IaPBA Annual Breeder Conference

Community • Education • Industry Connections

The IaPBA Annual Breeder Conference is held every March and brings together Iowa breeders, out-of-state breeders, hobby breeders, pet professionals, and those exploring the industry.

This yearly event gives attendees a place to learn, connect, compare ideas, and see firsthand what’s happening across the dog-breeding community. Whether you’re experienced or just getting started, the conference is designed to be approachable, practical, and genuinely valuable.

This page provides a standing overview of what the conference offers each year. Specific dates, speakers, and vendor details are updated annually.

Who Can Attend

Attendance at the IaPBA Annual Breeder Conference is open to IaPBA members.

Membership is available to:

• Licensed Iowa breeders (state or USDA)

• Out-of-state breeders

• Hobby breeders

• Pet professionals (groomers, trainers, etc.)

• Anyone considering entering the dog breeding industry

An active IaPBA membership is required to attend the conference.
Membership may be completed online, by mail, or in person at conference check-in.

Click Here To Join

IaPBA membership provides access to:

• The Annual Breeder Conference

• All speakers and educational sessions

• Vendor hall access

• The banquet and evening events

• IaPBA resources and ongoing communications

Membership is intended to be accessible and inclusive, connecting attendees to the broader IaPBA community and the shared goal of responsible, informed dog breeding.

Why Breeders Attend

⭐ A Community of Breeders Who Understand the Work

Breeding is rewarding, but it can also be isolating. Most breeders spend their days in kennels, whelping rooms, and records, often with very few people who truly understand the workload, the standards, the pressure, and the responsibility that come with raising dogs the right way.

The Annual Breeder Conference gives breeders something they don’t get anywhere else: a room full of people who get it.

It’s a place where you can:

• talk openly about challenges and successes
  
  

• compare ideas and problem-solving approaches
  
  

• ask questions without feeling judged
  
  

• see how others handle similar situations
  
  

• share experiences only other breeders relate to
  
  

• meet people who care about the same standards and expectations
  
  

For many, this weekend is the only time all year where they can step away from the kennel, connect with their peers, and feel part of a larger industry — not just an individual operation working alone.

There is something valuable about being surrounded by people who face the same inspections, the same daily tasks, the same decisions, and the same goals. That shared understanding is what creates the sense of community attendees talk about long after the conference ends.

It’s not just a meeting.
It’s a chance to belong, to learn from each other, and to feel supported by others who do the same work.

⭐ Vendors & Hands-On Solutions

One of the most practical parts of the Annual Breeder Conference is the vendor hall. Breeders rely on equipment, supplies, nutrition, health products, and services that directly shape daily operations — and the conference is the one place you can compare everything in person.

Each year we bring in companies that work directly with breeders, including:

• Nutrition and feed suppliers
  
  

• Kennel equipment and sanitation products
  
  

• Veterinary and health product companies
  
  

• Reproduction and genetics specialists
  
  

• Microchip and identification providers
  
  

• Insurance and business service partners
  
  

• Technology and recordkeeping solutions
  
  

Breeders can:

• compare products side by side
  
  

• see equipment up close
  
  

• ask company reps specific questions
  
  

• learn about new tools and solutions
  
  

• take advantage of show specials and breeder pricing
  
  

For new breeders, the vendor hall helps them understand what they actually need.
For experienced breeders, it's a chance to evaluate new options and stay current with industry trends.

Vendors are an essential part of the conference experience — and one of the reasons many breeders return each year.

Vendor tiers and payment options are available here:
[Vendor & Sponsor Page Link]

⭐ Education That Works Because of Who’s in the Room

Education is one of the IaPBA’s founding purposes, but the strength of our conference comes from more than just the sessions on the agenda.

Experienced breeders bring years of hands-on knowledge.
New breeders bring fresh questions and perspectives.
Speakers bring professional insight and industry updates.

When all of those experiences meet in the same room, the discussions go far deeper than anything you’ll find in a standalone webinar. A webinar can give you information; the conference gives you context, conversation, and real-time problem solving.

Our goal isn’t to lecture. It’s to create an environment where:

• experienced breeders can share what works,
  
  

• new breeders can learn without feeling behind, and
  
  

• speakers can build on real situations breeders deal with every day.
  
  

It’s an in-person exchange you simply can’t replicate online.

⭐ More Than an Event — A Statement of Professionalism

The Annual Breeder Conference isn’t something the IaPBA hosts just to “check a box.” The dog breeding industry changes constantly — new rules, new expectations, new technologies, and new challenges. We believe breeders should be in the room where these conversations happen, not reacting to decisions made without their input.

By coming together each year, breeders strengthen their voice, their knowledge, and their standing in the industry. The conference goes deeper than the education or the products offered. It shows that Iowa breeders take their work seriously, invest in their programs, and stay engaged in the discussions that shape the future of responsible dog breeding.

Showing up matters — for your kennel, for the profession, and for the message it sends:
Iowa breeders are committed, informed, and willing to lead.

⭐ What the Conference Looks Like Each Year

The IaPBA Annual Breeder Conference takes place over three days — Thursday through Saturday — giving breeders time to connect, learn, visit with vendors, and participate in key association events.

⭐ Thursday — Arrival, Setup & Early Connections

• Vendor setup and preparations
  
  

• Attendee check-in
  
  

• Early browsing and informal conversations
  
  

• Light evening networking
  
  

Thursday offers a relaxed start to the weekend for breeders and vendors arriving early, with opportunities to settle in, visit casually, and connect at an easy pace.

⭐ Friday — Full Conference Programming, Banquet & Annual Meeting

• Welcome announcements and opening remarks
  
  

• Featured speakers and educational sessions
  
  

• Vendor hall open throughout the day
  
  

• Breeder-to-breeder conversations
  
  

• IaPBA Annual Meeting
  
  

• Evening Banquet
  
  

• Auction and community event
  
  

Friday brings together the core conference programming along with the annual meeting and evening banquet. It’s a full day of learning, vendor interaction, and association events, followed by an evening that gives attendees time to relax, connect, and enjoy the auction and banquet together.

⭐ Saturday — Continued Sessions & Wrap-Up

• Additional speakers and presentations
  
  

• Open Q&A and follow-up discussions
  
  

• Vendor hall open for final visits
  
  

• Door prizes and closing announcements
  
  

Saturday rounds out the conference with continued learning and opportunities to revisit vendors or talk with fellow breeders before heading home.