Connecting members with the latest news from USAHA, and with each other.

August 2026

Welcome to Madison: Where Animal Health, Public Health, and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine Come Together

We are looking forward to seeing you soon in Madison, Wisconsin for the 2026 USAHA/ AAVLD meeting. If you are still on the fence about attending or questioning whether turning your visit into a mini family vacation is in order, WI State Veterinarian Darlene Konkle can likely convince you to do it in a few sentences: “A visit to Madison in October never disappoints; there is truly something for everyone. You can immerse yourself in the outdoors or enjoy the many cultural and culinary delights Wisconsin’s capital city has to offer.” And nope, Darlene doesn’t moonlight for the WI tourism department, but she probably should receive a commission of some sort! Keep reading to learn more pro tips from Darlene.

Darlene and her husband spend some quality time in Madison with Bucky Badger

at the annual veterinary school alumni tailgate.

Mid-October in Madison is a time of perfect temperatures and gorgeous fall color. Monona Terrace, located on the shore of Lake Monona and our site for the conference, was initially designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1930’s. Monona Terrace was finally built in 1997, and Wright’s vision and influence permeate the entire facility. Lake Mendota and the State Capitol are a few steps across the isthmus, and there are restaurants and attractions of all types within a few blocks. The University of Wisconsin campus is also nearby. Take a hike or bike ride, tour the lakes on a boat cruise, catch a show at the Overture Center, or just relax on the beautiful rooftop terrace. Come early, stay late, and bring your family!

Monona Terrace, the 2026 USAHA Annual Meeting venue.

Visit Madison | Places to Visit | Travel Wisconsin

for more information on the area’s attractions.

USAHA is pleased to welcome National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) members to the organization, to further their work and interests advancing animal agriculture.

Over the past several months, the USAHA Executive Committee worked closely with NIAA leadership, discussing the future of their organization. After careful evaluation of current circumstances, the executive committees elected to unify future efforts under the USAHA organizational structure.

“USAHA and NIAA have a long history of collaboration and partnership the last several decades, including work on pseudorabies, traceability, tuberculosis, equine health and most recently, New World Screwworm,” says Ben Richey USAHA Executive Director. “We’re excited to provide the USAHA structure to NIAA members to help continue work in these areas and beyond.”

While USAHA and NIAA have shared significant membership overlap, NIAA members who are new to USAHA are encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting this fall, and experience the networking, information sharing and discussion that make USAHA a unique and valuable meeting for those working in animal agriculture.

NIAA members are encouraged to become active USAHA members, participate in committees and districts, and bring their knowledge and expertise to the Organization. Through this continued involvement, members can help carry forward the legacy of NIAA’s important work while contributing to USAHA’s efforts to address emerging and ongoing animal health and agriculture issues.

Please visit the USAHA annual meeting home page to learn more about Temple Grandin’s professional accomplishments.

USAHA recently added a new Subcommittee on Theileria to the many committees and subcommittees available to our members. Interested in joining? Click below to learn more and enroll.

📅 First meeting: Sunday, October 18

Check out the meeting schedule for details.

To enroll in committees and subcommittees by September 1, log into your account at https://usaha.org/member-profile/, click My Info, then select Lists/Committees + to view and select all committees and subcommittees that interest you.

Alrighty, now that we have given you an opportunity to learn a bit more about Madison’s can’t-miss attractions, it’s time to put your creative thinking caps on for this year’s annual meeting contest: bumper sticker design!

Full disclosure - we won’t actually create the winning bumper sticker, but we will give you bragging rights until the 2027 Annual Meeting, and who knows, maybe a little bit of USAHA swag to go along with that. Send us your “from-scratch” bumper sticker design highlighting a Wisconsin signature agricultural product using an animal or public health theme. We don’t care how you do it, but the design must be yours. Draw it on a napkin or have your kiddos bring it to life on construction paper and send a photo. Or get creative on your laptop with those different colored virtual markers and email your creation. Tying your message to USAHA earns you critical bonus points. Send it to your Connection team (kscoach@gmavt.net) by October 15 to be in the running. The powers that be will pick a winner based on creativity and humor, and we will announce your achievement and flash your design during a member meeting in WI. So get busy, USAHA; show us your best shot at sticking it to animal health, Wisconsin style!

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