There's something for everyone at the Midwest Dairy Expo: "Small Decisions Changing Lives" this Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at the St. Cloud Civic Center in St. Cloud, Minn. This is the Midwest's premier dairy show featuring the best in educational and networking opportunities for today's dairy producer. This year's show features a free trade show with nearly 150 exhibitors, excellent education sessions and plenty of time to network with fellow members of the dairy industry.

Tuesday features keynote Scott Brown from the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute discussing, "The Road for Future Farm Policy: What will Shape the 2012 Farm Bill." He will give insights on what issues will influence the next farm bill including the effect of the federal budget deficit, ways to provide an adequate safety net for producers, and the role of trade agreements. In the afternoon, Brown will present, "Today's Tools Dairy Producers Have to Reduce Financial Risk."

Marcia Endres from University of Minnesota Extension will present, "Keeping Your Cows Comfortable" on Tuesday and Wednesday. Endres will share some of the recent applied research results on dairy management and cow comfort from the University of Minnesota. This includes optimizing the use of recycled manure solids for bedding and evaluation of cross-ventilated freestall barns.

You won't want to miss Sarah (Bedgar) Wilson, a dairy farmer's wife from North Dakota, as she leads an extended session each day. Tuesday's session, "I've Got Sun in the Morning," will feature hilarious stories of life as a farmer's daughter, farm wife and mother. Everyday agriculture is under attack by a tangled web of activist groups so Wednesday's session, "Activism and Agriculture," will share secrets and give useful tools to become an activist for agriculture.

Helping dairy farmers become profitable is what Larry Tranel from Iowa State University Extension will do in his breakout entitled, "Millionaire Model Dairy Farms" on Tuesday morning. In the afternoon, Tranel will also talk about how to design and build a low-cost milking parlor.

Other sessions include Brian Schoenborn from Leonard, Street and Deinard on "Succession and Estate Planning," Andy Mueller from Land O'Lakes, Inc. on dairy nutrition, Ricardo Chebel from the University of Minnesota on reproduction systems, and a panel on "Maintaining Your Social License to Dairy." 

Lance Fox with Alpharma Animal Health will take you "No Place But UP" at the evening awards banquet. You will not only live the experience of going up to the top of the world, but will be challenged to pursue with passion the "Everest" which lies within. Don't miss Fox as he also lead a breakout on Tuesday entitled "The 5 C's of Calf Raising" and one on Wednesday entitled "Scours versus Pneumonia: Understanding Both Ends."

The $35 registration fee includes up to five meals, access to all educational keynotes and breakout sessions, entrance to all networking opportunities including the social and auction, and entrance to the trade show. Go to www.mnmilk.org/midwestdairyexpo for additional information and online registration.