Knowledge Nook

Located in the Atrium of the Exhibition Hall, the Knowledge Nook is a space designed for companies to showcase an innovative product, service or research that was introduced to the market since the last World Dairy Expo. There will be up to 27, 45-minute sessions over the course of World Dairy Expo, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Tuesday - Thursday and 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Friday.

The list of 2025 Knowledge Nook Sessions and their sponsors are below.

Innovation Unveiled also features additional cutting-edge products that can be found in the Trade Show.

Interested in hosting a session in 2025? Applications for the 2025 Knowledge Nook Sessions can be found HERE.

Wednesday, October 1
11:30 a.m.	Feed with Confidence: Connecting Workflows with Results Speaker: Melissa Freitas, West & Northeast FPC Team Leader, VAS Presenting Company: VAS
12:30 p.m.	Emerging Agriculture Sector Threats Speakers: Stephen Goldsmith DVM, Management and Program Analyst and Special Agent Scott Mahloch  Presenting Company: Federal Bureau of Investigation
1:30 p.m.	Probiotic Use in Livestock - A Veterinarian's Perspective Speaker: Dr. Ryan Royer, Technical Service Manager, Novonesis Presenting Company: Novonesis

Wednesday, October 1 at 11:30 a.m.
Feed with Confidence: Connecting Workflows with Results
Speaker: Melissa Freitas, West & Northeast FPC Team Leader, VAS
Presenting Company: VAS

Take control of your dairy's biggest expense from the palm of your hand. Learn how to take a mobile-first approach to streamline mixing and feeding workflows while ensuring accurate rations reach the right pen, every time. Plus, connect owners, feeders and consultants for a smoother, more transparent dairy operation.

Melissa Freitas is a passionate advocate for the dairy industry. As the FPC Team Leader for the West, Northeast and Mexico sales territories at VAS, Freitas leads and supports a team of eight in addition to managing her own territory. She has been with VAS for 13 years and holds a bachelor’s degree in Dairy Science from Eastern New Mexico University.

Wednesday, October 1 at 12:30 p.m.
Emerging Agriculture Sector Threats
Speakers: Stephen Goldsmith DVM, Management and Program Analyst and Special Agent Scott Mahloch
Presenting Company: Federal Bureau of Investigation 

This is a 45-minute presentation that discusses the emerging threats to the U.S. agriculture sector by foreign and domestic threat actors. It describes the roles of the FBI WMD Coordinators assigned to all FBI Field Offices as well the resources and capabilities to investigate and respond to CBRNE, cyber, economic espionage, and sabotage incidents with State and Federal Agriculture agencies.

Dr. Goldsmith is assigned to the FBI Counterterrorism Division-WMD Branch as a program analyst and was previously assigned to FBI Laboratory Hazardous Science Response Unit. He was a Field Veterinarian-Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician for 15 years with USDA APHIS Veterinary Services. He also served 30 years in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, Philippines, and Central-South America.

Wednesday, October 1 at 1:30 p.m.
Probiotic Use in Livestock - A Veterinarian's Perspective
Speaker: Dr. Ryan Royer, Technical Service Manager, Novonesis
Presenting Company: Novonesis 

As pressures continue to be placed on reducing anti-microbial use on livestock production systems, alternative methods are being used to treat and maintain animal health. One of those alternatives includes the use of probiotics in animal feeds to support the animal’s immune function, promote rumen health and enhance the intestinal barrier.

Dr. Royer is a veterinarian and dairy nutritionist with experience in the Midwest and Texas panhandle for over 20 years. He started his technical service role with Novonesis about 1 year ago and has brought a hands-on, practical approach, focusing on animal health and helping producers use probiotics on dairy farms. He believes that healthy animals should always be the primary focus of any type of livestock farming, and utilizing probiotics is a safe and effective tool in the health promotion toolbox.

Thursday, October 2 at 11:30 a.m.
Probiotic Use in Livestock - A Veterinarian's Perspective
Speaker: Dr. Ryan Royer, Technical Service Manager, Novonesis
Presenting Company: Novonesis 

As pressures continue to be placed on reducing anti-microbial use on livestock production systems, alternative methods are being used to treat and maintain animal health. One of those alternatives includes the use of probiotics in animal feeds to support the animal’s immune function, promote rumen health and enhance the intestinal barrier.

Dr. Royer is a veterinarian and dairy nutritionist with experience in the Midwest and Texas panhandle for over 20 years. He started his technical service role with Novonesis about 1 year ago and has brought a hands-on, practical approach, focusing on animal health and helping producers use probiotics on dairy farms. He believes that healthy animals should always be the primary focus of any type of livestock farming, and utilizing probiotics is a safe and effective tool in the health promotion toolbox.