Wayne County is Ohio’s number one dairy county in terms of number of dairy cattle and in pounds of milk produced.  The Wayne County Dairy Service Unit (DSU) promotes the dairy industry by planning and conducting an annual dairy twilight tour, sponsoring promotional activities at the Wayne County Fair and maintaining and providing use of a milking parlor at the fair and for various dairy cattle shows and sales throughout the year.  In addition, the Wayne County DSU has helped to support and sponsor educational programs like the dairy management discussion group sessions.  Youth are supported by awarding scholarships and naming an outstanding dairy youth award recipient.

The 2015 Wayne County Dairy Service Unit annual meeting and banquet will be held on the evening of Thursday, March 19 at OARDC Fisher Auditorium in Wooster.  All dairy farm families, as well as industry and support people connected with the dairy industry are invited to attend and enjoy an evening of recognizing and celebrating dairy farms, dairy farmers, and the dairy industry.  The evening features a time to visit with fellow dairy producers, dairy cow production awards, dairy herd management awards, youth scholarship awards, election of dairy service unit board members, the crowning of the Wayne County Dairy Princess, and of course, an excellent meal that will be catered this year by Des Dutch Essenhaus out of Shreve.

The cost for the evening is $10/ person with children 11 and under at half cost or $5 each.  Children 3 and under are free.   The remaining portion of the meal cost is paid for by the Wayne County DSU.  The evening begins with a social time and registration at 7:00 pm with milk and cheese available and seating for the meal is at 7:30 pm.   Reservations need to be called in to the Wayne County Extension office at 330-264-8722 by Friday, March 13 so that enough meals can be ordered.