Recently I experienced youth in action, as I was asked to take photos at one of the sites of the Collegiate Midwest Dairy Challenge contest that was hosted by Purdue, Ohio State and Michigan State universities.

I had no idea what I was in for when I started for Fort Wayne, Ind., at 4:30 a.m. Friday. When I arrived at the hotel, I received my assignment – and headed back toward home, to Bloom Dairy Farm in Coldwater, Mich.

Bruce and Doug Bloom opened up their 500-cow dairy to 32 college students to peek into every nook and cranny of the farm, and prepare a presentation about the farm and recommended changes to make it more profitable. When the bus arrived, college students from California to New Hampshire and the flyover states between gathered around contest officials to receive their instructions.

For the next two hours they went from one corner of the farm to the other, analyzing every part of it: measuring water tanks, taking pictures of calving pens, watching the cows being milked, inspecting the parlor, sorting through feed samples, walking through the free-stall barns looking at cattle and going places people don’t normally go. These students left no stone unturned.

It was my job to take pictures of the students in action and get team pictures. What a treat! I visited with kids from California, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, New York, Virginia and Ohio.

While some of them had different accents, every one of them was just as kind and jovial as the next. Is it any wonder college professors never leave the university? I mean to teach, mentor and just hang with these bright youth all year long and get paid for it – talk about a great job.

At the end of the two hours, the students were given the opportunity ask the farm owners questions. They asked about leg bands, feed rations, sick pens and breeding protocols. I finished my last photo and headed home while the students boarded the bus and went back to the hotel to prepare their presentations to give the next day.

Wondering what it was like to have all these people running around his farm critiquing every practice, I asked Bruce Bloom why he was so generous in opening up to 32 sets of critical eyes.

He said, “If we don’t give them the chance to learn, who will?

“These kids are our future, someone has to do it.” And, he added they may have recommendations that are practical, that they can put into practice on their farm.

While I have never been a part of the Dairy Challenge, I am a new fan of the contest and have signed up to volunteer again next year.

And I encourage anyone who is ever asked to help out with this contest, don’t hesitate.

Say YES!

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Those with questions or comments for Melissa Hart may write to her in care of this publication.