Below you will find the current agenda for the 2026 Forward TogetHER National Conference. This agenda will be updated as more information is confirmed, so check back often. ** Register for Forward TogetHER HERE! **
Held at the Marriott Lexington Griffin Gate Golf Resort & Spa 1800 Newtown Pike, Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 231-5100
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
11:30 to 2:00 PM: Registration Open for Pre-Conference Events
11:45 to 4:30 PM: Offsite Pre-Conference, Discover Kentucky: A Behind the Scenes Look at Bourbon and Racing at Buffalo Trace Distillery & Keeneland, limited number of seats available
2:30 to 4:30 PM: Onsite Pre-Conference, When Seconds Matter: Farm Emergency Preparedness, Katie Hammock, Sponsored by The Dairy Alliance
4:00 to 8:00 PM: Registration Open for Conference
6:00 to 9:00 PM: Welcome Event and Reception
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
6:00 to 7:00 AM: Dairy Girl Fitness Workout with Emily Schaapman of Dairy Girl Fitness, Sponsored by Fair life
6:30 to 8:15 AM: Breakfast Buffet, Sponsored by Farm Credit East
7:00 to 7:50 AM: Early Bird Gets the Worm Session, TBD
8:30 to 8:50 AM: Welcome & Opening Remarks, welcomed by Bethany Dado-Senn
8:50 to 9:50 AM: Keynote Opening Speaker, presented by Krysta Harden
9:50 to 11:00 AM: General Session, Trust the Numbers: Turning Farm Data into Better Decisions, presented by Lindsey Worden, Dr. Kelly Sporer, and Greta Halahan, Sponsored by VAS
11:00 to 11:20 AM: Break
11:20 AM to 12:10 PM: Dairy Girl Network Roundtable and Open Discussion, presented by the DGN Board
12:10 PM to 1:00 PM: Lunch and Awards, DGN Forward Under 40 Award, Sponsored by Lely, and DGN Leading Impact Award
1:30 to 2:40 PM: Breakout Sessions: Group 1 (choose 1)
- Cultivating Resilience: Managing Farm Stress Through Practical Tools and Gratitude, presented by Karen Endres, sponsored by Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
- Start Here: A Ranked Guide to AI and Automation on Your Dairy, presented by Dr. Leonard Polzen, sponsored by Midwest PMS
- Leading People One Season Ahead, presented by Kristy Pagel
2:45 to 3:50 PM: Breakout Sessions: Group 2 (choose 1)
- Farm Risk Ready, presented by Dan Rice, Nationwide Senior Dairy Consultant, sponsored by Nationwide
- Updates from DC, presented by Mary Knigge, Vice President Government Relations at Dairy Farmers of America, sponsored by DFA
- Calf Roundtable, sponsored by First Defense
3:45 to 4:00 PM: Break
4:00 to 5:00 PM: General Session, Economic Outlook, presented by Nevil Speer
5:00 to 6:00 PM: Free Time, Showcase booths are open
6:00 to 6:45 PM: DGN Networking Reception, Showcase booths are open
6:45 to 7:45 PM: Dinner and Awards
7:45 to 8:45 PM: Dinner Speaker presented by Emily Tweten
8:50 to 10:00 PM: Dessert and DGN Networking Event
Thursday, October 29, 2026
6:00 to 7:00 AM: Dairy Girl Fitness Workout with Emily Schaapman of Dairy Girl Fitness, Sponsored by Fair life
6:30 to 8:15 AM: Breakfast Buffet
7:00 to 8:00 AM: Prayer Breakfast (Optional), sponsored by Fera
8:30 to 8:50 AM: Welcome
8:50 to 9:50 AM: General Session, Producer Panel, presented by Dr. Megan Schrupp, DVM, Julie Patterson, and Heidi Fischer, sponsored by Zinpro and Vita Plus
9:50 to 10:50 AM: Brunch and Networking, Showcase booths are open
10:50 to 11:50 AM: General Session, The Feedscoop: Highlighting Major Trends in Dairy Production Research, presented by Dr. Kirby Krogstad and Katelyn Goldsmith
11:50 AM to 12:30 PM: Closing Keynote Speaker, State of the Industry and International Year of the Woman Farmer presented by Laura Daniels, founder of DGN and owner of Hitch Pin Consulting
12:30 to 1:00 PM: Closing Remarks, presented by Rebecca Pfeffer and Bethany Dado-Senn
1:00 PM: Grab and Go Lunch
**Agenda subject to change**