Dairy Forum 2015 is coming up fast, and the educational program, just released this week, promises to be exciting and informative. Dairy Forum will be held January 25-28 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club in Boca Raton, Fla

The program will kick off on Sunday, January 25, with a keynote address from Haley Barbour, the former governor of Mississippi and the featured speaker for the Chairman’s Lecture. Barbour, also a former chairman of the Republican Governors Association, is a champion of comprehensive immigration reform and currently serves as co-chairman of the Immigration Task Force at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington D.C.-based think tank that promotes bipartisanship.

“Haley Barbour is one of the most effective political strategists in the nation,” said Connie Tipton, IDFA president and CEO. “He will outline the legislative challenges he sees ahead for the 114th Congress and assess the field for the upcoming presidential campaigns.”

Retail Trends

Forum attendees also can look forward—literally—to a presentation by Daniel O’Connor, president and CEO of the RetailNet Group (RNG). RNG helps clients anticipate changes that will affect growth, earnings and the overall future direction of retail by analyzing national and global trends. O’Connor will share insights and research about new markets, evolving markets and trends in consumer behavior.

Animal Care

Dairy Forum will conclude on Wednesday, January 28, with The Food Dialogues®, which will focus on animal care practices and policies. The Food Dialogues are interactive events, sponsored in conjunction with the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance®, that bring together a cross section of leaders and opinions for candid conversations on the most pressing topics in food and food production.

“IDFA is excited to host this Food Dialogues event with the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance at Dairy Forum 2015,” said Tipton. “This panel promises a lively discussion about how livestock is raised and how food is processed and marketed in the United States against growing consumer perceptions that often conflict with actual animal care and production practices.”

The full agenda of events is available here.

To register, visit the Dairy Forum microsite.

Members with questions may contact Maria Velasco, meetings and educational services assistant for IDFA, at mvelasco@idfa.org.