MILK Business Conference 2026

Conference Speakers

Industry experts, dairy producers, and innovators shaping the future of dairy.

Candace Bergesch

Candace Bergesch

Director, Data Insights

Farm Journal Intelligence

Candace Bergesch is the Director of Data Insights & Storytelling at Farm Journal Intelligence, where she helps partners use data to better understand and serve America’s farmers and ranchers. Her work turns insights into action—from…

Karen Bohnert

Karen Bohnert

Dairy Editorial Director

Farm Journal

Karen Bohnert is the brand leader and editorial director for all Farm Journal dairy offerings. With more than 20 years of experience producing award-winning dairy content and her direct experience operating a 600-Jersey cow dairy…

Kyndra Brown

Kyndra Brown

4th Generation Dairy Farmer

Moo View Dairy

Kyndra Brown is a fourth-generation dairy farmer in Texas whose roots run deep in dairying, dating back to her great-grandfather in the Netherlands. Together with her parents, husband Cody and their son, she helps run…

Karl Czymmek

Karl Czymmek

Senior extension associate

Cornell University

Karl Czymmek has a strong background in production agriculture and training in agronomy and law. He served the NY dairy industry for over 20 years as PRO-DAIRY’s nutrient management specialist, focusing on nutrient management, environmental…

Michael Davis

Michael Davis

General Manager | Membership & Bulk Sales Division

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc.

Mike Davis currently serves as General Manager of Membership & Bulk Sales at Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc., bringing more than 35 years of experience in the dairy industry. Prior to becoming General Manager, Mike spent…

Gregg Doud

Gregg Doud

President and Chief Executive Officer

National Milk Producers Federation

Gregg Doud is NMPF’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Before arriving at NMPF he served as the Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative from 2018 until 2021; before that,…

Jordan Ebert

Jordan Ebert

Business Development Leader

Ebert Enterprises

Jordan Ebert is a seventh-generation farmer and Business Development leader at Ebert Enterprises in Algoma, Wisconsin. Raised on his family’s dairy farm, Jordan developed a passion for agriculture at an early age through showing dairy…

Christian Edmiston

Christian Edmiston

Vice President of Procurement at Land O'Lakes, Inc. and Vice President of Forage Genetics International

Land O'Lakes / Forage Genetics

Christian Edmiston is a Vice President of Procurement at Land O'Lakes, Inc. and Vice President of Forage Genetics International, with over 20 years of experience in the dairy industry. His responsibilities include procurement and sales…

Jolie Foreman

Jolie Foreman

Executive Director

Shelby County Cares

Jolie is the Executive Director of Shelby County Cares (SCC), a nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention and promoting the holistic well-being of farm families in northeast Missouri. Born and raised on a Century Farm in…

Lucas Fuess

Lucas Fuess

Senior Dairy Analyst

Rabobank

Lucas is a senior dairy analyst for RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness and is based in Chicago. Before joining Rabobank, Lucas served as director of dairy market intelligence at HighGround Dairy, where he was responsible for…

Skylar Gericke

Skylar Gericke

Manager & Partner

Triple G Dairy (Manager) & LegenDairy (Partner)

Skylar Gericke was born and raised in Northwest Ohio with no dairy or farming background. He started in the dairy industry immediately after high school. This journey eventually brought him to Triple G Dairy in…

Corey Gillins

Corey Gillins

Executive Vice President and Chief Milk Marketing Officer

Dairy Farmers of America

As Chief Milk Marketing Officer, Corey leads milk marketing and membership operations, including overseeing DFA’s Farm Services Division and DFA’s seven Areas, working closely with the Area Chief Operating Officers. He is focused on leading…

Samuel Goldberg

Samuel Goldberg

Creator/Producer

Perfect Sundays LLC

Sam is a film, television, theatre, and live events producer who is passionate about tackling relevant agricultural stories. He has produced multiple award-winning documentaries, including The Last Survivor, Web and Silo: Edge of the Real…

Ed Henderson

Ed Henderson

Co-Founder

Thunder Coffeemilk

Ed Henderson -- Lifetime Dairy Farmer. He and his brothers and Father founded Shenandoah Dairy in Live Oak, FL, in 1987. They started with 100 cows and 160 Acres, then grew the operation to 3500…

Taylor Hildebrandt

Taylor Hildebrandt

Assistant Editor

Farm Journal

Taylor Hildebrandt is the assistant editor for dairy at Farm Journal, where she covers the people, business and production decisions shaping the dairy industry. In addition to her work as a journalist for agriculture, Taylor…

Ben Laine

Ben Laine

Senior Dairy Analyst

Terrain / Farm Credit

Ben Laine is Terrain’s senior dairy analyst. As a part of the Terrain team of economists, he delivers expert analysis to the customers of AgCountry Farm Credit Services, American AgCredit, Farm Credit Services of America…

Will Loux

Will Loux

SVP, Global Economic Affairs

NMPF | USDEC

Will serves as the Senior Vice President of Global Economic Affairs for the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). In this role, he leads the two organizations’ joint economics…

Tyne Morgan

Tyne Morgan

Host, U.S. Farm Report

Farm Journal

Tyne Morgan, host of “U.S. Farm Report,” is doing what she calls her dream job. She is a Missouri girl who has generations of agriculture rooted in her blood. Born and raised in Lexington, Mo.,…

Blaine Nicks

Blaine Nicks

Executive Director of Dairy Operations

Huter Ridge Dairy, LLP

Blaine is a 2012 graduate of Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, he practiced in both Wisconsin and California before moving to Colorado to join The Dairy Authority. At The Dairy Authority,…

Heather Oldani

Heather Oldani

Group EVP, Head of Marketing Communications & Affairs (MCA)

Dairy Management Inc.

As Group EVP, Heather oversees Marketing Communications & Affairs for Dairy Management Inc., the national dairy research and promotion group. In this role, she is responsible for the overall strategy that builds relevance and trust…

Trista Brown Priest

Trista Brown Priest

CEO

Cattle Empire LLC

Trista is the third generation of the Brown family to work at Cattle Empire. She has worked in various capacities at the feedyard since age 14. She earned her MBA in agricultural economics from Kansas…

Emily Yeiser Stepp

Emily Yeiser Stepp

Senior Director, Dairy Industry Affairs

fairlife

Emily Yeiser Stepp is currently the Senior Director of Dairy Industry Affairs with fairlife. In this role, Emily represents fairlife within key dairy industry organizations and partnerships while also monitoring and advocating for the business…

David Trimner

David Trimner

Co-Owner

Miltrim Farms Inc.

David Trimner is Co-owner and General Manager of Miltrim Farms Inc. in Athens, Wisconsin. Miltrim Farms is a 3rd-generation family farm founded in 1988. Today, the farm milks 3,000 cows, split between robotic milking and…

Lambert VanderMade

Lambert VanderMade

Owner

VanderMade Dairy and FreshMade Dairy

Lambert operates a progressive dairy operation in Northwest Ohio alongside family and a dedicated, hardworking team. Driven by a core mission to build a farm where people truly care and animals thrive, the operation prioritizes…

Jeff Winton

Jeff Winton

Founder and Chairman

Rural Minds

Jeff Winton is founder and chairman of Rural MindsTM, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to serve as the informed voice for mental health in rural America, and to provide mental health information…