Expo Seminars

Presented daily by industry leaders in the Mendota 1 meeting room of the Exhibition Hall, these seminars address topics centered around management practices, mental health and more. Seminars consist of a 45-minute presentation and time for questions and answers. The list of 2024 Expo Seminars is below.

Tuesday, October 1, 2024 - 12:00 p.m. 
Cultivate Your Culture
Presenter: Sandy Larson, General Manager, Larson Acres

Is your culture at its best?  Having a positive culture supported with outstanding values will elevate your farm and your employees. Are your employees engaged? In this seminar, Sandy Larson, General Manager of Larson Acres, will show attendees what it takes to increase engagement and lower employee turnover. Become the employer of choice!

Sandy Larson is the fifth generation to lead Larson Acres, her family-owned dairy in Evansville, Wis. Larson works hard on employee engagement and management, business administration, and public relations. She is a member of the Board of Directors for ALCIVIA, National FARM Farmer Advisory Council, and an active member of the Rock County dairy organizations. Larson is thefounder and advisor to the Rock County Ag Ambassador program, which employs an advocate on behalf of agriculture in the county. Additionally, she is an active advocate for dairy within the community and through social media outlets. *2024 Dairy Producer of the Year Honoree

Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - 12:00 p.m.
Net Zero Opportunities and Challenges in Dairy Production
Presenter: Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, Ph.D., Director and Professor, AgNext, Colorado State University

This seminar will provide an overview of sustainability and discuss the complexities in dairy production systems. It will also highlight and describe supply chain pressures related to net zero and opportunities that exist for dairy producers to consider adopting on their journey toward net zero.

Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson is a professor in the department of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University and the Director of CSU AgNext. CSU AgNext utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to advance sustainable solutions for animal agriculture. Stackhouse-Lawson received her Ph.D. in Animal Science from the University of California, Davis, and was a postdoctoral fellow at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine Beef Cattle Institute. In 2018, the UC Davis College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences awarded her as a Distinguished Young Alumni. She and her husband, Spencer, live in Colorado with their two sons, Weston and Callan.

Thursday, October 3, 2024 - 12:00 p.m.
Hope and Hard Work: Mental Health in Agriculture
Presenter: Monica Kramer McConkey, LPC, Ag Mental Health Counselor, Eyes on the Horizon Consulting, LLC

Stressors in agriculture production are like no other and can often impact the producers' and their families' mental and physical health. In this seminar, we will look at why stress in agriculture is so significant, understand what happens to us when we become stressed and look at ways to cope. This is a presentation anyone in or around agriculture will want to hear!

Monica Kramer McConkey is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has been in the field for 28 years.  She grew up on a farm in northwest Minnesota and has an intimate understanding of the unique stressors in agriculture.  McConkey works with farmers, ranchers, and their families every day to help them feel better and improve relationships.  When she was younger, she showed her Milking Shorthorn calves at World Dairy Expo and is excited to be back!

Friday, October 4, 2024 - 12:00 p.m.
New Perspectives on Aging and Lifespan in Dairy Cows
Presenter: Matt Lucy, Ph.D., Professor, University of Missouri

The life expectancy of the modern dairy cow is short, and most cows are culled from the herd because they have health problems or they are low-producing. The collective interpretation of the culled dairy cow is that she is too old ("worn out") and needs to be replaced. Although the reasons for culling have been identified, the "why" a cow is "worn out" is unclear. This seminar will explore what we know about aging in dairy cows and what the future holds for extending the productive life of dairy cows.

Dr. Matthew Lucy is a Professor of Animal Science at the University of Missouri-Columbia. A native of New York State, he received a B.S. from Cornell University, where he developed an interest in dairy cows. He then moved to Kansas State University where he began his studies of reproduction in postpartum dairy cows and later completed a Ph.D. in Dairy Science at the University of Florida on the same topic. His current research program examines the physiological processes regulating fertility in dairy cows and explores practical methods that evolve from this research.