Producers Celebrated The Dairy Industry At The Young Producer Winter Get-Away Hosted by Accelerated Genetics
Guest Blogger:
Kari Stanek, Communications & Public Relations Coordinator at Accelerated Genetics
Producers and their families from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa attended the 2009 Young Producer Winter Get-Away sponsored by Accelerated Genetics on January 31-February 1 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. Even with a challenging economy ahead, about 200 attended this year’s event and truly celebrated family, friendships and most importantly the dairy industry!

The weekend kicked off on Saturday with producers coming dressed to ‘Chill Out’ for the weekend. Even though it was warm inside the hotel, the producers and children dressed in winter wear, some old and some new. And those who were the most creative enjoyed some fun prizes awarded during dinner.

Chill Out Dressed Up Contest Winners. From left: 4th Place – The Heck Family, Durand, Wis. – Dale, Mary & Marsha (they took off their warm clothes early); 3rd Place – The Tveten’s, Utica, Minn. – Paul & Rae; 2nd Place – The Larson Family, Evansville, Wis. – Jamie (Amy & Ellie not in photo); and 1st Place – The Solum’s, Spring Grove, Minn. – Dan & Tricia.
As the conference got started everyone was grouped together in tables of eight. Then they were given toilet paper, construction paper and tape and instructed to be creative and make a snowperson in 5 minutes time. The group was definitely creative…and it helped everyone meet someone new.

The snowman team from Minnesota…Ben Tibor, Elle Walker, Issac Kronebusch, Eric Walker (snowman), Chelsea & Cory Lehnertz.

What a big carrot that is.

A perfect snowperson…but can they move?
As the day got rolling, the adults and children split into different sessions and activities. The adult session featured Gary Sipiorski of Vita Plus. His presentation focused on Business Planning and Farm Transitions. This interactive session got producers talking about the cost of production, cost of food both domestically and internationally, how production agriculture has changed in the last 100 years and how progress has been affected by the economy. Above all it got producers look at yesterday and today, in hopes it will help them plan for the future.

While the ‘heavy’ discussions were going on with the adults, the kids got to check out Kalahari’s new Themepark which has go-carts, bowling, mini-golf, lazer tag, rock climbing and so much more.

Getting ready to ride the Go-karts on the second floor.

Rope climbing, bridge crossing is another adventure to test the youngsters.

And don’t forget about the high soaring ferris wheel that takes kids up to the sky!
And the youngest kids in the group got to have fun making crafts and watch some movies.


The kids also participated in a coloring contest, here are the different age division winners.

Saturday evening consisted of dinner followed by free time for everyone to enjoy the Kalahari’s huge indoor waterpark. And then before bedtime everyone gathered for the PJ Party and Ice Cream Social where producers could play cards, games and watch a movie on the big screen.
Sunday morning arrived quickly, some were worn out from the waterpark and others from staying up late watching movies. But after a filling breakfast, they were re-energized for the morning’s scavenger hunt to find chunks of icicles around the building (it was really string, but everyone used their imagination). The groups then had to build the longest icicle. The winning icicle building team called themselves the ‘Snowflakes’.
Then the adults and children split for two different sessions again. The youth had a hands-on Home Safety session, which included experience calling 9-1-1 and what one should say and do in a real emergency. During this time the adults learned more about the Coop Health Care program that is available to producers in Wisconsin from Melissa Duffy.

Ending the conference was a special session called ‘Dare to Risk Life Change’ presented by Rebecca Long Chaney. Her session covered her yearlong adventure overseas with her husband, Lee, mostly on an 880,000-acre cattle ranch in the Australian Outback. The incredible life-changing journey, filled with physical and emotional challenges, led to the publication of “Bulldust In My Bra – An American Couple’s Working Season in the Outback.”
Today, Chaney is a full-time mom to five-year-old twin daughters, Rianna and Sheridan, and promotes her book nationally through inspirational speaking and is a freelance writer. Chaney is also proud that the first book in a new agricultural education children’s book series by their twin daughters was released in 2008 entitled, “Little Star… Raising Our First Calf.” It is being considered for an agricultural literary award with the Ohio Farm Bureau.The family lives in Maryland where Lee manages Randall Land & Cattle Company, a registered Hereford operation.

Leading the activities throughout the Winter Get-Away weekend was a dynamic group of individuals…the Accelerated Genetics Young Producer Committee members.

Front row from left: Kelly Cookson (Alex Gimler) Katie Grady, Tricia Solum, Donna Parrell, Tammy Styczynski, and Amy Larson. Back row from left: Jerry Gimler, Tim Bowers, Tom Grady, Brian Koch, Dan Solum, Joe Parrell, Jeff Styczynski and Jamie Larson.
If you live in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois – the Accelerated Genetics cooperative membership areas – and are interested in attending future Young Producer events check out the Accelerated Genetics website www.accelgen.com or contact Kari Stanek 800.451.9275 ext. 222 or kstanek@accelgen.com. For those interested in Accelerated Genetics Young Producer events, the upcoming activities include:
Leadership Conference – March 28-29 in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. Young producers interested in learning new things and meeting other producers should check out Accelerated Genetics’ upcoming Young Producer Leadership Conference. This year’s event titled ‘Breaking New Ground’ will take place at the Wintergreen Resort and Conference Center. Accelerated Genetics has specifically tailored the Leadership Conference for persons who would like to improve leadership skills, participate in educational activities, network with other producers and have good time doing it.
Speakers Jolene Brown, Donna Moenning, and Tom Jadin will be featured at the Leadership Conference, along with other educational and fun-fi lled sessions designed to help producers manage and lead their family, farm and cooperative in the future. The Leadership Conference is designed for emerging young leaders (individuals or couples) who have not previously participated in this conference. Reservations need to be made by March 2nd.
Summer Meltdown Celebration – June 13, 2009 at the Hoard’s Dairyman Farm in Fort Atkinson, Wis. The focal point of their new facility is the milking center with a double-10 herringbone parlor. The farm uses electronic ID using neck-chain transponders. This system and automatic sort gates, eliminates the need for lockups in the free stall barn, permits milking summary reports and free stall barn activity reports that assist the herd with heat detection.
Following the farm tour, producers and their families will be treated to lunch on the farm. Then the Summer Meltdown Celebration will move to the Hoard Historic Museum and the National Dairy Shrine Visitors Center-which captures the sights and sounds of dairy farming of the past, present and future.