WIDA has again purchased a limited number of tickets to the Leadercast Event that will be presented at Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center on Friday, May 8.  This year's theme is Bravery and will feature world class speakers including Peyton Manning, Rudy Giuliani, Malala Yousafzai, and many other.

In addition, the live local speakers in Sioux Center will be Larry and Janice Brown, parents of Adam Brown, one of the most elite Navy SEAL team members.  He is the subject of the book "FEARLESS:  The Undaunted Courage and Ultimate Sacrifice of Navy SEAL Team SIX Operator Adam Brown."

Click here for more details and contact LeAnne at info@wiadairy.com or 712-441-5308 to reserve your spots at this event.  

The next PDPW World Class Webinar Series kicks off at noon on Wednesday, April 29, with three sessions focused on Calf and Heifer Management.   WIDA members and employees of member farms and businesses can enjoy a FREE lunch and watch the webinar FREE at the upstairs classroom of the Sioux County Extension Office in Orange City. 

The April 29 topic is "Feeding Calves is More than Just a Science" presented by Dr. Sheila McGuirk.  A good nutritional program for dairy calves is a critical part of raising healthy calves and growing productive and profitable dairy replacements. Feed quality, quantity and consistency in the first 60-days impacts health, development and future milk production. The subject of this webinar is the art of feeding calves. From feeding equipment to ration components, from feed preparation, to the delivery and disposal of feed refusals, we can improve health by limiting scours and other digestive problems like bloat and ulcers that are so common in pre-weaned calves. There will be opportunities to ask questions and interact with the presenter throughout the session.

Click here for more details.  WIDA producer members who want to purchase the webinar for viewing at their home or office will receive PDPW member pricing.   To RSVP for the free lunch viewing, contact info@wiadairy.com or 712-441-5308.  

A special Annie's Project course focused on HR and employment topics will be held in Orange City beginning on April 14.  This is a change from the original start date of April 7.  

Do you have conflict or need improved communications skills on your farm?  Could your team work together better, be more motivated?  Do you have questions about the basics of hiring and retaining employees (non family or family)?  Because the heartbeat of every farm and ag business is the people involved  and farm women frequently find themselves in the position of human resource managers - ISU Extension has designed a special course to empower farm women to better manage both family and non-family partners and employees.  Women will learn effective strategies to manage human resources in the areas of employee laws, business communications, supervision and retention, and health, safety, and well-being.  

 

These topics can be both a huge opportunity and a tremendous challenge for today's dairy farms, so WIDA will reimburse participants from member farms the $75 registration fee.   For more information and to register, contact Melissa O'Rourke at morourke@iastate.edu.

The Maassen family from Maurice is featured in a Midwest Dairy Association video that premiered during the welcome reception at the Central Plains Dairy Expo, and can now be viewed online.   Click here to view.  The video focused on how the Maassens  pass on the family's heritage as good stewards of the land with sustainable farming practices.

The annual Ag Prayer Breakfast at the Central Plains Dairy Expo was another huge success, with more than 400 attendees at the expanded location inside the Sanford Premier Center.   Thank you to the prayer breakfast committee for another job well done. 

The annual Ag Day event at Dordt College will be held on Friday, April 24.  As part of the activities to share information about agriculture with students and consumers, they are looking for experts to share information about dairy.  This is one of seven displays about crop and livestock production.   Volunteers are needed between 9:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.  If you are available for all or part of the day, contact 712-441-5308 or info@wiadairy.com and we'll pass your info along to organizers.  

The annual Dairy Iowa meeting will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Heartland Acres Event Center in Independence, Iowa, on June 2, 2015.  Watch for more details on speakers and activities.

A new addition to this year's program is a dairy youth communications workshop that will be held at the same time.  The workshop will be open to all interested high school and college student and include presentations on telling your dairy story, social media opportunities, and chances to practice with your peers.  More information will be shared soon!