| Spotlight on Youth - March 4, 2009 |
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Midwest Dairy Challenge draws over 65 students to Minnesota
ROCHESTER, Minn. — A total of 69 students with interest in the dairy industry participated in the fifth annual Midwest Dairy Challenge, January 29-31, 2009, in Rochester, Minn.
The Dairy Challenge is an innovative competition developed by industry and university professionals, which exposes students to opportunities in a vibrant dairy industry. Working in four- or five-person, mixed-university teams, students assessed all aspects of a working dairy farm and presented recommendations for improvement to a panel of judges and the participating farm families.
This year’s contest, hosted by the University of Minnesota, included students from Iowa State University, Lakeshore Technical College, Michigan State University, Ridgewater College, Kansas State University, The Ohio State University, Purdue University, South Dakota State University, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, University of Illinois, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Northeast Iowa Community College, and the UW-Madison Farm & Industry Short Course. After the tours, the students had time to meet with their teams and develop questions for the herd owners. The herd owners were then put in touch with the students and entertained questions from both students and judges about their farming operations. Armed with detailed production and financial paperwork from the farms, as well as their own observations, the participants developed a presentation about what they saw and suggestions for improvement. Saturday was presentation day as the teams were given 20 minutes to offer their suggestions. This was followed by a question-and-answer session and a critique by the judges regarding their presentation and recommendations.
Judges chose two teams as platinum winners, the contest’s highest distinction. The individuals who comprised these teams are: Clint Harre, University of Illinois; Tim Andrews, Lakeshore Technical College; Joe Pasch, Michigan State University; Brian Bagge from Northeast Iowa Community College; Paige Gott and Renee Starkey of The Ohio State University; Matt Wold from Ridgewater College; Jessica Berg, South Dakota State University; and Jordan Matthews and Phil Monson, both from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The 2009 national contest will be held March 27 and 28 in Syracuse, N.Y.
For more information, visit www.dairychallenge.org
Jersey Association encourages youth to apply for academy
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio — The American Jersey Cattle Association is pleased to announce that the first Jersey Youth Academy will be held July 27 through 31, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio.
The target group is youth starting their junior year of high school through students a year or more from completing their programs of study at vocational school, college or university.
Selection will be based on an evaluation of merit, motivation and preparation for the program as reflected in the written application and goal statement.
An intensive four-day program is planned for the selected participants, who will learn why and how the Jersey breed has grown and prospered, and what the future holds for the Jersey business; meet leaders from the Jersey community and from across the support industry, to gain their unique insights about the dairy business with a specific focus on the Jersey cow; and learn about the range of career opportunities that involve the Jersey breed and Jersey products, and begin the journey that will take them to success working in the Jersey dairy business.
Applications are due Friday, March 13. All costs for youth attending the 2009 Academy program will be paid by financial support provided by Jersey breeders and allied industry. For more information, visit http://academy.usjersey.com |
| 3/4/2009 |
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