Minnesota Milk Expo Tab 2017

Minnesota Milk Dairy Conference & Expo

November 28 - 29, 2017

TREASURE ISLAND RESORT & CASINO | WELCH, MN

A change for the better Event relocation aimed to better facilitate producers’ needs, wants By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com

WELCH, Minn. – They say change is a good thing, and the Minnesota Milk Producer’s Association (MMPA) is hoping that rings true as nal preparations are underway for the Minnesota Milk Dairy Conference and Expo, “Expanding our Boundaries.” After being held in St. Cloud, Minn., for many years, the annual event is moving to Treasure Island Resort and Casino in Welch, Minn., Nov. 28-29. “There was a resounding notion to do something vastly different and unique from what’s been done in years past,” said MMPA Executive Director Lucas Sjostrom of the event’s relocation. “When Jenna Davis, our education director, started, she took the bull by the horns and we re-thought the whole show.” Last February, MMPA’s education committee and staff began looking at new locations and developing a plan for the 2017 show. “After the announcement of a new location was made, we wanted to choose a place that could facilitate a dairy show along the MinnesotaWisconsin border,” Sjostrom said.

A new location will facilitate the organization’s goals in a three-fold approach – welcoming producers from a region not currently catered to by other dairy shows, providing necessary information in an inclusive format with free registration for MMPA members, and renewing interest in colleges to attend the annual event, such as University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Ridgewater College, University Lucas Sjostrom of Wisconsin-River MMPA Executive Falls and Northeast Director Iowa Community College. “There’s a lot of excitement brewing from farmers and companies,” Sjostrom said. “The show is fun and hopefully holds more value for educating or nding out a direction of your dairy business.” Aside from the event’s new location, the most notable changes will include the educational breakout sessions and layout of the trade show. This year, attendees will be welcomed to the two-day event with speaker presentations catered for any size dairy business, including Spanishspeaking sessions on the rst day for producers wishing to bring their employees. “Sessions are all set up universally on the rst day – they’re still topic

specic, but with big-picture thinking,” Sjostrom said. “We realize there are already a lot of changes happening in the industry, and we need to think outside of the box and think what is affecting dairy businesses, such as GMOs, trade and policies. This will hopefully be relevant for any dairy farmer and business, especially in Tuesday’s sessions.” Sjostrom and the education committee are looking forward to present the show’s rst legislative session as part of Tuesday’s afternoon presentations. “Traditionally, the event is developed through the education committee. However, it’s also a time for the policy and membership of Minnesota Milk to work,” Sjostrom said. “This will be the rst year a panel of legislators will be participating in a discussion.” As attendees take in the array of educational presentations, listed in full on pages 10-11, they will also have an equal opportunity to visit with industry representatives in the show’s redesigned trade show. Unlike in years past where vendor exhibits were in a separate location from the breakout sessions, the 2017 show will host both vendors and a majority of the presentations in the same area. The Island Event Center will accommodate all of Tuesday’s English-speaking sessions and evening banquet, as well as Wednesday’s sessions on the industry’s economic

and public relations’ outlook and on-farm management practices. Spanish-speaking sessions and those on business management will be held in the neighboring Wolf and Eagle Rooms. In addition to the sessions and banquet, the Island Event Center will include the trade show – a tabletop show of more than 70 vendors. The trade show will not Michael White include large MMPA Education e q u i p m e n t Committee displays. Vendors are encouraged to provide video displays to showcase any equipment and technology available. This change in layout will allow for greater access to more equipment than previously and for attendees to socialize with vendors all in one room, said Michael White who milks 90 cows with his wife, Denise, near Pine Island, Minn., and is also the chairman of MMPA’s education committee. “There was disconnect before, but now, with more access to the sessions and trade show, there’s a greater sense of togetherness,” he said. “As a producer, I like to talk with vendors and get an idea of how their business operates. I’m hopeful with the setup, Turn to CHANGE | Page 2