# Event Details - **Event Name**: Wisconsin Federated Humane Societies Badger State Conference 2026 - **Event Start and End Date**: Wed, 23 Sep, 2026 at 08:00 am – Thu, 24 Sep, 2026 at 07:00 pm (-05:00) - **Event Description**: Get ready to connect with fellow animal lovers, share ideas, and make a difference at the 2026 WFHS Badger State Conference.About this EventWisconsin Federated Humane Societies Badger State Conference 2026Get ready for an awesome in-person gathering of animal lovers and advocates at the Badger State Conference 2026! Join fellow Wisconsinites passionate about humane societies for a day filled with inspiring talks, networking, and fun. Whether you're a volunteer, staffer, or just curious, this event is the place to connect and share ideas. Don't miss out on this friendly, local meetup all about making a difference in Wisconsin’s animal welfare scene!Day One🕑: 08:00 AM - 09:00 AMVendors & CoffeeInfo: Come for the coffee, stay for the vendors!🕑: 09:00 AM - 10:15 AMBig Dogs, Big Data: Driving Large Interest and Adoptions with April HuntsmanHost: April HuntsmanInfo: Millions of potential adopters turn to online platforms each month, seeking their perfect companion. But what truly drives their decisions when it comes to large dogs? In this data-driven session, we'll go beyond assumptions to dive deep into the world of large dog adoption. We'll share trends in supply and demand, and uncover the critical impact of factors like photo quality, showcased personality traits, adoption fees, and strategic marketing on adoption interest. Learn the secrets to crafting captivating dog profiles that truly resonate with potential adopters. We'll also reveal groundbreaking insights from recent research on the real reasons why people search by breed – and it's far less about aesthetics than you might imagine. Discover the fascinating interplay between breed preference and other specific traits, and gain actionable strategies for shelters and rescues to navigate these perceptions effectively.🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:45 AMGetting 'em Home: From Overlooked to Out the Door!Host: Kelly Duer & Finnegan DowlingInfo: With every shelter stuffed to bursting, long stay pets are often the most at risk. Not only because of space crunches but also due to the effects being kenneled has on their bodies and behavior. Organizations across the country are utilizing innovative foster care programs, proactive marketing strategies and more to target pets with long shelter stays and get them into permanent homes faster. In this presentation, you’ll learn techniques you can use right now to get your most difficult-to-place pets adopted, including the winning plans from Virginia shelters that have had great success with this specific population. Learning Objectives: Participants will learn the easy things their organizations can do to make it more likely that pets will be adopted quickly Participants will learn successful strategies organizations have used to find adopters for pets with long shelter stays and some of the most difficult-to-place pets, including pets who have complicated medical needs or those whos🕑: 11:45 AM - 01:00 PMVendors & LunchInfo: Lunch and visit our vendors!🕑: 01:00 PM - 02:00 PMBehavior Comms SessionHost: Renee DunawayInfo: How many people observe an animal in your shelter each day? Our colleagues and volunteers hold valuable info, yet it can be hard to collect and use it. In this session, Renée Dunaway (ASPCA) will share behavior communication insights that they’ve gleaned from years of collaborating with shelters. You’ll leave with practical ideas you can use at your organization.🕑: 02:15 PM - 03:15 PMMaking Enrichment Work When Resources Don'tHost: Renee Dunaway, Erin Kruckenberg & Sophia NijemInfo: Enrichment is an element of essential animal care, but what happens when you’re short on time, people, or supplies? This discussion shares real examples from Humane Animal Welfare Society and Dane County Humane Society. We’ll explore how to bake enrichment into everyday operations so it works for both animals and the people providing it. Expect honest challenges, practical solutions, and ideas you can try with your team.🕑: 03:30 PM - 05:00 PMRingworm ManagementHost: Dr Becky StuntebeckInfo: Ringworm in the shelter has a reputation that's a lot worse than the reality. In this highly interactive session, Dr. Becky Stuntebeck of Paws to Elevate Shelter Consultation Services will set the record straight and give you tools that make ringworm management a little bit easier. Attendees will vote on which topics to dig into, so the conversation goes where you need it to go. Come ready to ask questions, bust some myths, and gain renewed confidence in your ability to contain infections and provide the best care possible to infected animals. 🕑: 05:00 PM - 06:00 PMHappy Hour Presented by Laffey, Leitner & Goode LLC🕑: 06:00 PM - 07:30 PMDinnerDay Two🕑: 08:00 AM - 08:45 AMVendors & CoffeeInfo: Come for the coffee, stay for the vendors!🕑: 08:45 AM - 10:00 AMNo More Hissing & Growling: Navigating Difficult Volunteer DynamicsHost: Betsy McFarland, CAWA, CVAInfo: Leading volunteers is deeply rewarding, but when challenges arise, even experienced leaders can feel stuck or unsure how to respond. Difficult volunteer situations rarely come out of nowhere; they are often rooted in unclear expectations, misalignment, burnout, or unmet needs. This practical, interactive workshop helps participants recognize early warning signs of volunteer challenges and respond with confidence and clarity. Participants will explore common root causes of difficult volunteer behavior, strategies for preventing problems before they escalate, and when—and how—to step in when issues do arise. Using real-world scenarios, the session introduces tools for addressing concerns directly and respectfully that protect both relationships and mission. Whether you’re new to engaging volunteers or navigating long-standing dynamics, this session will strengthen your ability to handle any situation with empathy, professionalism, and grace.🕑: 10:15 AM - 11:30 AM"But That's How We've Always Done It": Shelter Medicine MythBustersHost: Dr Erica SchumacherInfo: Shelter's across WI spoke and we listened. The winner of the Shelter's Choice Session is "But That's How We've Always Done It": Shelter Medicine MythBusters. Animal shelters are full of well-intentioned rules and long-held beliefs- some helpful, some outdated, and some that may actually be working against animals and people. In this myth-busting session, we’ll tackle common misconceptions in shelter medicine, including disease control, vaccination, cleaning protocols, return-to-home decisions, and more. Using real-world shelter examples and current evidence, this talk will challenge all-or-nothing thinking and replace it with practical, risk-based approaches that work in real shelters🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:45 PMVendors & LunchInfo: Lunch and visit with our vendors!🕑: 12:45 PM - 01:45 PMTame the Tension: Talking through the Hard StuffHost: Betsy McFarland, CAWA, CVAInfo: Working in animal welfare is rewarding, but it can also be emotionally taxing, filled with endless highs and lows. Most of us are pretty good at learning the practical and professional skills needed to work in this field and deal with its challenges. Many of us, however, continue to struggle with incorporating those harder-to-define but equally important skills that help us acknowledge and work through our emotions in healthy ways. This session will highlight the concept of courageous conversations, with the goal of providing animal welfare staff and volunteers with the tools they need to navigate an emotionally complex working environment.🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PMSupported Self Rehoming: the past, the present, the futureHost: April HuntsmanInfo: What if you could predict which pets would succeed in a new home before they ever entered your doors? Since 2017, Rehome by Adopt a Pet has been tracking the journey of pets staying out of the shelter system—and we’re ready to share the results. This session breaks down the "anatomy of a rehome," using nine years of granular data to explore: Owner Stamina: How long are owners truly willing to wait for the right match? Success Metrics: Which pets find homes fastest and what factors drive a successful transition? Intake Reduction: How to turn these insights into a "Supported Self-Rehoming" program that works immediately. Move beyond guesswork and leave with a data-backed blueprint to empower owners, reduce intake, and save more lives.🕑: 03:15 PM - 04:15 PMThe Human Side of Fostering: Turning Interest into ImpactHost: Kelly DuerInfo: In this lively session, we’re digging into the people side of foster programs—because getting animals into homes starts with bringing more humans on board! We’ll tackle the questions everyone’s asking: How do you get more folks through the door? And how do you keep them coming back for more tail wags and happy endings? With a mix of surprising research, real-world examples, and interactive moments, you'll walk away with fresh ideas to make your program more welcoming, inclusive, and downright irresistible.Pre-Conference Networking🕑: 05:00 PM - 06:00 PMPre-Conference Networking & RoundtablesInfo: Join seminar speakers, sponsors, vendors and fellow shelter staff from across Wisconsin for a night of networking and connection making! This event will facilitate focused, interactive discussions allowing attendees to engage in, debate, or brainstorm specific topics in a smaller round table setting. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/rothschild/wisconsin-federated-humane-societies-badger-state-conference-2026/100001982472440436 - **Event Categories**: business, conferences, workshops, dog, meetups - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 - **Event Highlights**: - Duration: 11 hours - Location: Cedar Creek Hotel And Conference Center - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 92.55, max: 188.58, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Rothschild - **state**: WI - **country**: United States - **location**: Cedar Creek Hotel And Conference Center - **lat**: 44.8663495 - **long**: -89.6382513 - **full address**: Cedar Creek Hotel And Conference Center, 1100 Imperial Avenue, Rothschild, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Wisconsin Federated Humane Societies Badger State Conference 2026 - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/a1f027ce38c2686be68f1157a23b20be4101d78075de34fea217d79f96c69a13-rimg-w1200-h900-dcffffff-gmir.jpg?v=1773237556 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Wisconsin Federated Humane Societies Badger State Conference 2026 being held? - **A:** Wisconsin Federated Humane Societies Badger State Conference 2026 takes place on Wed, 23 Sep, 2026 at 08:00 am to Thu, 24 Sep, 2026 at 07:00 pm at Cedar Creek Hotel And Conference Center, 1100 Imperial Avenue, Rothschild, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing Wisconsin Federated Humane Societies Badger State Conference 2026? - **A:** Wisconsin Federated Humane Societies Badger State Conference 2026 is organized by WFHS Admin. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Wisconsin Federated Humane Societies Badger State Conference 2026 is ideal for professionals, entrepreneurs, startup founders, and networking enthusiasts eager to grow their connections. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Rothschild, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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