Green Bay, Wis. – Dairy producers and their teams will converge at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College on Nov. 18‑19 for the 2026 Dairy Wellbeing Workshop, a program designed to improve herd health and animal welfare while highlighting the impact of care decisions on beef quality.
Hands‑on plant tour and expert sessions
Each day’s agenda begins with a guided tour of the American Foods Group processing plant. Participants will follow a cull cow’s journey from farm to harvest floor and cooler, gaining a clear view of how handling practices affect carcass value.
Following the tour, industry experts will lead sessions on the latest strategies for pain mitigation and down‑cow response. Dr. Simon Peek, clinical professor of large‑animal internal medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, will present “Prevent the Down Cow: Protocols to Improve Outcomes,” covering anatomy, physiological changes, and timely intervention best practices for farms of any size.
Dr. Jennifer Walker, co‑founder and chief animal welfare officer of Kinder Ground, will discuss “Recognize Pain: Better Decisions for Better Care,” offering guidance on identifying pain signs related to calving, lameness and injuries, and practical tools for effective pain management.
Local farmer perspective
“This is one of the most eye‑opening programs a dairy producer can attend,” said Cassandra Strupp, a dairy farmer from Richfield, Wis. “Seeing the beef processing plant in action and then learning how those choices affect our animals is a powerful experience that will forever change how we care for our herd.”
Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. each day and the program concludes at 3:45 p.m. Sessions include simultaneous Spanish translation. The workshop is accredited for up to 5.75 Dairy AdvanCE (DACE) continuing‑education credits and up to 5.0 ARPAS credits.
Interested participants can pre‑register online at www.pdpw.org or call 800‑947‑7379 for assistance.
About Professional Dairy Producers
Professional Dairy Producers® (PDP) is the nation’s largest dairy‑producer‑led organization, dedicated to advancing producer professionalism, stakeholder engagement, and shared solutions that help Wisconsin’s dairy community thrive.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
