Local elected officials and dairy producers are urged to attend an educational seminar focusing on “Agriculture’s Changing Face – Meeting Environmental and Community Needs.”
This valuable one-day forum will be held Thursday, February 19 at the Holiday Inn in Fond du Lac from 8:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m. This is the perfect opportunity to reach out and participate in constructive dialogue between dairy producers, elected officials and our local communities. Attendees will have the chance to sit shoulder-to-shoulder and learn about issues impacting agriculture and discuss options to create a positive future.
“Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin continues expanding its efforts to reach out and stimulate constructive dialogue between dairy producers and their local communities,” said Shelly Mayer, PDPW Executive Director. “The purpose of this seminar is to create productive discussions, dissolve barriers and build bridges between producers, our communities’ officials and units of state government.”
This seminar is the result of the Agriculture Community Engagement (ACE) program. ACE is a three-way partnership between PDPW, Wisconsin Towns Association (WTA) and Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA). The purpose of ACE is to educate, inform and open communications on issues that are important to our communities.
Attendees will hear from a variety of experts who will provide a wide array of valuable information and foster a great understanding of dairy’s impact in Wisconsin and the industry’s bright future. The day will kick off with an update on Wisconsin’s working lands from David Jelinski from Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Attendees will also learn from a session about growing in harmony with our land and water, presented by Dennis Frame, UW Discovery Farms Co-Director and Eric Cooley,
UW Discovery Outreach Specialist.
Pete Giacomini, AgSource Cooperative Chief Operating Officer, will share a view of dairy beyond the farm gate and the impact of dairy on our culture, land, economy, education system and our communities. Participants will then explore animal health as Dr. Robert Ehlenfeldt, State Veterinarian with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, will provide insight into the unbreakable link between animal health and community wellness.
Topping off the day is a panel of Wisconsin dairy producers. John Ruedinger from Van Dyne and Russel Strutz from Two Rivers who will share their views of the industry and plans for their businesses. This session allows for true “ACE” style interaction where we can learn from one another and look for opportunities to help our communities grow by dissolving barriers and building bridges.