DAIRY NEWS –The state of California is home to some of the most successful and recognized dairy farms and processors in the world. PDPW dairy farmer members who join the 2024 Explore California tour will have the opportunity to tour and learn from some of the state’s top dairy businesses.
The tour is scheduled for Feb. 11 through 17, 2024, beginning and ending in Sacramento, California. A pre-planned itinerary that includes five days of activities is intended to provide a stress-free way to experience the best of California’s agriculture, innovation and natural beauty.
“The dairy and industry tours during the ‘Explore California’ event will really speak to those whose heart is in the cattle side of the dairy business, whether from a productivity, show-ring or genetics standpoint,” said J.J. Pagel, PDPW board member and Kewaunee, Wis., dairy producer. “The tours will take us behind the scenes to talk with some of the best dairy managers in the business. It’ll also be a great learning opportunity for anyone considering adding a creamery or other entity for an additional revenue stream for their business.”
Highlights of the dairy farm and processing tours include:
- Tour Vierra Dairy, Hillmar, California, farm that began with three dairy cows in 1967 and now milks more than 5,500 registered Holsteins and Jersey cows with a reputation for breeding cows of elite genetic value. The dairy is home to the 2023 World Dairy Expo Supreme Champion and many other top show winners. Participants will also tour the dairy’s Boviteq California IVF facility to learn about how the dairy merchandises cattle around the globe using IVF technology.
- See new robotic barns and a diversified operation at Ruann and Maddox Dairy in the San Joaquin Valley, one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. The 3,800-cow dairy is known for success in the show ring as well as the A.I. and genetics industry, selling 1,500 to 3,000 high-quality embryos a year worldwide from their registered bulls. Attendees will see their in-house in vitro fertilization lab as well as the three of nine barns that have recently been converted to robotics. The family also owns 7,000 acres of land which includes 1,700 acres of almond trees and 1,900 acres of wine grapes that are part of their approach to diversification and business success.
- Visit Hilmar Cheese Company, founded by 12 dairy farm families in 1984 to make the most of their Jersey cows’ milk. The company now manufactures and delivers cheese and whey protein to customers in more than 50 countries around the world. Attendees will learn about their commitment to innovation and sustainability, the degree of which has led to numerous recognitions and awards, including Exporter of the Year from U.S. Dairy Export Council and Outstanding Dairy Processing and Manufacturing Sustainability Award from the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.
- At Rosa Brothers Dairy and Milk Company in Tulare, California, participants will learn about how the third-generation dairy added a creamery in 2012 to process milk and deliver to local stores for maximum freshness. Their diligent focus on quality has built for them a stellar reputation among consumers regarding the milk from their 1,000-cow dairy.
Tour participants will also have an entire day to learn and network at World Ag Expo in Tulare, the world’s largest annual agricultural exhibition. The 2.6-million-square-feet show features more than 1,200 exhibitors and the famous Wine & Cheese Pavilion for networking.
The Explore California tour also includes visits to Yosemite National Park, Sisk Dam and Romero Visitor Center, Michael David Winery and Gloria Ferrer Wines, as well as an afternoon at your leisure in Napa Valley.
The tour package includes six nights of hotel accommodations; ground transportation via motorcoach; daily breakfast, four lunches, four dinners and wine-tasting experiences; entrance fees; and all end-of-tour gratuities for tours and coach driver. The tour package does not include flight tickets, enabling each traveler the flexibility to arrive and depart at their preference.
Space is limited to the first 50 PDPW dairy farm members. A non-refundable deposit of $500 per traveler is required to secure a spot. Registration and more details are available at www.pdpw.org or contact PDPW at 800-947-7379.
Professional Dairy Producers (PDPW) 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.”
