Animal Scientists( ARPAS). ARPAS exams also are administered at the Conference. Due to the global pandemic with COVID-19, the Conference was cancelled in 2020, and due to the ongoing pandemic with travel limitations and social distancing requirements, the 2021 Conference was conducted only as a virtual Conference. This virtual Conference was scaled down to include student presentations on Monday afternoon and the Conference with invited speakers held on Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. The 2022 Conference was back in full swing with in-person and virtual offerings. Since 2023, the Conference has been offered in-person only.
The Planning Committee consists of five feed industry personnel, one nutrition consultant, one veterinarian, one Extension staff from one of the three host universities, and a faculty member from each of the three universities, with additional ad-hoc faculty members from the three universities to assist in organizing and conducting the Conference. A graduate student from one of the host universities and an OSU conference assistant also meet with the Planning Committee. Faculty members from the three universities provide continuous service on the Committee, but the other eight members serve 3-year staggered terms. The Committee meets twice each year; once in September to plan the next Conference and it meets during the Conference.
Another milestone for the Conference occurred in 2015 when it was removed for accounting purposes from The Ohio State University to a non-profit organization 501( c)( 3) status. The purpose of this was to sustain the future of the Conference through changing staff at universities and policy changes at universities. A constitution and bylaws were developed and an outside firm is providing the accounting services. The Conference now operates with a Board of Directors, with a somewhat similar structure to the Planning Committee.
Multi-state programs similar to the Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference can serve a vital role in bringing research and Extension faculty from different universities and allied-industry professionals together to meet the educational needs of a rapidly changing dairy industry. The Conference has resulted in major impacts to the feed industry and dairy producers, and influenced students seeking careers in animal nutrition and the direction of some research programs. Your continued support of this Conference is much appreciated.
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Figure 1. Attendance at the Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference from 1992 through 2024.
April 15-17, 2024 Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference