Upon successfully completing all three pillars of Cornerstone Dairy Academy?, eighteen dairy farmers and industry professionals were honored as the program’s 2026 graduates. The application-based leadership-development program is designed to build the skills of dairy producers and industry professionals who want to expand their skills to lead with purpose, character and integrity.
Presented by the Professional Dairy Producers? (PDP), the 2-day program is designed to enhance the skills of communication, visionary thinking, ethical leadership, servant-oriented leadership and professional etiquette. The presenters also equip attendees with tools to work through workplace challenges caused by generational differences and diversities in emotional intelligence.
The 2026 Cornerstone Dairy Academy began on Tuesday, March 3, and was held in conjunction with the PDP Business Conference being held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis., on March 4-5.
“Cornerstone Dairy Academy graduates represent the best of the best in our dairy industry with a commitment to developing their leadership skills to benefit their farms and dairy businesses and the entire industry,” said Amber Keel, PDP Program Coordinator. “Completing all three pillars of training shows provides a strong foundation of communications and servant leadership skills for dairy farmers and industry professionals at any stage of their career.”
Hailing from 5 states, the 2026 Cornerstone Dairy Academy graduates have completed the Influential, Visionary and Servant Leadership pillars. Graduates include:
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Alyssa Berg, Kewaunee, Wis.
- Samantha Bowe, Mosinee, Wis.
- Andrew Connon, West Grove, Pa
- Sarah Eck, Cambridge, Wis.
- Jose Eduardo Hernandez Rodriguez, Bryant, Wis.
- Matthew Fischer, Owen, Wis.
- Kristen Fischer, Prairie du Chien, Wis.
- Jeronimo Flores Perez, Bryant, Wis.
- Ulises Garcia, Pine River, Wis.
- Carlos (Fernando) Gutierrez, Bryant, Wis.
- Jake Halbersma, Mosinee, Wis.
- Kirstin Joyal, Williston, Vt.
- Kaitlyn Kesler, Hilbert, Wis.
- Kyle Lerch, Shiocton, Wis.
- Darian Scheer, Colby, Wis.
- Shane St. Cyr, Plattsburgh, NY
- Joaquin Vazquez, Fond du Lac, Wis.
- Ronna Wagner, Saint Johns, Mich.
The PDP Cornerstone Dairy Academy is underwritten by Dairy’s Foundation. To learn more about leadership programs offered through PDP, visit www.PDPW.org or contact them at 800-947-7379.
Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) is the nation’s largest dairy producer-led organization of its kind, focusing on producer professionalism, stakeholder engagement and unified outreach to share ideas, solutions, resources and experiences that help dairy producers succeed.
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