2025 conference logo (1)

June 24-26, 2025 | Union League Club, Chicago

Conference Agenda

Tuesday, June 18


7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Opening Reception / Meet & Greet at Elephant & Castle (111 West Adams Street)


Wednesday, June 19


8:00 am - 8:30 am

Registration & Continental Breakfast

 


8:30 am - 8:45 am

Opening Remarks

Eric Meyer, Founder & President, HighGround Dairy

 


8:45 am - 10:15 am

Dairy Market Outlook: US & Global Fundamentals, Price Forecasts, Federal Milk Marketing Order Status Update

Alyssa Badger, Vice President, Global Operations & Insights, HighGround Dairy

Betty Berning, Contributing Dairy Economist, HighGround Dairy

Stu Davison, Senior Manager, Global Market Insights, HighGround Dairy

Alex Gambonini, Senior Manager, Advisory Services, HighGround Dairy

 


10:15 am - 10:30 am

Break

 


10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Producer Panel: Boots on the Ground Perspective from US Dairy Producers

Moderator: Curtis Bosma, Vice President, Producer Services, HighGround Dairy

Bill Wavrin, DVM, Owner, Sunny Dene Ranch LLC

Christina Zuiderveen, Managing Partner, Black Soil Dairy LLC

Preston De Jong, Chief Operating Officer, Horizon Dairy, LLC & Four Leaf Dairy


12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Networking Lunch

 


1:00 pm - 1:55 pm

Global Weather Outlook: Overview & Potential Impacts on Agriculture

Drew Lerner, Founder & President, World Weather Inc.


1:55 pm - 2:05 pm

Break


2:05 pm - 3:30 pm

Ag Lending Panel

Amanda Durow, Vice President, Corporate Agribusiness Banking Group, CoBank

Jim Moriarty, Vice President, Ag Lending, Compeer Financial


3:30 pm - 3:45 pm

Break

 


3:45 pm - 5:30 pm

Understanding China: Economics, Policy & Dairy Demand Trends

Jeff Goodwin, President & Chief Executive Officer, Pivotal Ingredients

Nancy Qian, Professor of Economics, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University


5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Reception

 


Thursday, June 20


8:00 am - 8:30 am

Continental Breakfast

 


8:30 am - 9:30 am

European Dairy Industry Deep Dive

Christophe Lafougère, Managing Director, GIRA

 


9:30 am - 9:45 am

Break

 


9:45 am - 10:45 am

Navigating the Consumer Demand Landscape

Tom Bailey, Executive Director, Consumer Foods & Foodservice, Rabobank

 


10:45 am - 12:00 pm

Exploring Global Demand Trends in Dairy Proteins

Nick Morgan, Managing Director, Nutrition Integrated

Jing Hagert, Vice President, Human Nutrition Ingredient Sales, Milk Specialties Global

 


12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Optional Networking Lunch

 


Meet Our Speakers

More to be announced!

alyssa badger

Alyssa Badger

Vice President, Global

Operations & Insights

HighGround Dairy

Betty Berning-1

Betty Berning

Contributing Dairy Economist

HighGround Dairy

Curtis Bosma

Curtis Bosma

Vice President, Producer Services

HighGround Dairy

stu davison

Stu Davison

Sr. Manager, Global Market Insights

HighGround Dairy

alex gambonini (1)

Alex Gambonini

Senior Manager,

Advisory Services

HighGround Dairy

eric meyer

Eric Meyer

Founder & President

HighGround Dairy

Speaker Interview Podcast Series

Leading up to the conference in June, we will interview selected speakers and panelists to give you a sneak peek into their backgrounds and sessions at the conference. Find the first episode with Bill Wavrin below! 

 

Amanda Durow, Corporate Agribusiness Banking Group, CoBank

Session: Ag Lending Panel

 

Nick Morgan, Managing Director of Nutrition Integrated

Session: Exploring Exploring Global Demand Trends in Dairy Proteins

 

Christina Zuiderveen, Managing Partner of Black Soil Dairy LLC

Session: Producer Panel – Boots on the Ground Perspective from US Dairy Producers

 

Bill Wavrin, DVM, Owner of Sunny Dene Ranch LLC

Session: Producer Panel – Boots on the Ground Perspective from US Dairy Producers

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Chicago Accommodations

Here are some of our recommendations on where to stay nearby depending on your loyalty preference:

 

•  Union League Club (Conference Host): Call 1.800.443.0578 or Email clubservices@ulcc.org & Reference HighGround Dairy Group for $249/night
•  Palmer House a Hilton Hotel
•  Hampton Inn Theater District (Hilton Affiliation)
•  W Chicago (Marriott Affiliation)
•  JW Marriott Chicago
•  Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Central Loop
•  Canopy by Hilton Chicago Central Loop
•  The Buckingham Hotel

Things to do in Chicago

Since you are visiting us in our city, here is a guide for you with must-do activities during the long-awaited Chicago summer! The timing of the conference is perfect for you to bring your family and enjoy an extended weekend in the Second City! We Look forward to seeing you in June. Some things featured in the guide below include:

 

•  A complete list of Chicago beaches
•  Links to the city's best museums & tours
•  Our favorite dive bars and pizza places (all types of crusts included!)
•  Unique locations to listen to live music while enjoying the best places around Chicago

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Secure Your Spot Now!

Registration ends at 2 PM CDT on June 14th and space is limited at the historic Union League Club, so be sure to register soon to secure your spot!

A Special Thank You To Our Sponsor:

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Any other questions? Email us at info@highgrounddairy.com or click here to contact us.