Central Plains Dairy Expo Celebrates 25 Years

Annual event in Sioux Falls features sessions on AI, heifer management, and immigration law updates

Apr. 14, 2026 at 5:04am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A minimalist studio still life featuring a collection of dairy farming tools and equipment, including a milking machine, a feed scoop, and work gloves, arranged in a clean, elegant composition to symbolize the precision and innovation of modern dairy farming.A showcase of the tools and technology powering the 25-year evolution of the Central Plains Dairy Expo.Sioux Falls Today

The 2026 Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota celebrated its 25th anniversary with a welcome reception, BlackHawk concert, and two days of breakout sessions covering topics like fly control, technology, herd health, immigration law, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Why it matters

The Central Plains Dairy Expo is a major annual event for the dairy industry in the region, providing a platform for farmers, industry experts, and service providers to connect, learn, and discuss the latest trends and challenges facing the dairy sector. The 25th anniversary milestone highlights the event's longevity and importance to the local dairy community.

The details

Sessions at the 2026 expo covered a range of topics, including using AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to improve farm efficiencies, key benchmarks and best practices for heifer management, and updates on U.S. immigration law and its impact on dairy farms' labor challenges. Speakers included Dagmar Beckel-Machyckova of Golden Calf Company, Bethany Dado-Senn of Vita Plus, and immigration attorney Amanda Bahena.

  • The 2026 Central Plains Dairy Expo took place from March 17-19 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
  • The event commenced with a welcome reception and BlackHawk concert on March 17.

The players

Central Plains Dairy Expo

An annual trade show and conference for the dairy industry in the central plains region of the United States, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026.

Dagmar Beckel-Machyckova

General manager of Golden Calf Company, who discussed how dairy farmers can use AI tools to improve efficiencies on their farms.

Bethany Dado-Senn

Calf and heifer technical specialist for Vita Plus, who led a session on heifer management benchmarks and best practices.

Amanda Bahena

Attorney at Woods, Fuller, Schultz and Smith P.C., who provided updates on U.S. immigration law and its impact on dairy farms.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“As an American-based manufacturing business, we need every technological advantage to stay competitive against competitors who manufacture their products overseas, and we have found AI to be very beneficial to our business. We want to share this knowledge with dairy farmers to help them stay competitive because if they are successful, we are successful.”

— Dagmar Beckel-Machyckova, General Manager, Golden Calf Company

“We live in a unique time, when AI is just beginning. Every year, it gets more intelligent and capable. Now is the time to learn how to use it, just as it is developing, so we can learn new features as they come on board. If we wait, the learning curve might be too steep. Do it while it is still affordable – the time to learn is now. I strongly believe that mastering AI will be the main competitive advantage two years from now.”

— Dagmar Beckel-Machyckova, General Manager, Golden Calf Company

“There has certainly been a tightening in the agricultural labor market. The flow of new laborers into the U.S. is drastically reduced, and a large number of immigrants that were already in the U.S. have lost their work authorizations, been removed from the U.S. or have self-deported. There has also been a notable increase of ICE officer inquiries and investigations at dairy farms.”

— Amanda Bahena, Attorney, Woods, Fuller, Schultz and Smith P.C.

What’s next

The Central Plains Dairy Expo will continue to be an important annual event for the dairy industry in the region, providing a platform for farmers, experts, and service providers to stay up-to-date on the latest trends, technologies, and regulatory changes impacting their operations.

The takeaway

The 25th anniversary of the Central Plains Dairy Expo highlights the event's enduring value and importance to the local dairy community. By addressing key issues like labor challenges, herd management, and technological innovations, the expo helps dairy farmers and businesses in the region stay competitive and adapt to an evolving industry landscape.