Dairy Girl Network Launches 2026 Leadership Awards Nomination Process

The Dairy Girl Network (DGN) has opened online nominations for its 2026 Leadership Awards, which include the DGN Forward Under 40 Award – sponsored by Lely – and the DGN Leading Impact Award. Nominations close at midnight CST on August 31, 2026, and winners will be recognized at the Forward TogetHER National Conference in Lexington, Kentucky, from October 27‑29, 2026.

The awards honor women who drive progress in the dairy sector. Eligible nominees are dairy farmers, industry representatives, educators and other professionals who are DGN members; self‑nominations are not permitted. An independent, anonymous panel will evaluate entries. DGN President Rebecca Pfeffer said, “Every day, women across the dairy industry are leading with passion, resilience, and vision.” The network’s partners for the awards include Alltech, Cargill, Diamond V, Dairy Management Inc., Dairy Farmers of America and Farm Credit Systems.