Pennsylvania Dairy Summit presenter Brody Stapel will share his inspiring journey
HARRISBURG, Pa. – Whether you’re at the peak of your career in the dairy industry, or just getting started, dairy producers and industry professionals are invited to the two-day Pennsylvania Dairy Summit on February 4-5 in Grantville, Pa.
With this year’s theme of “True North,” the Dairy Summit is nationally recognized as one of the best conferences for networking, education, and inspiration.
Brody Stapel of Farm Stapels in Wisconsin will lead a keynote session titled “Forging Ahead with Innovation: A Producer Showcase.” As the 2024 Young Dairy Farmer of the Year, Stapel will share how he and his family have been forging ahead with innovation, rolling up their sleeves, and making their dreams a reality.
When brothers Brody and Jory returned to their family’s farm outside of Howards Grove, Wis., they were filled with enthusiasm and energy and had one thing in mind: opportunity. Opportunity to raise their families on a farm, opportunity to work for themselves and bring about their own success, and opportunity to be part of our country’s food security. In 2025, exactly 430 days after returning home from a conference that inspired them to start bottling their own milk, they dug the foundation of their new creamery.
“If someone wants to find their True North with all the noise and change in our industry, I think it starts with knowing your purpose. On our farm, moving into beef and on-farm milk processing taught us that when you’re clear on why you’re doing something, the next steps feel less overwhelming.
Purpose steadies you, and passion keeps you moving,” Stapel shares.
“Diversification brings plenty of highs and lows — markets shift, customers change, and you’re learning as you go. But if your decisions line up with your long-term goals for your family, your cows, and your land, it’s much easier to stay on track. Keep checking your compass and make sure you’re building something that truly serves your farm and your community. When you do that, the noise fades and the path forward becomes a lot clearer.”
In addition to Brody Stapel, the Summit will feature five additional special sessions, including:
• Owning Your Future is not DNA-Driven with motivational speaker, Michael Hoffman.
• Inspiring Pathways to Profitability with a producer panel representing Summit Level Dairy, Merrimart Farms and Fair Hill Farms. The path to profitability is different for every single dairy farm family.
• World Without Cows: A deep dive behind the scenes with movie producers Michelle Michael, Brandon Whitworth and Dr. Holder Vaughn. The feature-length documentary will have its Pennsylvania debut on the Dairy Summit stage. The documentary explores the complexity behind a seemingly simple question: Are we better off in a world without cows?
• Controlling Your Own Destiny, a PA-Proud Business Showcase with Painterland Sisters and Taylor Chip Cookie. With both of these independent, PA-proud businesses being included on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 List, learn how these business owners and entrepreneurs are controlling their own destiny in the midst of rapid growth, navigating a competitive marketplace, expanding dairy’s footprint, and staying true to their Pennsylvania roots.
• FMMO Reform & Dairy Pricing with Sara Dorland of Ceres Risk Management. What’s next for dairy pricing? What does the road ahead like?
Hosted by the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania and Center for Dairy Excellence, registration fees for dairy producers are set to be as affordable as possible.
