Midwest Dairy’s division and corporate board members recently gathered for the 2026 Annual Meeting. This two-day event, held in Kansas City, Missouri, focused on exploring dairy innovation now and into the future. The theme of the meeting was “From Farm to Future,” and nearly 100 dairy farmers, industry guests, and staff attended. Attendees engaged with checkoff staff at an interactive trade show, listened to industry speakers, and connected with fellow farmers.
Chair of the Midwest Dairy Corporate Board, Charles Krause, opened the meeting by thanking attendees, recognizing that stepping away from the farm is hard, but that their involvement in guiding checkoff and representing their dairy farmers does not go unnoticed. He acknowledged the hard work staff does on behalf of 3,600 dairy farm families, the International Year of the Women Farmer, and highlighted what attendees would be doing over the course of the next day and a half.
Several presenters engaged with farmers on a range of topics. The Midwest Dairy Accelerator session highlighted how emerging start-ups are driving the future of dairy innovation. Featuring Pritam Bhattarai of Venture Fuel and Genesis Bencivenga of Lorenzo’s Frozen Pudding, the discussion explored how the accelerator program supports entrepreneurs in scaling breakthrough products, navigating industry challenges, and bringing fresh, consumer-focused ideas to market.
The Redefining Dairy’s Role in Modern Wellness session featured Katie Brown, President of the National Dairy Council, who provided guidance on emerging wellness trends and the evolving expectations of today’s consumers. Her presentation highlighted how collaboration across the dairy community has strengthened nutrition research, advanced credible messaging, and increased dairy’s impact in promoting modern, science-based wellness.
Emil Nashed, Executive Vice President of Research and Development at DMI, led The Research Long Game session, offering a deeper look into the strategic, long-term approach driving DMI’s innovation pipeline. He highlighted how sustained investment, scientific rigor, and industry collaboration have advanced new technologies, strengthened product development, and positioned dairy for continued growth in an evolving marketplace.
The evening concluded with a celebratory supper recognizing retiring board members. Those in attendance to be celebrated included Kim Ledger from South Dakota; Rita Young and Dave Schwartz from Minnesota; Steve Strickler, Donna Telle, and Byron Lehman from MoKan; and Glen Meier from Illinois. Thank you to these farmers and the other retirees for their service and impact on the dairy industry.
On the second day of the meeting, Midwest Dairy’s Ron Grusenmeyer and Stacy Dohle delivered an engaging presentation highlighting the history of checkoff and Midwest Dairy. Following that, a panel led by Corey Scott, which included Charles Krause, Midwest Dairy and United Dairy Industry Association Chair, and Marilyn Hershey, DMI Chair, touched on their roles as farmer leaders in the dairy industry.
Midwest Dairy staff demonstrated how their checkoff dollars are being used during the “From Farm to Future: A Midwest Dairy Trade Show.” This trade show enabled attendees and staff to connect through booths and activities that showcased Midwest Dairy’s work. Some fan-favorite booths included one that let farmers experience the Big 12 booth by trying out the grip strength and reflex challenges. The Accelerator program was also highlighted, including samples of Lorenzo’s Frozen Banana Pudding from 2025’s pitch contest. Farmers also enjoyed the business development booth, which included insights into checkoff’s retail work.
As part of the trade show, attendees participated in a community giving project, recycling old t-shirts into tote bags as part of Bag It Forward for the Harvesters Community Food Network. During the event, over 50 T-shirts were transformed into reusable tote bags. Past dairy sustainability t-shirts were used to help continue the dairy sustainability story.
The 2026 Annual Meeting provided an opportunity for farmers to celebrate 2025 achievements and kick off 2026 on a strong note as Midwest Dairy continues its efforts to advance the dairy industry. Thank you to all the board members who attended the event in Kansas City. As the checkoff enters a new year focused on driving dairy trust and sales, the industry is poised for continued growth and innovation. With rising consumer demand and a deepening commitment to sustainability, checkoff is energized by the opportunities ahead.