PDPW Youth Leadership Derby All About Fun, Networking, Leadership, Careers, Personal Development for Teenagers 15-18

FOND DU LAC, WIS. – October 6, 2010 –While the Kentucky Derby may have the reputation of being “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” Youth Leadership Derby could easily be the most exciting two days of leadership development for youth. Developed by the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, the 2010 Youth Leadership Derby is set for the weekend of Nov. 6-7 and will headquarter at the DeForest High School, DeForest, Wis. The event begins at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7 and concludes at 10:00 a..m. on Sunday, Nov. 8. The deadline for registration is October 25.

Designed specifically for youth ages 15 to 18 years, the two-day event will kick off with a four-stop bus tour. At the Wisconsin State Capitol, youth will visit the offices and chambers where elected official create laws that affect agriculture, interact with Casey Langan, Director of Public Relations, Wisconsin Farm Bureau, and participate in a mock legislative session. Tour #2 will have participants visiting Babcock Hall Dairy Plant, UW Madison, and learning how yogurt, ice cream, fluid milk products, butter and cheese are made and how new products are discovered. At the veterinarian school at UW Madison, attendees will hear from resident students and experience a fun, action-packed, hands-on lab with Dr. Nigel Cook. The final tour of the day will be the UW Arlington Dairy Research Farm where Mike Peters, herd administrator, will give youth a feel for a cow’s rumen and show them what lives inside the cow.

After some down time and a hearty meal, youth will listen to a panel of students who have studied abroad and experienced dairying in other parts of the world, including Australia, Uruguay and Europe. How the dairy industry connects globally will become ever so clear.

During a lock-in at the high school, youth will gain valuable communication skills from Andrea Brossard Martin, producer communications specialist with the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. Andrea will arm the students will talking points so they can share their passion and knowledge of dairying like a pro.

With the clock ticking and the event set to end at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, Youth Leadership Derby participants will be exposed to a thought-provoking message from Ron “Gus” Gustafson, a Nebraska farm boy who knows the power of staying positive despite knockbacks.

“If you have a son or daughter or neighbor kid curious about cows, the dairy industry and career opportunities, this is the event,” states Patty Endres, PDPW Board of Directors and dairy producer from Lodi, Wis.  “And the message from Gus Gustafson is one that will stay with the youth for a long time. Who couldn’t use a big dose of self confidence and tidbits that can help us succeed in today’s world.”

Cost for the two-day event is $100/youth and covers all tours, training material, meals and snacks, plus the lock-in at DeForest High School.  To register a youth or to learn more about the 2010 Youth Leadership Derby, visit www.pdpw.org.

Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin is a dairy-producer founded organization that provides educational programs and services to fellow dairy producers. PDPW’s mission is “to share ideas, solutions, resources, and experiences that help dairy producers succeed.”                                                 ###