In April, hundreds of students from universities across the U.S. and Canada proved the future of the dairy industry is in good hands. At the ninth annual North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge, hosted by California Polytechnic State University and California State University–Fresno, 120 students on 30 teams competed to apply theory and learning to real-world dairy issues. At the challenge, teams received
information about a working dairy, including milk production and farm management. They then interviewed herd managers and developed a farm plan, including recommendations for animal health, reproduction, milking procedures, and financial management. “The dairy challenge brings the future of the dairy industry together in one location where knowledge and experiences are shared and gained,” says Barry Putnam, contest chairman. A judging panel consisting of a dairy business owner and industry experts chose a four-person team from Cornell University to be the Platinum Award winner.