“I came to my first NMC meeting, I believe, in 1984. It was the first year I started as a veterinary practitioner in a small town in Wisconsin. I was completely intimidated by meeting the “giants” in our field. I can remember the meeting. I think it was in Knoxville or somewhere down there… driving down with another friend, a young veterinarian, and thinking… boy, I want to be like some of these people. Today, I know these people are not scary. They’re my friends and throughout my career of 35 years, I’ve been coming to these meetings. I have learned an enormous amount about my field, milk quality, udder health and treatment. And, I’ve also developed a lot of friendships with people across our industry.”