I want to thank Elizabeth LeBrun for sending us information about the Professional Dairy Heifer Growers Association’s Tenth National Dairy Calf and Heifer Conference. I think she may have a little bit of the blogger in her!
The Tenth National Dairy Calf and Heifer Conference finished its second full day today in Visalia, Calif. with dairy professionals from around the country participating to learn new industries techniques while networking with their fellow industry workers.
Wednesday consisted of speaking engagement including six main sessions and six breakouts covering a variety of industry topics including:
• Marketing the Dairy Industry in the 21st Century (Richard Cotta, California Dairies, Inc.)
• Can You Manage Your Employees Like Other Industries Do? (Dr. Tom Fuhrmann, DairyWorks)
• Practical Management Tips for You and Your Employees (Dr. Tom Fuhrmann, DairyWorks)
• Current Status of Immigration Reform (Luawanna Hallstrom, Harry Singh & Sons)
• Do It Right With a Heifer Raising Contract (Fred Silva, J.D. Damrell, Nelson, Schrimp, Pallios and Silva)
• Managing Protocols for Success (Jorge Estrada, M.S., Leadership Coaching International)
• How to be Media Savvy (Charlie Powell, Washington State University)
• Value of an Advanced Gender Selection System for Accelerated Herd Improvement (Tom Bailey, DVM, Monsanto Dairy Business)
• Applying Reproductive and Genetic Technologies (John Metzger, M.S. Trans Ova Genetics)
• New Uses for Immune Proteins in Calf and Heifer Health (Jim Quigley, Ph.D., Diamond V Mills
• Diagnosing Diseases of the Calf (Rob Moeller, DVM, Univ. of CA – Davis, CAHFS)
• Managing and Motivating Hispanic Employees – Connecting with Their Culture (Sheri Long, Amigos at Work & Jorge Estrada, Estrada, Simmonds and Associates)
“We need to take the time to learn about the cultural background of our employees because we can create management protocols and standards that relate to everyone,” explained speaker Jorge Estrada. “With the growth of the international population, we must be more aware of our verbal and nonverbal communication, and how it might be interpreted.”
During his luncheon speech, Charlie Powell gave the crowd many reasons for maintaining a good relationship with the media, along with classic examples of why it is so important to do so. “Media is a necessary component of the modern animal industries,” said Powell. “They will cover your business, and if you don’t respond to their inquiries – they will find something else to cover…which you may not want them to.”
Everyone seemed pleased with the day’s speaker content, including one man who recently switched from a dairy operation to strictly heifer raising. “I really enjoyed the sessions because I’m learning things that I should be doing on my farm that I am not yet involved in,” said Gordon Aue of Triple A Cattle and Farming. “I would really recommend these sessions because it gets you thinking and gives you ideas on how to manage people – no matter what industry you are in.”