Youth Can Hone Leadership Skills, Explore Careers at Nov. 7-8 Event  

FOND DU LAC, WIS. – Oct. 20, 2009 –High school youth wanting to enhance their leadership skills and learn more about career opportunities within the dairy industry will fit right in at Youth Leadership Derby, Nov. 7-8, Milton, Wis.  

Sponsored by the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, this hit-the-fast-track weekend will include eye-opening tours of agribusinesses, interactive labs, one-of-a-kind workshops, fun competitions and a “ah-hah” keynote address by a dynamic, passionate former National FFA officer. Lab and workshop speakers include representatives from UW-Madison, UW-River Falls, UW-Platteville, UW-Short Course, Fox Valley Technical College, Southwest Technical College and Lakeshore Technical Colleges.  

A quick glance at the Youth Leadership Derby agenda reveals six hands-on labs and workshops, including “How do Your Crops Grow?”, “Where Does Food Go?”, “Finding Profit in Reproduction” and “So You Want to Go to College.” Youth will also tour two dairies and NASCO International Inc., create a “Got Milk?” commercial, tune up their communication skills and hear a true-to-life keynote about how one individual keeps going through the peaks and valleys of life.  

“Youth undecided about what career track to take will benefit from this fun-filled weekend,” states Doug Knoepke, a Durand, Wis., dairy producer and president of PDPW.  “And this won’t be your typical ‘find yourself’ weekend as activities will be highly interactive, engaging, challenging and fun.”  

Knoepke adds that Youth Leadership Derby is ideal for youth from dairying families as well as for non-dairy and non-farm youth.  

To register for Youth Leadership Derby or to learn more about specific tours, learning labs, workshops and competitions, 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.”

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