Learn about export opportunities for Pennsylvania dairy products and the potential to grow our market share through moving product overseas.

Our speakers for the Young Dairy Professionals Reception have all completed the On-Farm Internship program during their college years and now have meaningful, full-time careers serving the dairy industry. They share fresh, real-world perspective to high school and college students who are interested in pursuing careers in herd management, nutrition and beyond.

Learn about dairy processing supply chain logistics by getting an insider’s perspective on how milk moves from your farm to the retail space and the channels and challenges it encounters along the way.

Now that we know why environmental sustainability is linked to your business’ sustainability, come learn which on-farm practices are likely to get you the best bang for your buck, and where to find the resources and funding to get them implemented on your operation. There is more funding being committed to reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint than the total budget of some countries, and there are several projects and ways you can tap into some of that. Learn about the treasure trove of information on where the Climate Smart money is and what practices it will fund toward a win for the environment and your operation.

This session features an insightful panel discussion about how we can cultivate regenerative agriculture to increase biodiversity, improve soil health, protect waters, and support high-yielding livestock and growing businesses.

If we can’t meet the environmental demands and expectations of our customers, our industry isn’t going to be sustainable, and if our industry isn’t sustainable, it jeopardizes the sustainability of each farm business. Recognizing what “customer demand” means to your farm’s future is the first step. This panel discussion features professionals from all sectors of the food chain to discuss the interdependency of the environmental agenda and the viability of the dairy industry.

All too often we pour ourselves into caring for our animals at the expense of our own well-being. Being physically strong doesn’t matter if we aren’t mentally fit as well. This session equips you with strategies to effectively take control of your mental fitness, manage stress, take care of yourself, and be available to others in this high-demand field.

This session discusses the physiological impact of management interventions, including heat stress abatement, at various stages of the lactation cycle to help you harness that knowledge and optimize your herd health and performance.

We learned from our poultry partners the risk of not having a biosecurity plan for your operation. With National FARM’S new secure milk supply agreement, it’s easier than ever for dairy producers to put together a biosecurity plan that could protect you from a potential crisis. This session offers updates on what is involved and provide a clear-cut checklist for biosecurity planning on the farm.

By remaining laser-focused on breeding and genetics, many dairy producers are not only improving their herd’s performance but also enhancing their overall profitability. During this panel discussion, hear from multiple dairy producers who are infusing breeding and genetics into their herd management decisions.

Even professional athletes rely on coaches to assess their performance and advise them on how to up their game and achieve their peak performance. The same is true for dairy farming. This producer panel has tapped a second set of experienced eyes to look at their operations and bring an outside perspective to improving their operations and enhancing profitability. They share their personal experience on the best ways to stay open-minded when it comes to business coaching, consulting, and mentoring.

Developing a detailed business plan can help ensure your dairy business remains profitable, but your business plan isn’t something you can stick on the shelf once you finish it. It’s a living and breathing document that must evolve alongside your business– whether you open a farm store, install robots, bring on the next generation, or enter the retail space. In this panel discussion, hear from two dairy producers who have used their business plan to grow their businesses.

Technology is continually evolving, but how do you know if the “latest and greatest” dairy tech tools are worth investing in? What’s the true return on investment? In this panel discussion, several dairy producers have an honest conversation about their firsthand experience with tools like activity monitors, precision farming technology, feed watchers and more.

Diversifying the family farm can not only strengthen your dairy operation, but it can lead to future revenue streams. During this panel discussion, multiple dairy producers share their unique journeys, roadblocks they have encountered along the way, and the opportunities they have found with diversification.

What are the most common questions dairy farm families ask during the succession planning process? In this session, Andy Junkin has a candid conversation with real-world examples of how to solve some of the most challenging questions related to managing a family business and finding fusion as a team.

It’s not my farm or your farm – it’s the family farm that’s going to continue for another 50 years. Investing in your own future typically involves retirement planning, but how do you invest in your kids’ futures as well? This session with Lamar King focuses on strategies you can consider to secure a solid financial future for yourself, your children, and your farm.

Meet Andy Junkin, author of the book titled Bulletproof Your Farm and one of the keynote speakers at the 2023 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit. He lives by this motto: to help stubborn farmers work better together. In this exclusive podcast, Andy gives us a sneak peek at his Summit session and has an honest conversation with Pennsylvania’s very own Dr. Charlie Gardner – a retired dairy veterinarian who works closely with dairy farm families on finding common ground through succession planning. They describe some challenges they see in family businesses and strategies your team can take to stop being stubborn with each other and start being stubborn with the critical habits that make a farm successful. Visit www.padairysummit.org for more details about the Summit happening on February 8-9, 2023!

As you know, transporting milk and getting it on the shelves is something that happens 24/7, 365 days a year. However, with continued supply chain issues, navigating the logistics process continues to be a challenge. At the PA Dairy Summit in February, Eric Boyle, Director of Commodities at The Hershey Company, and Rick Wadhams, owner of Wadhams Enterprises, Inc., had an open and honest panel discussion during the "Navigating the Logistics Nightmare" breakout session. Listen back to their session!

Ed Herr, Chairman and CEO of Herr’s Potato Chips, grew up working in his family’s snack food business. The son of the Company’s founders – the late James S. and Miriam (Hershey) Herr – he learned the importance of hard work and valuing people at a very early age. As Chairman and CEO of Herr Foods Incorporated, Herr focuses his time on strategy, vision casting, and culture, and is committed to upholding the Herr family tradition of offering customers the very best products and service in the industry. With over 1,500 employees throughout the mid-Atlantic region, Herr seeks to steadily grow the family business while remaining true to the company’s founding principles. At the 2022 PA Dairy Summit, Herr shared how he is building a culture that cultivates a spirit of collaboration and appreciation for every individual on the team.

The Hemmingers are second and third generation owners and operators of Hemdale Farms Dairy and Greenhouses in Seneca Castle, New York. Today the third generation at Hemdale Farms leads a dedicated, high-energy team running a multi-enterprise operation. This includes a high-production 1,500 cow, 100% robotic dairy and growing quality forages, grain and vegetables. They also own and operate a greenhouse facility that grows plug plants for their farm and 20 other vegetable farms. During the Producer Showcase at the 2022 PA Dairy Summit, the Hemminger family will share their insights and model for success as they manage multiple enterprises and a generational family business.