The Peru Gazette

Seated, l-r: Kyle Lerch, Shiocton, Wis; Samantha Bowe, Mosinee, Wis; Carlos Fernando Gutierrez, Bryant, Wis and Ulises Garcia, Pine River, Wis. Standing, l-r: Jeronimo Flores Perez, Bryant, Wis; Jose Eduardo Hernandez Rodriguez, Bryant, Wis; Shane St. Cyr, Plattsburgh, NY; Kirstin Joyal, Williston, Vt.; Alyssa Berg, Kewaunee, Wis; Andrew Connon, West Grove, Pa; Kaitlyn Kesler, Hilbert, Wis; Ronna Wagner, Saint Johns, Mich.; Kristen Fischer, Prairie du Chien, Wis; Matthew Fischer, Owen, Wis; Jake Halbersma, Mosinee, Wis; Darian Scheer, Colby, Wis; and Joaquin Vazquez, Fond du Lac, Wis. Not pictured: Sarah Eck, Cambridge, Wis.

Graduates include Shane St. Cyr Adirondack Farms Partner 

March 11, 2026 – Madison Wisconsin – DAIRY NEWS – Upon successfully completing all three pillars of Cornerstone Dairy Academy, eighteen dairy farmers and industry professionals were honored as the program’s 2026 graduates at the Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) Business Conference at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis., March 4.

Presented by the Professional Dairy Producers (PDP), the application-based leadership-development program is designed to enhance the skills of communication, visionary thinking, ethical and servant-oriented leadership, and professional etiquette. The program also equips attendees with tools to work through workplace challenges caused by generational differences and diversities in emotional intelligence.

“Cornerstone Dairy Academy graduates represent the best of the best in our dairy industry with a commitment to developing their leadership skills to benefit their farms and dairy businesses and the entire industry,” said Amber Keel, PDP Program Coordinator. “Completing all three pillars of training provides a strong foundation of communications and servant leadership skills for dairy farmers and industry professionals at any stage of their career.”

Hailing from 5 states, the 2026 Cornerstone Dairy Academy graduates have completed the Influential, Visionary and Servant Leadership pillars. Graduates include:

• Alyssa Berg, Kewaunee, Wis.
• Samantha Bowe, Mosinee, Wis.
• Andrew Connon, West Grove, Pa
• Sarah Eck, Cambridge, Wis.
• Jose Eduardo Hernandez Rodriguez, Bryant, Wis.
• Matthew Fischer, Owen, Wis.
• Kristen Fischer, Prairie du Chien, Wis.
• Jeronimo Flores Perez, Bryant, Wis.
• Ulises Garcia, Pine River, Wis.
• Carlos (Fernando) Gutierrez, Bryant, Wis.
• Jake Halbersma, Mosinee, Wis.
• Kirstin Joyal, Williston, Vt.
• Kaitlyn Kesler, Hilbert, Wis.
• Kyle Lerch, Shiocton, Wis.
• Darian Scheer, Colby, Wis.
• Shane St. Cyr, Plattsburgh, NY (Far Left, Back Row of Photo)
• Joaquin Vazquez, Fond du Lac, Wis.
• Ronna Wagner, Saint Johns, Mich.

The PDP Cornerstone Dairy Academy is underwritten by Dairy’s Foundation. To learn more about leadership programs offered through PDP, visitwww.PDPW.org or contact them at 800-947-7379.

Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) is the nation’s largest dairy producer-led organization of its kind, focusing on producer professionalism, stakeholder engagement and unified outreach to share ideas, solutions, resources and experiences that help dairy producers succeed.