Join the National Young Cooperators Program at World Dairy Expo

September 20, 2024

News

Join the National Young Cooperators Program at World Dairy Expo

Members of NMPF member cooperatives are invited to attend a seminar hosted by the National Young Cooperators (YC) Program on Thursday, Oct. 3. See below for schedule, speaker and registration information.

8:00 – 8:30 a.m.
Breakfast and Coffee
Mendota 2 Room, located in the Exhibition Hall
World Dairy Expo Alliant Energy Center

8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
Securing the Future: Lessons in Dairy Farm Transitions
Mendota 2 Room, located in the Exhibition Hall
World Dairy Expo Alliant Energy Center

Join the National Young Cooperators Program for an engaging panel discussion featuring dairy farmers who will share their firsthand experiences with farm transition. This session offers a unique opportunity to learn from those who have navigated the complexities of transitioning farm ownership and management. Panelists will openly discuss what concepts and strategies worked well and candidly explore the challenges and setbacks they encountered along the way. Whether you’re just beginning to think about succession farm transition or actively executing a transition plan, this session will provide practical insights and lessons learned to help you avoid common pitfalls and build a stronger, more secure future for your farm.

About the Speakers

The session will be moderated by Bridgeforth, LLP’s Jay Joy and Bruce Vande Steeg. Panelists will include:

Ben Smith is a fourth-generation dairy farmer at Cool Lawn Farms in Remington, Virginia. The farm milks 780 registered Holsteins, employs 18 people and farms 3,000 acres. In 2022, Ben was selected by his peers to serve as the 2022 Outstanding Young Cooperator for Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association.

Steve Ohlde is a second-generation dairy farmer at Ohlde Dairy, a business that has grown to include six sites in two states and employ more than 90 people. Today, the farm milks more than 4,100 cows and farms 5,000 acres. Steve and his wife Cindi this year were recognized with the Kansas Distinguished Dairy Award.

Hannah Lansing is the chairperson of NMPF’s National Young Cooperators Program and a dairy data and research specialist with Agri-King. Hannah and her husband Matthew were recently part of a family-run dairy in Clinton, Iowa, where they milk 1,100 cows and farm over 5,000 acres.

Myron Czech is a second-generation dairy farmer from Little Falls, Minnesota. The Czechs employ 13 part-time and full-time workers on their Pike Hills Dairy. They milk 550 cows and farm 1,200 acres. In 2006, they added New Heights Dairy with their son, Brent and his wife, Callie.

There is no cost to register for this or other NMPF-affiliated events at World Dairy Expo; however, admission tickets are required to access the World Dairy Expo grounds. Passes can be purchased online or onsite.