There is still time to add the Badger Ag Tour to your Fall Conference registration! Get a unique perspective on some of the most enterprising ag operations in the great state of Wisconsin. The cost for this tour is $75 and includes breakfast and lunch. See below for a full schedule of the day’s activities.

Does this sound like a great way to start off your Fall Conference experience? Register Now!

Tuesday, September 19

7:30 a.m.: Depart the hotel.

Stop #1 – Theresa, WI: 

Confections for Any Occasion | Chocolate is a specialty for this blind entrepreneur, Joel Bernhard. All of his delectable chocolates are made with real Wisconsin butter and his company proudly participates in Something Special from Wisconsin, Travel Wisconsin and Discover Dodge County. In addition to gourmet chocolates, the store features a variety of other Wisconsin-made products, including sausages, mustards, maple syrup, cheese spreads and honey. We’ll tour the store, learn a little bit about chocolate making and, of course, do some shopping.

Widmer’s Cheese Cellars | This cheese plant has been home to three generations of Widmer cheesemakers. Joe Widmer, current owner and master cheesemaker, still makes Brick cheese the old-fashioned way by using bricks to gently squeeze the whey from the curd. Widmer has won many awards for his handcrafted cheeses. We will learn about the company’s history, watch cheesemaking in action and sample cheese.

Stop #2 – Fond du Lac, WI: 

Vir-Clar Farms | Katie (Boyke) and Grant Grinstead and JR Boyke are the third generation on this family farm and currently manage it with their parents, Gary and Rose Boyke. The family has 2,000 cows and farms 2,800 acres of land. Methane digesters produce enough renewable electric power for approximately 800 homes. Cows are milked three times a day in a double-30 parlor. All the calves are raised on the farm and the family counts on 32 full-time employees to help Vir-Clar run smoothly. Katie will lead us on a tour of the entire farm and explain how this modern dairy farm gives animals the best care possible to produce wholesome, nutritious milk.

En route to Milwaukee: Beer and Cheese Pairing | We’ll match three Wisconsin craft beers with specialty cheeses, explaining how the flavors complement each other.  Participants will get a taste of so many award-winning products crafted in Wisconsin.

Stop #3 – Milwaukee, WI: 

Miller Brewing Company | Miller Brewing Company has been brewing “confoundly good beers” for 160 years. This tour begins at the Visitor Center and includes a four-block walk, allowing for an inside look at the brew house. Learn how Miller-Coors products are made, packaged and distributed worldwide. We’ll conclude the tour with product sampling and sodas.

3:45 p.m.: Arrive back at the hotel.

NAMA Still Has Rooms for Fall Conference!

Do you still need a room in Milwaukee? NAMA still has some rooms available at the Hilton City Center Hotel! If you still need a room, please send us an email or call the NAMA office at (913) 491-6500.

The early bird registration date is this Tuesday, September 5. If you haven’t registered for Fall Conference yet, there is still time to do so at the lower rate. Register today and save yourself some money!

Check out the Fall Conference Website for all the information you will need in Milwaukee!

Cheryl Cran is one of the fantastic keynote speakers that NAMA has lined up for Fall Conference this year. She will be presenting at the Second General Session on Thursday, September 21.

Get a first look at her presentation in this promo video. We hope to see you all in Milwaukee! Find out more on the Fall Conference website.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT-yX9CP6ao

The early bird registration cutoff is Tuesday, September 5 so make sure you register soon for the 2017 NAMA Fall Conference!

Join the Badger NAMA Chapter as they host the 2017 Fall Conference Ag Tour. Get a unique perspective on some of the most enterprising ag operations in the great state of Wisconsin. The cost for this tour is $75 and includes breakfast and lunch. See below for a full schedule of the day’s activities.

Does this sound like a great way to start off your Fall Conference experience? Register Now!

Tuesday, September 19

7:30 a.m.: Depart the hotel.

Stop #1 – Theresa, WI: 

Confections for Any Occasion | Chocolate is a specialty for this blind entrepreneur, Joel Bernhard. All of his delectable chocolates are made with real Wisconsin butter and his company proudly participates in Something Special from Wisconsin, Travel Wisconsin and Discover Dodge County. In addition to gourmet chocolates, the store features a variety of other Wisconsin-made products, including sausages, mustards, maple syrup, cheese spreads and honey. We’ll tour the store, learn a little bit about chocolate making and, of course, do some shopping.

Widmer’s Cheese Cellars | This cheese plant has been home to three generations of Widmer cheesemakers. Joe Widmer, current owner and master cheesemaker, still makes Brick cheese the old-fashioned way by using bricks to gently squeeze the whey from the curd. Widmer has won many awards for his handcrafted cheeses. We will learn about the company’s history, watch cheesemaking in action and sample cheese.

Stop #2 – Fond du Lac, WI: 

Vir-Clar Farms | Katie (Boyke) and Grant Grinstead and JR Boyke are the third generation on this family farm and currently manage it with their parents, Gary and Rose Boyke. The family has 2,000 cows and farms 2,800 acres of land. Methane digesters produce enough renewable electric power for approximately 800 homes. Cows are milked three times a day in a double-30 parlor. All the calves are raised on the farm and the family counts on 32 full-time employees to help Vir-Clar run smoothly. Katie will lead us on a tour of the entire farm and explain how this modern dairy farm gives animals the best care possible to produce wholesome, nutritious milk.

En route to Milwaukee: Beer and Cheese Pairing | We’ll match three Wisconsin craft beers with specialty cheeses, explaining how the flavors complement each other.  Participants will get a taste of so many award-winning products crafted in Wisconsin.

Stop #3 – Milwaukee, WI: 

Miller Brewing Company | Miller Brewing Company has been brewing “confoundly good beers” for 160 years. This tour begins at the Visitor Center and includes a four-block walk, allowing for an inside look at the brew house. Learn how Miller-Coors products are made, packaged and distributed worldwide. We’ll conclude the tour with product sampling and sodas.

3:45 p.m.: Arrive back at the hotel.

Start making your plans to join NAMA in Milwaukee this September for Fall Conference 2017!

The hotel cutoff date for Fall Conference is earlier than in past years. If you are planning to join NAMA in Milwaukee this September, please reserve your room at the Hilton soon.

August 27 is the cutoff date for the hotel — that’s in 11 days!

Find all the information on the Fall Conference website. We hope to see you in Milwaukee!

Join the Badger NAMA Chapter as they host the 2017 Fall Conference Ag Tour. Get a unique perspective on some of the most enterprising ag operations in the great state of Wisconsin. The cost for this tour is $75 and includes breakfast and lunch. See below for a full schedule of the day’s activities.

Does this sound like a great way to start off your Fall Conference experience? Register Now! 

Tuesday, September 19

7:30 a.m.: Depart the hotel.

Stop #1 – Theresa, WI: 

Confections for Any Occasion | Chocolate is a specialty for this blind entrepreneur, Joel Bernhard. All of his delectable chocolates are made with real Wisconsin butter and his company proudly participates in Something Special from Wisconsin, Travel Wisconsin and Discover Dodge County. In addition to gourmet chocolates, the store features a variety of other Wisconsin-made products, including sausages, mustards, maple syrup, cheese spreads and honey. We’ll tour the store, learn a little bit about chocolate making and, of course, do some shopping.

Widmer’s Cheese Cellars | This cheese plant has been home to three generations of Widmer cheesemakers. Joe Widmer, current owner and master cheesemaker, still makes Brick cheese the old-fashioned way by using bricks to gently squeeze the whey from the curd. Widmer has won many awards for his handcrafted cheeses. We will learn about the company’s history, watch cheesemaking in action and sample cheese.

Stop #2 – Fond du Lac, WI: 

Vir-Clar Farms | Katie (Boyke) and Grant Grinstead and JR Boyke are the third generation on this family farm and currently manage it with their parents, Gary and Rose Boyke. The family has 2,000 cows and farms 2,800 acres of land. Methane digesters produce enough renewable electric power for approximately 800 homes. Cows are milked three times a day in a double-30 parlor. All the calves are raised on the farm and the family counts on 32 full-time employees to help Vir-Clar run smoothly. Katie will lead us on a tour of the entire farm and explain how this modern dairy farm gives animals the best care possible to produce wholesome, nutritious milk.

En route to Milwaukee: Beer and Cheese Pairing | We’ll match three Wisconsin craft beers with specialty cheeses, explaining how the flavors complement each other.  Participants will get a taste of so many award-winning products crafted in Wisconsin.

Stop #3 – Milwaukee, WI: 

Miller Brewing Company | Miller Brewing Company has been brewing “confoundly good beers” for 160 years. This tour begins at the Visitor Center and includes a four-block walk, allowing for an inside look at the brew house. Learn how Miller-Coors products are made, packaged and distributed worldwide. We’ll conclude the tour with product sampling and sodas.

3:45 p.m.: Arrive back at the hotel.

NAMA is proud to announce the Closing Session at the upcoming Fall Conference will feature Jessie Corning, Senior Marketing Manager, Culver’s, as the keynote speaker.

2017 marks Culver’s fifth year of the ‘Thank You Farmers’ cause marketing initiative, which benefits national and local FFA programs and other agricultural organizations. It is designed to thank the farm families who are responsible for Culver’s success today and provide financial support for young people looking for a career in agriculture.

Jessie Corning is a Senior Marketing Manager for Culver Franchising System, Inc. (CFSI), the franchisor for over 620 Culver’s Frozen Custard & ButterBurgers restaurants.  Jessie joined Culver’s in 2011. Her areas of experience range from website best practices, digital promotions, social media, and local restaurant marketing. Jessie is responsible for the seamless digital experience for Culver’s guests that matches the highly-lauded offline hospitality. Specifically, the website, mobile app, text program, and email program, are each components that Jessie manages. She also leads the ‘Thank You Farmers’ cause marketing initiative and works with the National FFA Foundation as well as local ag organizations and Culver’s restaurants on fundraising for Ag Education.

Mark your calendars and register today to go Full Throttle with NAMA. Find out even more on the Fall Conference website. We hope to see you in Milwaukee!