Through the USDA Dairy Business Innovation Initiative resources, UT Extension is pleased to provide opportunities to value-added dairy producers or key personnel in the Southeast region (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia) to participate in a premier professional development opportunity. Selected individuals will be reimbursed up to $2,500 to help defray registration and selected travel expenses to attend the 2026 NAFDMA Agritourism Convention and Expo in Orlando, Florida and vicinity February 4- 9, 2026. The conference and expo provide opportunities for producers to improve direct farm marketing operations through educational sessions, farm tours and networking events.
Owners, managers or key personnel of the following operation types located in the Southeast region are eligible to apply:
1. Existing value-added dairy (cattle, sheep or goat) operations producing and marketing value-added dairy products such as fluid milk, butter, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, soaps, lotions, other cosmetics, etc. If products for human consumption are being produced, the operation must be a licensed dairy product manufacturer.
2. Operations working toward becoming licensed dairy product manufacturer within the next 12 months.
If you have value-added dairy operations in your county, please inform those producers of this opportunity. In order for those interested producers to learn more about NAFDMA, they are encouraged to listen to this webinar recorded on September 9, 2025
