Expand Your Dairy Processing Knowledge at CheeseExpo 2026

Learn from world-class experts and grow your knowledge of the dairy processing industry at CheeseExpo 2026, April 14-16 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Hosted by Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) and the Center for Dairy Research (CDR), this must-attend event brings together thousands of dairy processing professionals across all job functions and organizational roles.

“Whether you work on the production floor, in the lab, or in the corporate office, continuous learning is critical for success. CheeseExpo is the only place you’ll find the information and updates you need, combined with the respected industry minds you trust – all with a focus on cheese, butter, whey, and cultured products,” said John Umhoefer, WCMA Executive Director.

On Wednesday, April 15, CheeseExpo’s unparalleled educational offerings kick off with the GEA Opening Keynote, featuring Tom Tench, CEO of Glanbia’s Dairy Nutrition division. Hear the exciting story of Glanbia’s strategic growth, and learn more about today’s emerging growth opportunities for cheese, whey protein concentrates and isolates, and natural bioactives.

Three engaging seminars follow the keynote address, offering a wide range of learning opportunities. In Leveraging Federal Policy Change for Dairy Business Growth, WCMA leads a panel of industry experts and advocates including Jaime Castaneda of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, Kathleen Noble Wolfley of Ever.Ag, and Ninio Fetalvo of Michael Best Strategies, and Kelly Fortier of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP. This discussion goes beyond the headlines of trade volatility, immigration enforcement, the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, and more. Get clear, concise, and objective analysis of new Congressional and regulatory directions, as well as strategies to leverage this state of change for long-term growth.

Also on Wednesday morning, CDR brings its leading technical expertise to bear in Cutting Edge Cheese Research, featuring insights from Dr. Rani Govindasamy-Lucey, Dr. Rodrigo Ibáñez, and current graduate students on proper eye development in Swiss made from concentrated milk, the use of waterless cookers, cheese made from A1 and A2 milk, and novel approaches to make expanded cheese snacks.

Focused on food safety? Join the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and CDR for a seminar focused on Environmental Monitoring & Pathogen Research. Through a panel discussion featuring speakers from Agropur, Hilmar, and Land O’Lakes, you’ll learn more about today’s cutting-edge environmental monitoring tools and how to leverage them for efficient and highly actionable results. Tim Stubbs of the Innovation Center and Alex O’Brien of CDR share the latest food safety training resources, and Drs. Tu-Anh Huynh and Kristin Schill dive into recent research on Listeria and dairy microbiomes as a natural solution.

On Thursday, April 16, CheeseExpo brings a fresh line-up of thought-provoking educational sessions. WCMA moderates Navigating the New Milk: Milk Components and Profitability Through the Supply Chain, featuring the University of Wisconsin’s Leonard Polzin, HighGround Dairy’s Eric Meyer, T.C. Jacoby & Company’s Mike Brown, Dairy Management Inc.’s Paul Ziemnisky, and Dr. Rani Govindasamy-Lucey. This insightful seminar offers a deep dive into changes in dairy farm and dairy cow management, the impact of beef genetics on rising dairy components, the global landscape for protein and butterfat, and tools cheesemakers can use to navigate cheese yield, cheese quality and product pricing.

Meanwhile, Dr. Daniel Wilbanks and Dr. John Lucey of CDR, as well as current graduate students, discuss High Protein Yogurts and Beverages, including stability challenges in shelf-stable or ESL (extended shelf life) beverages, recent work on sedimentation in these types of beverages, and the impact of dairy ingredients on high protein yogurts.

In Dairy Sustainability: Evolving Conversations, Persistent Demand, and Strategic ROI, WCMA leads an exploration of sustainability’s shifting language, re-prioritized expectations, and increasing emphasis on the link between sustainability initiatives and tangible business ROI. This insightful seminar features key industry voices Mat Bartkowiak of Nelson-Jameson, Mark Crave of Crave Brothers Farm, Bruce Knight of Strategic Conservation Solutions, Julia Steffes Herlache of Masters Gallery Foods, and Bob Wills of Cedar Grove Cheese.

Register online at CheeseExpo.org now through April 6. After April 6, all registrations will be completed on-site. All questions may be directed to events@wischeesemakers.org.