The Heart of America Dairy Expo, presented by Hiland Dairy Foods, set records this year for attendance and support. The regional event, held in Springfield, Missouri, had almost 500 attendees and nearly 60 commercial exhibitors.

Registration is now open for the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association annual conference, scheduled for April 1-3 at the Hyatt on Main in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This year’s conference lineup includes hands-on educational seminars for both farm managers and employees, an inside look at industry-leading dairy operations and a keynote presentation from a renowned leader.

Nicole Reese Executive Director
 Janesville, Wisconsin
 Southern Wisconsin Agricultural Group

The Animal Agriculture Alliance has unveiled a new website, the product of an almost nine-month redesign effort focused on providing its members, media and consumers the most relevant, up-to-date information in an easily navigable and mobile-friendly format.

The third edition of Party-Directed Mediation: Facilitating Dialogue between Individuals is now online as a free PDF download. The book explains two mediation models in depth. The first model is used to deal with conflicts among peers; the second, disputes between superiors and subordinates.

Dairy exhibitors who competed at the Pennsylvania Farm Show earlier this month teamed up with their local legislators to help them compete in the VIP Dairy Showmanship Contest in Harrisburg. Sen. John Eichelberger won the competition with a 4-year-old Brown Swiss cow provided by the Stanton family of Everett, Bedford County.

Rick M. Adams District Sales Manager Columbia, Missouri Accelerated Genetics

Nominations are due soon for the 2014 World Dairy Expo Recognition Award program. Expo exhibitors, dairy producers, academic staff and dairy organizations can nominate people who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and excellence with their farming operation or the industry. Nominations will be accepted through Feb. 15.

Theme for this year's Wisconsin Holstein Convention, scheduled for Feb. 21-22, is "Great Holsteins from the Great River Country in western Wisconsin." The event will be hosted by the Vernon, LaCrosse and Monroe County Holstein Breeders at the Cranberry Country Lodge in Tomah, Wisconsin.

Dairy producers escaped from the cold and snow for the Land O'Lakes Leading Dairy Producer Conference held at the Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, Jan. 15-16. Check out these scenes from the two-day winter get-away.