Annual program welcomes high school students for learning, networking on Nov. 17
DAIRY NEWS – Whether exploring a future in agriculture, developing leadership skills or discovering new career possibilities, high school students will find opportunities to learn and connect at the 2026 Stride™ Youth Conference, presented by Professional Dairy Producers® (PDP).
Set for Tuesday, Nov. 17, on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, Stride is designed for students ages 15-18 with an interest in learning about agriculture, science, technology, business and the many other career paths in the industry.
“One of the great things about Stride is that students can attend multiple times and have a completely different experience each year,” said Amber Keel, PDP program manager. “The location and hands-on lab programs change with each edition and there’s always new people to meet and new opportunities to explore.”
The 2026 program will combine leadership development with interactive experiences. Michael Hoffman, founder and owner of Igniting Performance, Inc., will bring his high-energy, interactive style to help students strengthen communication, problem-solving and teamwork skills. Students will tour the UW-Madison Dairy Cattle Center, participate in a food sensory and tasting experience and have time for networking throughout the day.
The event qualifies as an “above the chapter level” activity for FFA members.
Students will be chaperoned at all times. Upon registration, a health form and waiver will be sent to a parent/guardian for a signature. This signed waiver is required for each student.
To learn more and to register, visit www.PDPW.org or contact PDP at 800-947-7379. Please register by Thursday, November 12. 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.
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