Some Udder Stuff

Cornerstone Dairy Academy

honors eighteen graduating dairy farmers and industry professionals

Upon successfully completing all three pillars of Cornerstone Dairy Academy, eighteen dairy farmers and industry professionals were honored as the program’s 2026 graduates. The application-based leadership-development program is designed to build the skills of dairy producers and industry professionals who want to expand their skills to lead with purpose, character and integrity.

Presented by the Professional Dairy Producers (PDP), the 2-day program is designed to enhance the skills of communication, visionary thinking, ethical leadership, servant-oriented leadership and professional etiquette. The presenters also equip attendees with tools to work through workplace challenges caused by generational differences and diversities in emotional intelligence.

The 2026 Cornerstone Dairy Academy began on March 3 and was held in conjunction with the PDP Business Conference being held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis., on March 4-5.

“Cornerstone Dairy Academy graduates represent the best of the best in our dairy industry with a commitment to developing their leadership skills to benefit their farms and dairy businesses and the entire industry,” said Amber Keel, PDP Program Coordinator. “Completing all three pillars of training shows provides a strong foundation of communications and servant leadership skills for dairy farmers and industry professionals at any stage of their career.”

Hailing from 5 states, the 2026 Cornerstone Dairy Academy graduates have completed the Influential, Visionary and Servant Leadership pillars. Graduates include:

Alyssa Berg, Kewaunee, Wis.

Samantha Bowe, Mosinee, Wis.

Andrew Connon, West Grove, Pa

Sarah Eck, Cambridge, Wis.

Jose Eduardo Hernandez Rodriguez, Bryant, Wis.

Matthew Fischer, Owen, Wis.

Kristen Fischer, Prairie du Chien, Wis.

Jeronimo Flores Perez, Bryant, Wis.

Ulises Garcia, Pine River, Wis.

Carlos (Fernando) Gutierrez, Bryant, Wis.

Jake Halbersma, Mosinee, Wis.

Kirstin Joyal, Williston, Vt.

Kaitlyn Kesler, Hilbert, Wis.

Nic Schoenberger recognized as YDLI Distinguished Alumni Leader award recipient

Nic Schoenberger of Kiel, Wisconsin has been selected as the 2026 Young Dairy Leader’s Institute Distinguished Alumni Leader award recipient. Each year, the Holstein Foundation recognizes a Young Dairy Leaders Institute graduate who has made noteworthy contributions to the dairy industry, applying skills gained during their YDLI experience.

Nic was a graduate of YDLI Class 4. Since 2018, Nic and Christine have been partners in Kansas Dairy Development in Deerfield, Kansas. KDD is a calf ranch and heifer development facility that raises calves for 70 clients across 14 different states. They also own the calf depot in Wisconsin where they pick up calves daily from 23 clients. Prior to his involvement in KDD, Nic’s career covered many different facets of the dairy industry.

Nic will be recognized with the award during Phase I of YDLI Class 14, earlier this year in Dallas, Texas.

“YDLI really opened my eyes that it is our purpose and our mission to advocate for ourselves and for others,” Nic said.  “It doesn’t matter whether you do it one time or one hundred times, it’s important to put yourself out there.”

The Young Dairy Leaders Institute, a program of the Holstein Foundation, is a nationally recognized three-phase leadership and communication skills development program for young adults (ages 22-45) in the dairy industry. For more information about YDLI or Holstein Foundation programs, visit www.holsteinfoundation.org

CentralStar scholarship open

CentralStar Cooperative is now accepting applications for its 2026 scholarship program, offering up to seven $1,000 scholarships to support students pursuing agriculture-related education. Applications must be submitted by June 1, and are available at https://mycentralstar.com/scholarship/.

The scholarships are open to students currently enrolled in a four-year college or a one- or two-year technical college or short-course program in an agricultural field, as well as high-school seniors who’ve been admitted to one of these programs. Applicants or their parent(s) must be stockowners of CentralStar Cooperative. Additional eligibility details and requirements can be found within the application.

Checkoff launches online database to help farmers find grant opportunities

The dairy checkoff’s new online tool is designed to help dairy farmers and their advisors more easily identify grants and funding opportunities for conservation and on-farm improvements.

The Funding Opportunities Database, available through the Dairy Conservation Navigator, organizes federal, state and private funding programs into a single searchable platform tailored to dairy operations. The free resource is available at https://www.dairyconservation.org/grants

For many farmers, identifying funding programs can be one of the most challenging steps in pursuing new projects. Agricultural grants are spread across multiple federal agencies, state initiatives and private organizations, each with different deadlines, priorities and application processes.

“Dairy farms operate as highly integrated systems,” said Bridgett Hilshey, senior director of environmental stewardship at Dairy Management Inc. “Farmers are managing livestock, cropland, manure, water and energy use all at the same time. That creates many opportunities for improvement but also makes identifying the right funding sources more complicated.”

The database was developed to help streamline that process by bringing conservation and business-focused funding opportunities together in one place.

The tool allows farmers and advisors to search programs by state or county and filter opportunities by funding focus areas such as manure management, energy, cropland, water quality or business development. Users can also sort by project type, eligibility requirements and funding levels to help identify programs that best fit specific projects.

The platform also identifies programs that are currently open, opening soon or recently closed, helping farmers and advisors plan for future funding cycles.

For information about how the dairy checkoff is driving sales and building trust, visit www.dairycheckoff.com.

DCRC seeks Excellence in Dairy

Reproduction award nominations

The Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council seeks nominations for its Excellence in Dairy Reproduction Awards program. Dairy industry professionals, including veterinarians, extension agents, artificial insemination and pharmaceutical company representatives, dairy processors and co-op field staff, and consultants, who are DCRC members, may nominate dairy herds with reproduction excellence. This awards program recognizes outstanding dairy operations for reproductive efficiency and well-implemented procedures. Nominations are due April 30.

Central Plains Dairy Expo hits

quarter-century milestone

The Central Plains Dairy Association celebrated in style as it executed its 25th Central Plains Dairy Expo, March 17-19, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Since its inception, CPDE has served as a premier gathering for the dairy industry, offering timely education, access to innovative products and services, and opportunities to strengthen connections across the dairy community. Built on a firm foundation, the 2026 Expo offered expanded programming, new experiences and an educational lineup designed to serve dairy operations of all sizes, shapes and stages.

More than 3,500 dairy enthusiasts gathered in for the 2026 CPDE. Attendees represented 40 states and 16 countries. The dairy-focused trade show included nearly 300 exhibitors that shared the latest in dairy equipment, technologies, services, products and communications – within 50,000 square feet of exhibit space. In addition, Five Star Sponsors provided nearly 80 educational sessions, with 10 presented in Spanish.

Besides celebrating with CPDE 25th Anniversary cake, this year’s Expo provided numerous dairy foods, including 880 pounds of cheese, 7,800 cheese slices, 56 pounds of butter, 69 gallons of ice cream, 2,000 ice cream novelties, 2,500 grilled cheese sandwiches 3,100 cartons of milk and 506 servings of pancakes. “Many thanks to our amazing sponsors for providing these tasty, wholesome and nutritious snacks,” said Central Plains Dairy Association Member Services Director Renee Brod.

Make plans to attend the 2027 Central Plains Dairy Expo, set for March 23-25, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Edge Dairy Farmer

Cooperative announces $10,000 in secondary education scholarships available to its membership

Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative will once again offer $10,000 in secondary education scholarships to its membership, the cooperative announced today. Edge is proud to award the children of its members who exemplify the voice of milk through their education, career aspirations and future goals. Applications are now being accepted and will remain open until April 17.

Two $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to current students pursuing a degree in a four—or two-year program, and three $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors.

Applicants must be high school seniors, graduates or college undergraduates. They must be enrolled or planning to enroll in a full-time course of study at an accredited four-year college or university or a two-year program at a technical, junior or community college. The area of study does not need to be agriculture-related, but applicants must be dependents of an Edge member. For more information about the Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative scholarships, contact Kayla Mayer at kmayer@voiceofmilk.com.

Mosgaller honored with Alan

Koepke Memorial Scholarship

The inaugural Alan Koepke Memorial Scholarship was presented to Megan Mosgaller of Iron Ridge, Wis., during the opening session of the 2026 Professional Dairy Producers Business Conference, in Madison, Wis.

Currently a student at University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Mosgaller is pursuing a career as a food animal veterinarian serving producers in the dairy sector. Upon graduating from UW-River Falls in spring of 2027, she plans to attend UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, after which she would like to work in a private rural practice focusing on large and food animal medicine to support dairy producers through herd health management, animal welfare and sustainable-production practices.

While employed at Krescent Valley Dairy near Richfield, Wis., where Mosgaller has worked for the past three years, she gained firsthand experience with daily farm operations and animal care. In addition, through her work with Connecterra, an AI-powered platform that uses farm data to improve decision-making, she has garnered practical experience using artificial intelligence tools to evaluate herd performance and overall farm efficiency.

The Alan Koepke Memorial Scholarship, formally announced in January 2026 by Dairy’s Foundation, honors the life, legacy, and values of Alan Koepke, a founding member of PDP and a fervent advocate for agriculture, education and people. Funded through memorial contributions from family, friends, and colleagues, the scholarship reflects a shared commitment to encouraging students who are passionate about agriculture, particularly those focused on production agriculture and shaping the future of the industry. The scholarship will continue to award $2,000 annually to one deserving student each year.

O’Brien announces planned

retirement as president, CEO of Dairy Management Inc.

Barbara O’Brien, president and CEO of Dairy Management Inc. and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, announced she will retire at the end of her five-year term this fall.

O’Brien was unanimously approved by the DMI Board of Directors as CEO on Oct. 11, 2021, and has since led the organization through a period of strategic alignment, innovation and measurable growth on behalf of America’s dairy farmers and importers.

O’Brien’s planned retirement initiates a leadership transition designed to ensure continuity and long-term success for the dairy checkoff. The DMI Board of Directors has begun succession planning efforts to support a smooth transition and continued focus on delivering value for dairy farmers and importers. O’Brien will continue leading the organization through this period, working closely with the board and leadership teams to support continuity and execution of strategic priorities.

O’Brien said that planning for succession has been deliberate and intentional.

“As we looked ahead, we knew this is the right and responsible time to give the organization ample runway for a well-managed transition as the DMI board and search committee plan from a position of strength,” O’Brien said.

Throughout her tenure, O’Brien has emphasized strategic clarity, collaboration across the dairy value chain and delivering tangible results – domestically and globally – for farmers through integrated marketing, nutrition science and innovation strategies. She also oversees the work of National Dairy Council and the U.S. Dairy Export Council, helping strengthen dairy’s position in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.

As president and CEO of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, O’Brien has brought together leaders from 28 dairy companies and organizations to advance pre-competitive initiatives in animal care, environmental sustainability, hunger and community impact. Under her leadership, 39 companies representing 77% of U.S. milk production adopted the U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment.

O’Brien’s focus on long-term strategy led to an evolution of the checkoff business plan, emphasizing stronger integration across teams and market categories. These efforts helped drive growth in dairy demand and improve consumer perceptions of dairy farming and dairy foods. She also has prioritized building the next generation of leaders within staff and among dairy farmers to ensure continued momentum for years to come.

“Transitions like this are important moments for any organization,” O’Brien said. “They require clarity of direction, strong partnership between management and the board, and steady execution of the work already underway. The mission does not change. The priorities remain clear. And the work continues without interruption.”

For information on how the dairy checkoff is driving sales and building trust, visit www.dairycheckoff.com.

LB 663 just opened a bigger door for dairy

At this year’s Nebraska Dairy Convention and Trade Show in West Point, something significant happened for the future of dairy in our state. Surrounded by producers, industry partners, and community leaders, Jim Pillen signed LB 663 into law, and with it, Nebraska took a meaningful step toward becoming one of the most growth-ready dairy states in the country.

For those outside agriculture, zoning reform may not sound groundbreaking. But for dairy producers, especially those considering expansion or relocation, clarity and certainty in the permitting process can make all the difference between moving forward and standing still.

LB 663 establishes a uniform, transparent, and timely process for conditional use and special exemption permits at the county level. Introduced by Senator Tanya Storer after more than a year of collaboration between county officials and agricultural leaders, the bill preserves local control while ensuring producers receive consistent standards and clear timelines.

It means Nebraska dairy families who have outgrown their current facilities can plan expansions with greater confidence. It means lenders and investors can evaluate projects with more predictable timelines. It means multi-generational operations can think long-term, knowing the regulatory path is clearer than ever before.

Dairy expansion does more than increase milk production. It creates jobs. It builds a local tax base. It supports feed growers, nutritionists, veterinarians, truckers, and equipment dealers. It anchors rural schools and strengthens small-town economies. Every new dairy represents a long-term commitment, often measured not just in years, but in generations.

As the Nebraska State Dairy Association, we see this moment as both validation and opportunity.

Validation that state leaders recognize dairy as a priority growth industry.

The Nebraska State Dairy Association represents and advocates for Nebraska’s dairy producers, providing resources, education, and support to strengthen the industry’s sustainability and growth. Learn more at https://nebraskamilk.org/.