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Dairy farm employees discuss feed in barn

Operations Managers Conference

Presented by PRO-DAIRY and NEDPA

Developing dairy leaders for tomorrow

Operations Managers Conference logo showing relation between crop, cows, and people management

January 27 – 28, 2027

For nearly 20 years the Operations Managers Conference has brought together dairy and crop managers to learn strategies from across the dairy farm management spectrum while building connections with other progressive dairy farm employees, advisors and industry professionals.

Hosted by Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY and the Northeast Dairy Producers Association (NEDPA), this event equips dairy farm managers with the skills, strategies and connections needed to strengthen farm operations and lead the future of the dairy industry. 

Keynote presentations highlight leadership and self-improvement strategies that apply across management specialties, while specialty breakout sessions provide practical training and tools focused on dairy, crops, human resource and business management. Building on the success of the previous conference, general sessions will feature simultaneous Spanish translation and additional breakout sessions will be offered exclusively in Spanish.

2027 hotel information

Conference Hotel

Doubletree Hotel
6301 State Route 298
East Syracuse, NY 13057
(315) 432-0200

Complimentary airport shuttle available.

Group Room Block and Rate

$159.00 per night single/double occupancy

Group Code: OPM
Book Online

Reservation Deadline: December 26, 2026

All hotel rates are subject to state, local and occupancy taxes.

  • Rates apply to reservations between January 26 and 28 only.  If you choose to make a reservation beyond these dates, the system will respond with no availability.
  • You may cancel your individual reservation up to 48 hours before your arrival without charge.
  • Individual names should be used when making reservations.  If requesting multiple rooms under the same name, you will be asked by the hotel to supply individual names no later than 45 days prior to check-in.  We have received an increasing number of cancellations which limits the availability of rooms to other guests.  We appreciate your assistance in making accurate reservations so that we can continue to offer discounted rates to conference attendees.
Presented by:
pro-dairy education and applied research
NEDPA logo

2027 Agenda

The planning committee is working hard to develop an engaging, informative agenda. Here's a sneak peak at some of this year's presentations!

Employees milking cows in a parlor

Leadership keynotes

General sessions highlight leadership and management strategies that apply across dairy farm operations.

Leading in the new world of work
Richard Hadden, Contented Cow Partners

Introduction to lean management on farm
Jana Hocken, The LeanFarm Project & Grassmere Dairy

AI on the dairy – what is it and how is it useful?
Miel Hostens, Cornell University

Developing leaders for the future
Daniel Omar Guerrero, Drake Dairy

Creating a safety culture 
Panelists: Daniel Omar Guerrero, Drake Dairy; Jeremy Bergen, Bergen Farms; and Garret Stephen, Florida RCC
Moderator: Jason Oliver, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY

Leading across generations: Building stronger dairy teams
Kristin Pronschinske, Lookup, LLC

Technical breakout sessions

Breakout sessions across the spectrum of dairy farm management provide attendees with innovative strategies and practical solutions. 

Dairy management

From data to decisions: Real dairy applications of AI
Miel Hostens, Cornell University

Capturing the value of milk protein: Why feeding management matters 
Cesar Matamoros, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY

Using farm financial and performance data: Tracking progress and making decisions (Con traducción)
Jason Karszes

Cow management and efficiency using LEAN (Con traducción)
Jana Hocken, The LeanFarm Project & Grassmere Dairy

AI for herd management: How computers can help you work smarter, not harder (Con traducción)
Meike van Leerdam, Cornell University
 

Crops management

Fleet and machinery management systems – panel discussion
Panelists: Frank Albano, Henry Miller
Moderator: Jason Oliver

In-season manure application
Kirsten Workman, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY; Joe Lawrence, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY; Mike Contessa, Champlain Valley Agronomics, Inc and Paul Cerosaletti

Cropping systems productivity to meet milk production goals
Joe Lawrence and Cesar Matamoros, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY

Cropping systems productivity to meet milk production goals
Joe Lawrence and Cesar Matamoros, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY

Human resource management strategies

Middle managers are uniquely positioned to serve as role models and leaders for their teams. 

Leading in the era of artificial intelligence
Dr. Wolfgang Heuweiser, Cornell University and Dr. Richard Stup, Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development

Making the transition to supervisor
Kaitlyn Lutz, Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development

Scenarios on the farm: Employment decisions in action
Producer: Lucas Smith, Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development
Starring: Allyson Jones-Brimmer, Northeast Dairy Producers Association and Jay Canzonier, Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development
Champlain

 

Presentaciones en español

Dedicated Spanish-language sessions and simultaneous translation services ensure that the content is accessible to all participants and farm employees.

Liderazgo en la era de la inteligencia artificial (IA) (Leading in the era of artificial intelligence)
Alejandra Zapata Salazar, Cornell University and Maria Bess Lewis, Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development

Haciendo la transición al supervisor (Making the transition to supervisor)
Maria Bess Lewis and Kaitlyn Lutz, Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development

Escenarios en la lechería: Decisiones laborales en acción (Scenarios on the Farm: Employment Decisions in Action)
Producer: Bess Lewis, Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development
Starring: Kaitlyn Lutz, Libby Eiholzer, Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development
Champlain

Aprovechar el valor de la proteína de la leche: por qué es importante el manejo de la alimentación  (Capturing the value of milk protein: Why feeding management matters)
Cesar Matamoros, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY

 

Hands-on Learning Labs

Looking for practical solutions to use right away? Learning Labs go beyond a traditional presentation with facilitated discussions, collaborative exercises and small-group activities designed to help managers explore key topics in greater depth.  All learning labs will include Spanish translation.

Connect dairy and consumers with effective communication 
Led by Chyresse Wells, Corning Place Communications  
With translation by Tradu-C

You do moo doo - Poop Skool lntensive
Led by Kirsten Workman and Jason Oliver, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY
With translation by Cesar Matamoros, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY

Improving efficiency and effectiveness: Incorporating LEAN principals on the farm
Led by Jason Karszes, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY and Kaitlyn Lutz, Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development
With translation by Kaitlyn Lutz

Using AI in communicating with multi-lingual teams
Led and translated Maria Bess Lewis and Kaitlyn Lutz, Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development
 

For More Information

profile picture of heather darrow
Heather Darrow

Conference Coordinator

Animal Science

PRO-DAIRY

Heather Darrow