FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
September 22, 2026
 
Contact: Shelly Mayer
800-947-7379
mail@pdpw.org
 
Stride conference flyer
Picture: girls in hands-on lab [caption at end]
 
 
Stride Youth Leadership Conference: Communication Skills, Career Plans
November 17 program includes hands-on labs and problem-solving scenarios for high school students
 
DAIRY NEWS – Today’s high school students face a world of expectations, choices and opportunities as they prepare for life beyond graduation. The 2026 Stride^™ Youth Leadership Conference presented by Professional Dairy Producers^® (PDP) will help students build the skills and confidence to meet expectations, explore career possibilities and excel in their future paths and professional relationships.
 
The 2026 Stride conference will be held on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus Tuesday, November 17. Attending 15 to 18-year-old students will have the opportunity to experience a world-class research university while practicing communications and leadership skills and participating in hands-on labs that will introduce attendees to the sciences, technologies and innovations shaping agriculture and dairy. Students will also interact with UW-Madison faculty, staff and students while exploring educational and career opportunities. Stride qualifies as an “above the chapter level” activity for FFA members.
 
“Students today have so many options, it can be challenging to know how to pursue their interests and abilities in the form of a job or career,” said Amber Keel, PDP program manager. “Stride gives students the opportunity to step outside the classroom, meet people working in a variety of fields, try new things and gain skills they can use wherever their future takes them.”
 
Michael Hoffman, founder and owner of Igniting Performance, Inc., will facilitate leadership development sessions focused on building confidence, communication and the ability to make an impact in a variety of settings. Students will learn practical strategies they can apply in school, work, interviews, presentations and other situations where strong communication and leadership skills matter.
 
The conference is designed for students ages 15 to 18. Registration includes training materials, meals and a Stride t-shirt. Registrations must be received by Thursday, November 12.
 
Students will be chaperoned at all times. Upon registration, a health form and waiver will be sent to a parent/guardian for a signature. This signed waiver is required for each student.
 
To learn more and to register, visit www.PDPW.org or contact PDP at 800-947-7379. Follow along digitally in advance of and during the event by following @dairyPDPW on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.
 
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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PHOTO CAPTION:
Alyssa Koehl (left) and Reghan Weirenga work together taking calf measurements on the UW-River Falls campus during a 2025 Stride Youth Leadership Conference hands-on lab.