dr. Rich Stop. This session will discuss pay strategies, SOPs for employee
management, performance evaluations, interviewing, training employees and
leadership.
- "Transitioning to Peak Performance" with Jim Osborne of Millerstown
Veterinary Associates, and Myron Gehman of Kurtz Valley Holsteins. This session
will discuss protocols associated with calving that east the transition period,
higher peak performance, and milk production during lactation.
- "Monitoring Reproductive Performance and Profitability" with Dr.
James Ferguson of University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center. This session
will discuss SOPs for maximizing reproductive performance with a focus on
profitable solutions that yield positive results.
- "Innovating Your Manure Management System" with Steve Rowe of
Newtrient Solutions. This session will discuss technology and innovations
available to maximize nutrient recovery and products available to make manure a
valuable resource.
Registration information will be made available in November.
To learn more about the program and to view highlights of the 2018
Pennsylvanian Dairy Summit program, go to padairysummit.org. Contact the
Pennsylvania Dairy Summit Business Office with questions at 814-355-2467 or
email info@padairysummit.org.