2026 ODPA Annual Meeting

The Ohio Dairy Producers Association invites you to attend our annual meeting on Tuesday, February 17 in Wooster. Registration begins at 9:30, with the meeting to follow. Attendance is free and open to all dairy farmers. Enjoy lunch provided by our sponsors and learn how ODPA is helping to navigate the future of dairy on your behalf.

Join us as we examine the state of the industry and the initiatives underway to expand Ohio’s dairy processing capacity and align farm growth with processor needs. Attendees will also receive updates on state and federal policies impacting the dairy industry. Preparing for the future requires insight, forecasting, and resilience—learn how Ohio’s dairy leaders are inspiring growth and innovation across the state. 

We encourage you to stay for the afternoon session of the Ohio Dairy Quality Conference and for an evening dinner to hear the keynote speaker.

Meeting Agenda

9:30 - Registration & Donuts

10:00 - Welcome and Opening Comments
Joe Miley, ODPA board chair and Scott Higgins, ODPA CEO

10:05 - Ohio State University Dairy Program Report & Ohio Dairy Research Fund Update
Maurice Eastridge, Professor & Sr. Associate Chair, OSU Department of Animal Sciences

10:40 - OSU College of Veterinary Medicine PROTECT Ohio Update 
Dr. Leah Dorman, Director of Community Outreach, OSU College of Veterinary Medicine

11:00 - Key Trends Shaping Dairy’s Role in Health and Wellness: Dietary Guidelines, Whole Milk in Schools and Highly Processed Foods
Katie Brown, EdD, RD, FASD, FASN, President of National Dairy Council and Executive Vice President of Dairy Management Inc.

11:30 - Milk Component Growth is Reshaping Dairy
Corey Geiger, Lead Economist-Dairy, Knowledge Exchange Division CoBank

12:00 - Lunch provided by ODPA sponsors

12:50 - Ohio Dairy Processing & Manufacturing Update
Brian Wise, Dairy Division Chief, Ohio Department of Agriculture

1:00 - Preparing Ohio Dairy for Successful Growth: Insights into the Ohio Dairy Economic Impact Analysis
Stephen Cain, Principal, Hartman-Analytics

1:45 - Vivek Ramaswamy, Ohio Gubernatorial Candidate 

2:00 - Ohio Dairy Producers Association Advocacy Report
Scott Higgins, ODPA CEO

2:15 - Business Meeting Adjourns

Register Now

Please note: The two-day Ohio Dairy Quality Conference will immediately follow the conclusion of the ODPA Annual Meeting. Registration for the ODPA Annual Meeting includes complimentary access to Day 1 of the conference and dinner that evening. Please note if you would like to attend Day 2, you must register separately for $35/person at the link on the agenda.