One of the last in-person farm meetings to take place in 2020 was the Nebraska State Dairy Association Convention last February in Columbus. Here we are more than a year later, and the 135th NSDA Convention is planned once again for March 18 at the Ramada Inn in Columbus.

NSDA is one of the oldest continually operating farm organizations in Nebraska, dating back to the first organization president, S.C. Bassett, who took the helm in 1885.

Things have changed dramatically for dairy farmers in the state since then, but one thing hasn’t changed. Dairy producers still gather each year to network with each other, learn more about the industry and look over new products to make life easier on the farm.

Things will kick off March 18 with the Nebraska Dairy Industry Review Board meeting at 8 a.m., followed by the Nebraska Holstein Association annual meeting at 9 a.m. Thiele Dairy and Rob Shafer will present a program on farm transition planning at 10:30 a.m.

The popular dairy trade show begins at 9:30 a.m. in the courtyard area of the convention center. Over lunch, producers will hear a Midwest Dairy Checkoff update about “Driving dairy sales and trust during a global pandemic.”

At 1:15 p.m., farmers will hear an address by Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts. The annual NSDA meeting will follow the governor’s speech.

Late afternoon sessions include a presentation on the Dairy Girl Network by Nebraska Dairy Extension associate educator Kim Clark, as well as a program on dairy nutrition by Paul Kononoff, Nebraska Dairy Extension specialist.

The wine and cheese reception begins at 4:45 p.m. and is followed by the annual banquet meal, awards and princess coronation. The keynote speaker at the banquet this year is Krysta Harden, CEO of the Dairy Export Council.

Learn more by contacting Kris Bousquet at NSDA at [email protected].