On April 21–23, 2026, eight dairy farmers and one Princess Kay committee member gathered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for a Farmer Spokesperson Training hosted by Midwest Dairy. Midwest Dairy staff members Mitch Schulte, Alyson Fendrick, Stacy Dohle, and Heidi Zwinger also attended the training.
The event kicked off with an evening at the Game Show Studio, where attendees enjoyed friendly competition and networking. The activity provided an excellent opportunity for participants to connect, build relationships, and break the ice before the training sessions began.
Farmers and representatives in attendance included:
- Elle Tibor, Minnesota
- Steve Landman, South Dakota
- Darren Mueller, Nebraska
- Erin Rodgers, Missouri
- Brodie Bushman, Iowa
- Jess Wohler, Kansas
- Natalie Berning, Illinois
- Kevin Korbel, Minnesota
- Juliea Merten, Minnesota (Princess Kay Committee Member)
The first full day of training took place at Midwest Dairy headquarters and focused on strengthening communication and leadership skills. Sessions included:
- Leadership Communication – Exploring communication as a strategic leadership tool, key communication principles, practical applications, and techniques for engaging audiences through conversations and networking opportunities.
- Virtual Communication – Learning best practices for presenting through Zoom and Teams, optimizing room and technology setups, and conducting effective virtual farm tours.
- Communicating Online – Reviewing social media platforms, website development, and search engine optimization (SEO) strategies.
- Biography Development – Crafting personalized biographies that highlight each participant’s unique story and experiences.
A key takeaway from the day was the importance of tailoring messages to specific audiences and using the right communication strategies to capture attention and inspire engagement.
The day concluded with dinner at Twin Cities 400 Tavern, providing another opportunity for participants to continue networking and share insights from the training.
On the second day, attendees put their new skills into practice through hands-on sessions, including:
- Media Training – Learning best practices, tools, and techniques for successful interviews and question-and-answer sessions.
- Mock Interview Scenarios – Practicing television and radio interviews to build confidence and strengthen media communication skills.
Throughout the training, participants learned the value of developing clear key messages and creating a communication strategy before any presentation or interview. Many attendees cited the mock interviews as the most valuable part of the experience, appreciating the opportunity to apply their newly acquired skills in a realistic setting.
By strengthening farmers’ communication skills, Midwest Dairy is helping ensure authentic dairy voices are prepared to engage with consumers, media, and communities in impactful ways. These conversations help build trust in dairy, strengthen relationships, and support dairy demand for the future.