Apply by Jan. 15 for annual PDP leadership-development program
DAIRY NEWS – Three tracks of top-tier leadership development and communications training are in store for dairy producers and industry professionals who attend the 2026 Cornerstone Dairy Academy® presented by Professional Dairy Producers® (PDP). The training will be held March 3-4, 2026, at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis., with online applications accepted through January 15, 2026.
The application-based professional development training is designed to equip producers and industry professionals with the tools to effectively communicate and more proficiently collaborate and lead others. Sessions are designed for all post-secondary ages and older, college-age students, recent graduates pursuing dairy-related careers, individuals wanting to strengthen their leadership skills and those who are at a crossroads in their dairy career. Simultaneous translation into Spanish is provided for all sessions in all three learning pillars.
“Leadership takes work and dedication; it’s constantly pushing yourself through your vulnerabilities and weaknesses,” said Nicole Pralle, graduate of Cornerstone Dairy Academy. “We can only be a leader to others if we first become a leader to ourselves.”
Participants select one of three learning pillars to attend on Tuesday, March 3:
- Pillar 1: Influential Leaders facilitated by Holly Green, behavioral scientist and experienced business leader; Hank Wagner, dairy producer, author and founder of Wagner Leadership Training; and Melissa Wilson, certified dining etiquette consultant.
- Pillar 2: Visionary Leaders facilitated by Dr. Richard Kyte, endowed professor at Viterbo University, and Jacob Shapiro, geopolitical analyst and director of research at The Bespoke Group.
- Pillar 3: Servant Leaders facilitated by Tom Thibodeau, distinguished professor of Servant Leadership at Viterbo University.
All participants continue their learning and build on networking skills by attending the PDP Business Conference on Wednesday, March 4.
Cornerstone Dairy Academy is application-based to preserve the quality and level of interaction. Applications are due by Jan. 15, 2026, and available at https://pdpw.org/cornerstone-dairy-academy/. Contact PDP at 800-947-7379 with questions.
Upon acceptance to the program, students and dairy producers pay $200 to attend; allied industry members pay $500. Support from Dairy’s Foundation covers the balance of program fees, including meals. PDP will reimburse participants $50 per night for hotel lodging up to a maximum of two nights or $100.
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.
