Dairyfest 2021 kicked off last night in Brookings with the Got Milk Gala. Dairyfest Chair Darrel Rennich says they were happy to return to having an in-person event to celebrate the South Dakota dairy industry.

He says the growth in both dairy processing and production in the state is exciting and is a real shot in the arm for rural communities.

The keynote speaker was Laura Daniels, founder of Dairy Girl Network. She says the organization has been instrumental in helping women network and grow the industry they love.

Rennich says the rest of Dairyfest will look a bit different this year, but still links consumers with the dairy producers that produce the dairy products they eat daily.

The Dairyfest carnival runs on Saturday from 9:30 AM TO 12:30 PM at the Swiftel Center in Brookings and also features free SDSU ice cream and cheese.