For Immediate Release – January 4, 2006

Shelly Mayer Motivates, Leads Wisconsin Professional Dairy Producers

For Wisconsin dairy farmer Shelly Mayer, dairying is both a business and a passion. She will bring the story of the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW), which she serves as Executive Director to the 2006 PA Dairy Summit, being held February 1 and 2 at the Lancaster Host Resort and Conference Center, Lancaster, PA.

Mayer has worked with the PDPW for 10 years, and has seen the organization grow to over 900 dairies and 350 industry allies. Building upon this year’s Summit theme, “Passion, Progress and Profit,” she will speak on “Stirring Your Passion” and will share her strong vision for a successful future in the dairy industry.

The PA Dairy Summit is hosted jointly by the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania (PDMP) and the Pennsylvania Dairy Stakeholders. Supporting partners are Penn State Dairy Alliance, The Center for Dairy Excellence, and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. It is designed to provide practical and timely information for the Commonwealth’s 9,000 dairy producers and dairy industry leaders.

Mayer grew up on a dairy farm in southwestern Wisconsin, and now farms with her husband and three children on Mayer Farm near Slinger, WI. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, her professional work experience includes teaching positions at the technical education level, Associate Editor at Hoard’s, Communication Specialist with East Central Select Sires and Customer Care Advocate for the Dairy Division of the Monsanto Corporation. She also serves on the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Board of Directors.

A dairy leader for the Washington County Dairy Project, she has assisted with the National 4-H Dairy Judging Contest at World Dairy Expo, coached judging and youth dairy bowl teams, and designed and conducted numerous dairy youth and leadership workshops.

Additional speakers and their topics include:

• “Collision of Vision” - Bruce Vincent, Libby, MT, a third-generation logger who formed Communities for a great Northwest, an organization devoted to intelligent use of natural resources ·
• “Moving a Passion to Profits” - Mike Schouten, Mission Dairy, Hereford, TX · “Keeping an Eye on the Customer” - Stan Erwine, Vance Publishing’s Food 360 Group. Lenexa, KS
• “Finding the Leader in You” - Jolene Brown, an Iowa grain farmer who will help meeting attendees build leadership skills
• “Leading the Community to Dairy” - Andy Werkhoven, a Washington state dairy farmer

Under the sponsorship of WestfaliaSurge, two-time Olympic medalist Rulon Gardner, who grew up on a small dairy farm in Wyoming, will be the featured speaker at the closing luncheon on Thursday. He will bring his personal message of courage and inspiration. There is still opportunity for sponsorships of speakers and program segments, as well as for exhibitors. For additional information and registration material, visit http://www.pdmp.org/dairySummit/announcement.htm.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Dennis C. Wolff will speak at the Summit and there will be recognition of the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association Award Winners.