Story & photos by Jeff Stoker, Illustration by Ray Merritt

Dairy producers from up and down the booming I-29 corridor converged on Sioux Falls, South Dakota last month to attend the Central Plains Dairy Expo.

The expo, put on by the Central Plains Dairy Association, the South Dakota Dairy Association and the South Dakota Fieldmen, brought over 2,300 producers and industry professionals together for two days of meeting, entertainment and networking.

David Kohl, professor emeritus from Virginia Tech and Jolene Brown were the featured presenters at the seminars, which also included presentations from sponsoring companies.

The dairy industry in South Dakota continues to grow, enjoying a 9 percent increase in total milk from 2006-2007. It was the third largest percentage jump in the country and the largest among top 25 dairy states.

For more information about the Central Plains Dairy Expo or the Central Plains Dairy Association, visit www.centralplainsdairy.com or call Kathy Tonneson at (218) 236-8420. PD

 

Show visitors “brush up” on the latest technology and innovative products that the industry has to offer during breaks between seminars. Photo by Jeff Stoker.

Over 1,800 producers gathered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for the eighth annual Central Plains Dairy Expo, March 19-20. Photo by Jeff Stoker.

Dairy producers visit with over 200 exhibitors at the show, held at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. Photo by Jeff Stoker.