UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Extension Dairy Team and regional dairy industry businesses are partnering to host the annual Southwest Pennsylvania Regional Dairy Day event on March 7 at the Chestnut Ridge Conference Center, 132 Pine Ridge Road, Blairsville, PA.
This year’s event will once again feature a trade show, reputable speakers and a panel discussion, offering dairy farmers and dairy industry professionals current information about the industry they will be able to apply to their local operations.
The trade show will open at 8:45 a.m., followed by educational presentations at 10 a.m., with the event concluding at 2:30 p.m. There is no cost for dairy producers thanks to the generous sponsorship by local businesses.
Pre-registration is requested by Feb. 28. Tickets will be distributed by local agribusinesses or are available by calling the Penn State Extension office in Indiana County at 724-465-3880.
Highlighted speakers will be Dr. Robert James, professor emeritus of Virginia Tech, who will discuss “Goals for Calf Management: Develop the Calf or Develop the Rumen? What is the Priority?” and Marilyn Hershey, Chester County dairy producer and chair of Dairy Management Inc., which oversees the dairy checkoff program. Hershey will discuss “Marketing: What People and Processors Want.”
Following lunch and opportunity to spend time at the trade show and there will be a panel discussion on “Managing the Numbers with Heifers.” Participants will be Dr. James, Marilyn Hershey and Extension Educator Andrew Sandeen.
The SW Dairy Day program is designed to allow dairy producers to interact with vendors and industry representatives, as well as network with other producers.
“This has become a popular event in Southwest Pennsylvania, with producers using the opportunity to learn more about topics that will help them make important decisions for future success,” Sandeen said. “Relevant topics, supportive vendors, a comfortable venue, and a free lunch are all there. Why would a dairy producer want to pass this up?”
This program is eligible for two SmartStart credits through AgChoice Farm Credit. For more information on SmartStart, visit www.agchoice.com.
For more information about SW Pennsylvania Regional Dairy Day, contact Andrew Sandeen, Extension Educator by phone at 724-465-3880 or by e-mail at ats15@psu.edu. Details can also be found online at http://extension.psu.edu/sw-dairy-day.
— Penn State Extension Dairy Team