February 13, 2007, RESTON, VA - Sometimes don't you wish dairy farmers had a spring break like college students and grade school children? Well, Maryland & Virginia is here to help out. March 6 - 8, 2007, the cooperative is hosting its Annual Young Cooperator Conference in Athens, Ga., at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education.

While it's not Cancun or Panama City, the conference in Athens, Ga., has lots to offer Maryland & Virginia young members ages 18-40. The conference features engaging speakers and tours aimed to share the latest and greatest industry trends and information with Maryland & Virginia's bright young members.

Keynote speaker Ron Hanson, with the University of Nebraska, will spend a half-day working with YCs on farm transition. His presentation, "You Can Buy The Farm But Just Remember I Still Own It," engaged YCs last fall at National Milk Producers Federation's annual conference last fall in Las Vegas, Nev. "Hanson really connected with you," said YC Mark Mosemann of Warfordsburg, Pa. "He truly understands what goes on in a family dynamic when you start planning transition of the farm from one generation to the next."

The conference will also feature an off-campus adventure to member Henry Cabaniss' farm in Maxeys, Ga. Henry and his sons milk 1,200 cows in a 60-cow rotary parlor and they farm 1,500 acres.

Always a conference favorite, Maryland & Virginia's top management, General Manager Jay Bryant, Assistant General Manager Allen O'Hara and President Steve Graybeal will host a town hall session and spend time answering YC's questions about the cooperative business, strategies and goals.

Interested in making your way to Georgia for a few days of warmer weather and an inspiration break from the farm? Then register now at the YC Conference page. The first five online registrants will win a Maryland & Virginia duffel bag.

The cooperative covers YC travel expenses up to $400 and provides lodging and meals throughout the conference for all participants.

For more information about the conference, please contact the communciations team at 1-800-552-1976 or Ethan Davidson edavidson@mdvamilk.com or Amber DuMont adumont@mdvamilk.com.

Owned and operated by 1,500 dairy farm families from Pennsylvania to Georgia, Maryland & Virginia is a milk marketing and processing cooperative providing consumers throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S. with fresh milk and dairy products. Maryland & Virginia owns and operates three fluid processing plants; Marva Maid of Newport News, Va., Marva Maid of Landover, Md., and Maola Milk and Ice Cream Company in New Bern, N.C.; a manufacturing plant in Laurel, Md.; and an equipment warehouse business in Frederick, Md. The cooperative is also majority owner of a second manufacturing plant, Valley Milk LLC located in Strasburg, Va.