"Networking To The Max"
The ADPI/ABI Annual Conference delivered for the dairy industry once again! The 2019 conference hosted over 1,000 attendees from 21 countries and 50 exhibitors and featured outstanding industry speakers, keynote speakers, informative exhibits, a golf outing, a new fun walk/run and receptions with networking opportunities that were second to none.
Co-hosted by the American Dairy Products Institute and the American Butter Institute, this year’s event addressed the manufactured dairy product industry’s latest challenges, obstacles and opportunities with presentations from a wide range of speakers, including industry executives, research and development and logistics.
As always, the conference opened strong with “standing room only” as attendees gathered to hear from meteorologist and economists on the Dairy Market Outlook for 2019 and Beyond. The momentum continued as Olympic Gold Medalist, Rulon Gardner commanded the stage (along with an NBC filming crew) to deliver the keynote address. This Wyoming farm boy with learning disabilities, who beat the odds and never stopped pushing encouraged all in the dairy industry to do the same!
Monday morning finished strong as another panel of senior industry leaders dove right into the heart of the industry and addressed “Global Trade, Trials and Tribulations.”
Tuesday featured a panel of CEOs from Arla Foods Ingredients, Associated Milk Producers, Inc., Darigold, Inc. and WOW Logistics as they gathered to share their view on sustainability and viability. As well as a special session on the Dairy Protein Messaging Initiative, that outlined the who, what, when and why of the initiative and featured representatives from co-sponsors – FrieslandCampina, Saputo and Agropur.
Other topics covered at the two and half day event included Marketing Milkfat: Opportunities and Challenges, Supply Chain Challenges, Risk Management: Fails and Successes and updates and briefings on production and trends with Lactose, Permeate, Milk Powders, MPC and Whey.
ADPI was proud to recognize the hard work and achievements of industry leader Barney Krueger as he was honored with the 2019 ADPI Award of Merit. ADPI also highlighted the achievements of three young ladies, Mackenzie Hanisch from Cottage Grove, Minnesota, Tiffany J. Heishman of Strasburg, Virginia, and Bailey Larson from Alma Center, WI who were all honored as the recipients of the 2019 Jim Page Memorial Scholarship.
Meeting attendees also had the unparalleled opportunity to network with representatives from throughout the domestic and international dairy industry during amazing evening receptions which included member provided cheese and butter as well as Chicago themed foods. In addition, 50 major suppliers to the manufactured dairy products industry exhibited their new product lines and services in the conference exhibit hall.
ADPI and ABI would like to thank all of this year’s sponsors for helping truly make this an unforgettable conference! Mark your calendars for the 2020 Annual Conference which will be held will be held April 26 - 28, 2020 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago in Chicago, Illinois.