High school students invited to attend interactive event at UW-Madison ag campus
DAIRY NEWS – The 2026 Stride™ Youth Conference, presented by Professional Dairy Producers® (PDP) will feature a mix of interactive communications training, tours and hands-on labs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s ag campus. Open to high school students ages 15-18, attendees will also learn about career opportunities in agriculture and the dairy industry.
The event qualifies as an “above the chapter level” activity for FFA members and will be held Tuesday, November 17, on the UW-Madison campus.
“I really enjoyed the Stride program and hope to attend again,” said Wrightstown High School student Alivia Wiese. “I enjoyed connecting with other youth from around the state as well as strengthening my leadership skills. And the speaker brought amazing energy to the room which made the experience enjoyable for everyone!”
The 2026 program will feature:
- Leadership workshop presented by Michael Hoffman, founder and owner of Igniting Performance, Inc. He will lead students through interactive exercises to understand their strengths, communicate clearly, respond to setbacks, work effectively in diverse teams and solve problems.
- Tour of UW-Madison Dairy Cattle Center to see innovation on display and learn about Dairy Cattle Center job positions available to university students.
- Food sensory and tasting experience that will challenge the senses and unveil the science behind food production.
- Networking time to build connections with fellow students from across the state who share similar interests and ideas.
Students will be chaperoned at all times. Upon registration, a health form and waiver will be sent to a parent/guardian for a signature. This signed waiver is required for each student.
Conference registration includes training materials, meals and a Stride t-shirt. Registrations must be received by Thursday, November 12. To learn more and to register, visit www.PDPW.org or contact PDP at 800-947-7379. Follow along digitally in advance of and during the event by following @dairyPDPW on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.
Professional Dairy Producers® (PDP) is the nation’s largest dairy producer-led organization of its kind, focusing on producer professionalism, stakeholder engagement and unified outreach to share ideas, solutions, resources and experiences that help dairy producers succeed.
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