The Central Plains Dairy Expo was held March 18-19, 2026, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, bringing together dairy farmers from across the region, with Midwest Dairy was in the center of the action. The Midwest Dairy team was on hand to connect with dairy farmers, share how their local checkoff dollars are making an impact, and highlight opportunities available to them.
At the trade show, visitors to the Midwest Dairy booth were welcomed by Farmer Relations staff, CEO Corey Scott, COO Sara Thomas, Midwest Dairy Corporate Board Chair Charles Krause, and South Dakota Dairy Ambassadors. The booth was a hub for conversation, questions, and hands-on learning. Attendees could watch video highlights of checkoff work, spin the interactive wheel to discover more about how checkoff investments support farmers, and explore resources on leadership, advocacy, and other dairy initiatives.
Wednesday afternoon featured a special Taste & Learn Experience. This interactive session showcased how checkoff investments in research, insights, and innovation are bringing new dairy products to consumers, building trust, and increasing sales. Attendees had the chance to taste two products supported by checkoff dollars, :ratio Pro-Fiber Yogurt and Dundee Popcorn. Sampling these offerings gave dairy farmers a firsthand look at the impact of their investments on national, regional, and local levels.
The expo wrapped up with an evening networking reception, hosted in partnership with Iowa State Dairy Association, Minnesota Milk Producers Association, Nebraska State Dairy Association, South Dakota Dairy Producers, Western Iowa Dairy Alliance, and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative. Midwest Dairy looks forward to continuing these valuable opportunities to connect with farmers and share the many ways checkoff efforts are helping increase trust and sales with consumers.