News & Media
PDP Announces New Calendar of Educational Programs
June 30, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shelly Mayer
800-947-7379
mail@pdpw.org
2025-26 program calendar
2025-26 calendar imagery
PDP Announces New Calendar of Educational Programs
Producer-led organization releases schedule of programs featuring multiple formats, simultaneous translation
DAIRY NEWS – As the dairy industry continues to innovate and make management decisions based on changing circumstances, it is critical for the dairy sector to be at the leading edge of technologies, business practices and the latest research. Throughout the 2025-26 program year, Professional Dairy Producers® (PDP) will deliver a full slate of in-person and virtual training opportunities designed to equip dairy professionals with the tools they need to be successful, including a number of programs with simultaneous Spanish translation.
“We’re excited to introduce this next calendar of programming designed to help forward-thinking dairy farmers meet their goals for productivity, professional growth and sustainability,” said Shelly Mayer, executive director of PDP and dairy farmer from Slinger, Wis. “Today’s dairy teams are expected to excel in multiple areas – animal care, sustainability, financial management, community relations, and more. PDP’s programming reflects those needs while incorporating simultaneous translation into Spanish and offering programs beyond our state borders.”
Signature programs that PDP will once again organize include:
The majority of PDP programming qualifies for continuing education credits. Dairy farmers, students and industry professionals can find, track and record their continuing education and professional development through Dairy AdvanCE®. The online tool has emerged as dairy’s go-to resource for finding accredited professional development offerings. Learn more and register at dairyadvance.org. Several programs will also qualify for continuing education credits from programs including ARPAS, CCA and RACE.
Details and registration information are available for all programs at www.pdpw.org or by calling PDP at 800-947-7379. The program calendar remains flexible to allow for adjustments in member needs and industry events.
Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) is the nation's largest dairy producer-led organization of its kind, focusing on producer professionalism, stakeholder engagement and unified outreach to share ideas, solutions, resources and experiences that help dairy producers succeed.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shelly Mayer
800-947-7379
mail@pdpw.org
2025-26 program calendar
2025-26 calendar imagery
PDP Announces New Calendar of Educational Programs
Producer-led organization releases schedule of programs featuring multiple formats, simultaneous translation
DAIRY NEWS – As the dairy industry continues to innovate and make management decisions based on changing circumstances, it is critical for the dairy sector to be at the leading edge of technologies, business practices and the latest research. Throughout the 2025-26 program year, Professional Dairy Producers® (PDP) will deliver a full slate of in-person and virtual training opportunities designed to equip dairy professionals with the tools they need to be successful, including a number of programs with simultaneous Spanish translation.
“We’re excited to introduce this next calendar of programming designed to help forward-thinking dairy farmers meet their goals for productivity, professional growth and sustainability,” said Shelly Mayer, executive director of PDP and dairy farmer from Slinger, Wis. “Today’s dairy teams are expected to excel in multiple areas – animal care, sustainability, financial management, community relations, and more. PDP’s programming reflects those needs while incorporating simultaneous translation into Spanish and offering programs beyond our state borders.”
Signature programs that PDP will once again organize include:
- Accelerate™ (July 22, 2025) provides a one-day workshop for agricultural interns to enhance their summer experience and prepare to enter the workforce.
- Agricultural Community Engagement® (ACE) Twilight Meetings (Aug. 25, 26, 27, 28, 2025) will feature farm tours and open conversations with community leaders on topics critical to rural Wisconsin. Organized by the Wisconsin Towns Association, Wisconsin Counties Association and PDP.
- Financial Literacy for Dairy® provides two levels of dairy-focused financial training, including take-home assignments that allow participants to learn from their own operation’s financial reports:
- Level 1 – Nov. 12-13, Dec. 3-4, 2025
- Level 2 – Jan. 15-16, Feb. 4-5, March 10-11, 2026
- Business Management & Advanced Finance Workshop (Oct. 29-30, 2025) incorporates interactive case studies to help attendees become more resilient to uncertainties in the economy, learn to be proactive in positioning for business success, and increase their grasp of financial management and family business governance.
- Stride™ Youth Leadership Conference (Nov. 8, 2025) is a one-day program for students ages 15 to 18 to build leadership, teamwork and communications skills.
- Dairy Insights Summit (Dec. 11, 2025) will bring together innovative farmers, industry professionals and policymakers to understand and discuss today’s complex issues.
- Managers Academy for Dairy Professionals® (Jan. 20-22, 2026) offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity for executives to interact with and learn from business experts, out-of-industry tours and networking with forward-thinking peers. The 2026 event will be held in Puerto Rico.
- The Dairy Signal® airs two days each week, providing interactive conversations with leading experts in dairy, leadership and management topics.
- Calf Care Connection® (Oct. 22, 23, 2025) is designed for team members caring for newborn, weaned calves and just beyond. Topics dive deeply into important calf-management topics and typically feature hands-on labs.
- Dairy Wellbeing Workshop (Nov. 19 and 20, 2025) covers key topics to improve animal care on farms and provides an exclusive opportunity to tour a meat-processing facility from cooler to harvest floor.
- Dairy Managers Institute® (Dec. 16-17, 2025) features three tiers of interactive training to equip today’s dairy managers with the skills to become effective team leaders.
- Cornerstone Dairy Academy® (March 3-4, 2026) delivers training in a three-pillar format to enhance core leadership and people-development skills in dairy farmers and other industry professionals.
- PDP Business Conference (March 4-5, 2026) will feature a full slate of leading experts, producer panels and networking opportunities.
The majority of PDP programming qualifies for continuing education credits. Dairy farmers, students and industry professionals can find, track and record their continuing education and professional development through Dairy AdvanCE®. The online tool has emerged as dairy’s go-to resource for finding accredited professional development offerings. Learn more and register at dairyadvance.org. Several programs will also qualify for continuing education credits from programs including ARPAS, CCA and RACE.
Details and registration information are available for all programs at www.pdpw.org or by calling PDP at 800-947-7379. The program calendar remains flexible to allow for adjustments in member needs and industry events.
Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) is the nation's largest dairy producer-led organization of its kind, focusing on producer professionalism, stakeholder engagement and unified outreach to share ideas, solutions, resources and experiences that help dairy producers succeed.
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