Rewriting the Future: Meet the Speakers at This Year’s Dairy Financial Conference

For Pennsylvania dairy farmers, and the ag lenders and consultants who work with them, it often feels like we’re navigating the impossible. From tight margins to family dynamics, being successful — and profitable — in the dairy industry often starts with rewriting the future and reimagining what your legacy looks like. Take a look at our line-up of speakers for this year’s Dairy Financial and Risk Management Conference on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Hope to see you there!

Sessions and Speakers:

The Evolving Economics of Dairy Markets with Corey Geiger. Dairy is having its moment as dairy demand stands at an all-time high. As this takes place, dairy protein demand is having an unprecedented run. However, with more protein comes more butterfat, which means the industry will need to look for more markets. At the same time, near-record beef prices are reshaping dairy cow inventories across the nation. Cull cow and calf sales represent nearly 20 percent of dairy farm revenue. Dairy markets require us to constantly be rewriting, reshaping and reevaluating our numbers and the metrics that matter most to dairy farms. During this session, CoBank’s Corey Geiger will walk through these evolving economics and how to keep up with such an ever-changing landscape.

Their Story, Their Strategy: Dairy Farms Built Beyond the Family Tree – Dairy Producer Panel with Austin Copenhaver, Lyndon Miller and Lisa Graybeal. During this panel discussion, hear from three dairy producers who have taken the path less traveled and built non-traditional partnerships for their operations. These producers have pursued partnerships with someone outside of their immediate family to rewrite their future and help propel their dairy forward. You’ll hear their farms’ stories, strategies, and future plans as well as the nuts and bolts of how they got it to work for them. Facilitated by Dr. Brian Reed, this panel will feature a Q&A segment as well.

Risk, Returns & Resilience: Dairy Risk Management Insight for Financial Professionals with Andy McCarty. Milk prices, feed costs, and margins can all change quickly, leaving many dairy producers asking some complex questions. Which tools should they utilize? When should they pull the trigger? How much coverage is enough? During this session, Andy McCarty will break down key risk management options, including DMC, DRP, LGM-Dairy, LRP, forward contracts, futures, options, and feed hedging. He will show how each option can help protect dairy producers’ margins, support cash flow, and align with a farm’s production, costs, and financial goals. This session is designed to educate financial professionals who work with dairy farms on various risk management tools.

Beyond the Numbers: Facilitating Conversations That Matter with Mike McGrann.When creating transition, financial, or business plans with dairy farm families, facilitating those discussions can feel like a balancing act. There are often emotions, points of tension, and unresolved conflicts that dairy farm families need to navigate. During this session, Mike McGrann will share how lenders and financial consultants can tackle tough conversations and dynamics surrounding the financial planning process. Learn how to clear the path for productive family business transitions for your clients – and help families rewrite their farm’s legacy.

• When: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
• Time: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Ending earlier in the afternoon for your convenience.
• Where: PA Farm Show Complex, McClay Street Entrance (2300 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110)
• Cost:
  • Standard Rate for Non-Ally registrants – $260
  • Allies for Advancement & EITC participant rate – $210
  • Dairy Producer Rate – $130