The Top Three Entries Will Receive a Cash Prize Dairy farmers are the original engineers, finding creative solutions to solving common and not-so-common problems on the farm. In the Center for Dairy Excellence’s new “Farmer-Made Ingenuity” Contest, dairy farmers are encouraged to submit inventive solutions that may be hiding in plain sight on many of…
Michael Hoffman Will Be a Keynote Speaker at the Upcoming PA Dairy Summit To help dairy producers and industry professionals align with their passion and purpose, “True North” is the theme of the 2026 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit. The two-day event is scheduled for February 4-5, 2026 at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg – Hershey in Grantville,…
The Dairy Cow Birthing Center Offers Educational Insight for Families Individuals who have experience working in the Pennsylvania dairy industry are invited to volunteer at the Calving Corner during the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show from January 10-17, 2026 in Harrisburg, Pa. The Calving Corner is the cornerstone in the “Destination Dairy” Northeast Exhibit Hall, giving…
Where are students now? For George DeMers, he’s beginning a fulfilling career as a veterinarian in the dairy industry — a passion that took root through learning opportunities he gained through the Foundation. From being an on-farm intern on a progressive dairy farm to serving as an intern at the Calving Corner exhibit, these experiences…
Producers Who Might Be Looking for Employees Can Apply for Interns or Apprentices Dairy producers from Pennsylvania and beyond are encouraged to apply to be a host farm in the 2026 On-Farm Internship Program. The program was designed to provide 10- to 12-week on-farm internships and create opportunities for Pennsylvania students to gain practical knowledge,…
The Interactive Workshops Will Have Sessions on Family Dynamics and Financial Considerations How can families begin the farm transition process when so many of us find our identity in our careers? Are there younger people who hope to continue the farm? Are you having honest conversations? Is there a plan in place? Dairy farm families…
The Annual Awards Recognize Individuals Who Are Excelling in the Dairy Industry Nominations are now open for the annual Pennsylvania Dairy Industry Award program. Each year, the awards recognize dairy producers and industry professionals who excel in leadership, service and innovation. The program includes three awards and is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association, the…
The Award Was Established to Honor Service of Janet Harding Ruslavage Cara Trotter Itle, field representative and FARM Program inspector for United Dairy, was recently recognized as the 2025 recipient of the Janet Harding Ruslavage Memorial Service & Promotion Award. The award program was created in 2024 to honor the memory and distinguished service of…
The Monthly Call Will Be Held on Wednesday, October 8th at 1 pm The Center for Dairy Excellence’s “All Things Dairy” monthly conference call aims to provide a platform for organizations and industry partners to share timely updates, resources, programs, and upcoming events relevant to the dairy community. The next call is scheduled for Wednesday,…
What does transition planning look like when you don’t have a next generation who wants to take over the farm? For Jay Weaver, a third-generation dairy farmer from Weaverline Holsteins in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, it involved working closely with a business consultant to evaluate his cash flow and retirement options. “My children are all off…
