Dairy Girl Network (DGN) offers programs and events to support all women in dairy by enhancing lives and creating opportunities. As the 2019 year closed, DGN is reflecting on the year and opportunities created for dairywomen across the nation. Consisting of over 5,000 highly-engaged dairywomen, the organization had a year filled with Connect networking events in nine states, hosted webinars, a Spanish education course, three Growing TogetHER Field Days, an education seminar at World Dairy Expo titled Sharing Wisdom, and is busy planning the 2020 Forward TogetHER National Conference. By working together with partners, Dairy Girl Network members gain valuable connections and resources and are able to share their experiences while supporting and encouraging fellow dairywomen.
Also in December of 2019, Dairy Girl Network welcomed three new members to the Board of Directors. The DGN Board of Directors is comprised of twelve voting members along with three advisory members. These individuals are elected representatives serving as dairy farmers and industry professionals. They oversee the overall execution of the organization’s mission. In building the organization and supporting dairywomen through connections, encouragement and inspiration, DGN announces the three new directors: Connie Kuber of California, Corinne Banker of New York, and Rebecca Shaw of Pennsylvania.
These new directors join our current DGN Board members who are Laura Daniels, Founder and President, of Wisconsin; Kristy Pagel, Vice President, of Wisconsin; LuAnn Troxel, Financial Officer, of Indiana; Carrie Mess of Wisconsin; Michelle Philibeck of Wisconsin; Tami Smith of Pennsylvania; Michele Schilter of Washington; Katie Dotterer-Pyle of Maryland; and Mary Knigge of Washington DC. Advisors to the board include Leah Ziemba of Wisconsin; Dr. Kelly Reed of Washington and Anna-Lisa Laca of Nevada. These individuals are advocates for advancing women within agriculture and are dedicated to the mission and vision of Dairy Girl Network.
“As Dairy Girl Network continues to grow to reach more dairywomen each year through our education and personal growth programs we are excited with the opportunity to add more members to the Board of Directors.” comments Laura Daniels, Founder and President of the Dairy Girl Network. “These three women complete our board and bring a wealth of knowledge, skillsets and enthusiasm to our board that will directly support the Dairy Girl Network in moving our mission forward and supporting dairywomen from coast to coast.”
Connie Kuber of California grew up on a small Minnesota Registered Holstein herd and has been active in the dairy industry since then. Connie and her husband, Ron, founded Connor Agriscience, where they focus on bringing new scientific methods and products forward, especially in forage and silage making and management. Connie does freelance writing for US and European dairy publications and works to provide resources and learning experiences to farmers and ranchers. She is a Professional Animal Scientist (PAS) through ARPAS, and a member of the Clovis FFA Agriscience Advisory Council. She also volunteers with North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge.
Corinne Banker and her husband own and operate a dairy farm in New York. Corinne is very proud of the multi-year expansion that they have just completed on their farm. She manages the calf and heifer program, heat detection, crop program, financial record and cow records. Corinne grew up in Connecticut on a hobby farm and attended SUNY Cobleskill and UCONN for her degrees and worked off the farm within the industry for more than 10 years. She has been involved in many organizations which include one term as a national dairy board director, 13 years on the ADANE board, and currently on the New York Animal Ag Coalition board.
Growing up in Central Pennsylvania, Rebecca Shaw started working on her grandparents’ dairy farm and raising show animals at home. She earned a major in Agribusiness Management and a minor in International Ag at Penn State. Rebecca works for the Cargill dairy marketing team. She is a Class 10 graduate of YDLI, a Class 11 Advisory Board Member, a 4-H Dairy Bowl Coach, a guest contributor for Progressive Dairy and received the Penn State Dairy Science Club Outstanding Young Alumna Award in 2019 for her work within the industry.
Dairy Girl Network is proud to add these three remarkable, enthusiastic and passionate dairywomen to the Board of Directors. With additional leadership and advisors, the Dairy Girl Network will continue to reach and support all women in dairy by connecting, inspiring and achieving. Learn more about the organization and the opportunities DGN offers at dairygirlnetwork.com.
Membership is free for all dairywomen. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Dairy Girl Network, go to https://dairygirlnetwork.com/join/. It’s fast, free and easy to sign up.
Dairy Girl Network is made possible by Vision partners: Dairy Herd Management and Mycogen Seeds, in addition to support from Sustaining partners: DeLaval, Diamond V, DMI and Land O’Lakes.
The Dairy Girl Network connects all women of the dairy industry, encouraging ideas and camaraderie in an effort to achieve personal and professional development. Designed as a welcoming network of passionate women involved in dairy, relationships will grow through shared experience, support and inspiration.
