Dairy Girl Network Opens Nominations for Prestigious 2026 Industry Awards
The Dairy Girl Network (DGN) is now accepting online nominations for two top industry honors: the DGN Forward Under 40 Award (sponsored by Lely) and the DGN Leading Impact Award.
Nominations close on August 31, 2026, at midnight CST. DGN will honor the winners during the Forward TogetHER National Conference, held October 27–29, 2026, in Lexington, Kentucky.
Celebrating Extraordinary Women in Dairy
These awards spotlight exceptional women driving progress across the agricultural sector:
DGN Forward Under 40 Award (Sponsored by Lely): Recognizes four passionate young dairywomen actively shaping the future of the industry.
DGN Leading Impact Award: Honors a distinguished leader whose long-standing achievements positively transform the dairy community.
Nominee Qualifications
Eligible candidates include dairy farmers, industry representatives, educators, and multi-role professionals. The ideal nominee:
Drives success in dairy farming.
Demonstrates strong leadership in agriculture and her local community.
Paves the way for future generations.
“Every day, women across the dairy industry are leading with passion, resilience, and vision,” says Rebecca Pfeffer, DGN President. “The DGN Awards give us an opportunity to pause, celebrate these remarkable achievements, and elevate the voices shaping the future of dairy farming. I encourage everyone to nominate an incredible leader who inspires our community.”
Key Nomination Details and Guidelines
Who Can Nominate: Anyone can nominate a deserving dairywoman. However, self-nominations are not permitted.
Membership Rule: All nominees must be official Dairy Girl Network members. Anyone receiving DGN emails is already a member. Non-members can sign up quickly and for free at DairyGirlNetwork.com/Join.
Evaluation Process: An independent, anonymous panel of industry professionals and dairy farmers will evaluate all entries.
Timeline: DGN will notify nominators in September. Winners must attend the Forward TogetHER National Conference in October.
To submit a nomination, visit DairyGirlNetwork.com.
Support and Sponsorship
DGN collaborates with industry-leading organizations that champion personal and professional growth for women in dairy. Key national partners include:
Alltech, Cargill, Diamond V, Dairy Management, Inc., and Dairy Farmers of America.
Farm Credit Systems (AgCountry, American AgCredit, Compeer Financial, Farm Credit Services of America, GreenStone, AgWest).
Michael Best, Lallemand, The National Dairy FARM Program, and Sealpro Silage Barrier Films.
Get Involved: Event sponsorships for the Forward TogetHER National Conference are still available. Companies interested in supporting the event can contact [email protected].
To view the conference agenda and register, visit DairyGirlNetwork.com.
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