DAIRY ST R
Presents:
EDUCATION & CAREER CONNECTIONS DECEMBER 25, 2021
Stick to your path What are your plans for after high school? What do you want to do with your life? These are questions high school students get bombarded with. I am guilty of asking my own students these questions. I nd myself apologizing shortly after as I recall getting hit with these questions all the time. Discovering career interests, researching postsecondary programs and creating future plans can be both daunting and rewarding. Couple this with everything else going on in a student’s life – work, athletics, activities and multiple forms of learning over the past two years – and their plates are full. As a high school agriculture teacher, one of the by Tyler Warren most rewarding parts of my University of MN graduate job is listening to the future Eden Valley-Watkins ag aspirations and plans my teacher, FFA advisor students have. Additionally, reconnecting with graduated students to hear how their schooling and careers are going is equally rewarding. Through my lens as a high school teacher, here are some things students can keep in mind as they work through the process of furthering their education. It’s never too early to begin thinking about this. Know your interests, skills Very few students know what their life-long dream job is. I love my job, but I tell my students I’m still trying to gure out what I want to be when I grow up. As students ponder career and post-secondary plans, it is incredibly important for them to research what the career entails. Often, individuals have a general idea or perception of what a specic career might look like. However, our perceptions of careers may not always be reality. Take the time to research credentials, employment opportunities and skills needed. Figuring out what you don’t want to do is equally as important as guring out
what you want to do. If you’re interested in agriculture, but not sure what specic career you want, that is OK. If you’re someone who does not have a general area of interest, hone in on your skills and talents. Once you identify your skills and talents, you’ll be able apply them to specic industries and jobs. Use your network “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” I remembering hearing this phrase in college and like to relay this message to my students. All the jobs and internships that I have had have been connected to my network of people. Students should use their network to gather more information about colleges, programs of study and careers. Use relatives, family friends, teachers, coaches and other individuals in your life to gain information. These may be informal interviews, job shadows, tours and more. These experiential learning opportunities show a truer representation than a website or brochure may provide. Pursue your goals Peer pressure and insecurities can surface too easily when deciding or sharing plans. Students should not choose a college because someone else wants them to go there. Likewise, students should not deter from a career path based on other’s opinions. I attended high school during a time where four-year colleges were the big push. Not all students will excel at a four-year college, nor do all students need to attend a four-year college. The demands for careers that require a two-year degree, certicate or apprenticeship are rising. The trades are also in high demand. I teach a home maintenance class where students learn residential wiring, plumbing and construction. I’m quick to tell students the demand for these jobs are high and often provide a salary higher than mine – something that always perks up their attention. Choosing something you are passionate about will offset the pressure and stress we all encounter in life. The past two years threw many curve balls. From a
teacher’s standpoint, I had never encountered so many breaking points and stress. All the things I love about my job – the students I teach, my love for creating moments of learning and my passion for education – got me through. My need to obsessively plan and stick to a plan works well for me in the classroom. When I transition to helping on the family dairy farm, I’ve learned to let go of things like the 20% chance of a storm that actually produces a thunderstorm when we are trying to chop hay. While this causes me great stress, the enjoyment of working with family and farming ultimately drives my purpose. Get ahead of the game with applications College applications are opening up earlier each year. Students should be aware of deadlines for their perspective programs. Take the time to work with your school’s guidance councilor to answer questions and receive needed materials. Students can never apply for too many scholarships. Whenever I hear students groan about lling out scholarship applications, I’m quick to share the potential for their rate of return. Yes, they may invest ve hours in lling out a lengthy application, but let’s say they are awarded $1,000. They just earned $1,000 by investing their time, not money. To boot, it was like working for $200 per hour.
Di Discovering i career iinterests, researching post-secondary programs and creating future plans can be both daunting g and rewarding. No matter what h your ffuture path h may bbe, take k the h time to ponder, process and plan. This is an exciting time that will provide life lessons, success, setbacks, growth, responsibilities and, hopefully, fun. Stick to your path and use your network of support in helping you reach your career goals and aspirations.
Page 2 • Dairy Education Special Edition • Saturday, December 25, 2021
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Dairy Education Special Edition • December 25, 2021 • Page 3
Education propels Deitchler’s desire to farm Fourth-generation dairyman returns home with agronomy degree By Abby Wiedmeyer abby.w@dairystar.com
ELKADER, Iowa – Cole Deitchler is the fourth generation to work on his family’s farm, and he does so with an agronomy degree from Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in Fennimore, Wisconsin. Deitchler, a 2020 graduate from the agribusiness science and technology program, credits the practical education he received at SWTC for his ability to co-manage the agronomy division of his family’s diverse farm near Volga. “Growing up, I really enjoyed the crop part of the farm so it was fun to go and learn more about it and actually be able to bring it back to the farm,” Deitchler said. Deitchler and his parents, Lanny and Deb Deitchler, along with some extended family, milk 580 cows, raise 150 beef cows and crop farm 2,000 acres. Deitchler’s passion for agronomy intensied when he purchased a pull-type sprayer with his dad as a sophomore in high school. With that, he was able to do most of the farm’s spraying that year. “I love taking care of the crops so that’s what led me to this,” Deitchler said about his pursuit of agronomy degree. Deitchler said the learning environment at SWTC was one he felt comfortable with, having come from a town of less than 200 people. “The small class sizes were awesome,” Deitchler said. “I do not like big crowds.” The eld trips offered at school gave the students a hands-on experience, Deitchler said. For the agronomy trip, the class went to Precision Planting in southern Illinois. They saw all the testing taking place and ran the planters. “We have a fully-built precision planter on our farm, so to actually go down there and see it and run the planters was awesome,” Deitchler said. “I went back this year just because it was so educational.” Deitchler and his classmates also visited Hefty Seed Company in South
DAIRY ST R www.dairystar.com
Dakota. The Hefty brothers – best known for their seed business and popular TV show, “Ag PhD” – brought in a number of college students and taught them about soil health and soil testing. The class also attended a National Professional Agricultural Student Organization competition in Colorado. “Being from smalltown Iowa, I didn’t really like to get out much, but those trips where you actually go and learn about farming were so much fun,” Deitchler said. “It was so cool to be able to see the country.” In the classroom, the students also had access to silage probes and techPHOTO SUBMITTED nical software. Cole Deitchler works on his family’s 580-cow dairy “One thing that I ennear Elkader, Iowa. Deitchler is a 2020 graduate from joyed was that they had Southwest Wisconsin Technical College. Ag Leaders SMS downloaded on the computers gained from his education and his current for us to use. We had an entire class on position at the farm to expand his own it,” Deitchler said. “That software, alone, enterprises with an equipment purchase is pretty expensive, so that was a lot of and rented land. fun to learn.” “Last year, I purchased my own selfDeitchler found inspiration in the propelled sprayer,” Deitchler said. “Now, variable rate planting and fertilizer map- I do all of the farm’s spraying plus some ping portion of his degree work since his custom work.” family has a variable rate planter. He also picked up 70 acres of rented “Before the class, I did not know land to manage. much about it, but actually being able to “It was obviously a crazy year to see what you need, the information you start farming with everything going on, have and how much money you can actu- but with the knowledge I have from my ally save with it was awesome,” Deitchler degree, I’m comfortable picking it up and said. “It was cool to get my feet wet and running with it,” Deitchler said. “My dad learn how we can use it to save money.” is always there to help me too. It is really Now a college graduate and working nice to have all the extra knowledge and on the dairy, a typical day for Deitchler really know how to be able to do it on varies with the seasons. Right now, all of my own.” the farm’s tillage and harvest is complete, His future plans include slowly growso he runs equipment through the shop. In ing his 70 acres and continuing to spray the spring, Deitchler does all the spraying. while putting his time in at the home farm. In the fall, Deitchler is usually in the semi“As of now, I’d like to stick around truck hauling grain and feed. the home farm growing crops and doing Deitchler said the teachers helped stuff in the dairy barn when needed,” him learn about marketing and all the Deitchler said. “I really love farming, and little details that go into growing crops. I love farming here, so I am staying here Deitchler is using the opportunities he as much as I can.”
522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Phone: (320) 352-6303 Fax: (320) 352-5647 Published by Dairy Star LLC General Manager/Editor Mark Klaphake - mark.k@dairystar.com 320-352-6303 (O) • 320-248-3196 (C) • 320-352-0062 (H) Ad Composition Nancy Powell 320-352-6303 nancy.p@dairystar.com Editorial Staff Jennifer Coyne - Assistant Editor (320) 352-6303 • jenn@dairystar.com Danielle Nauman - Staff Writer (608) 487-1101 danielle.n@dairystar.com Stacey Smart - Staff Writer (262) 442-6666 • stacey.s@dairystar.com Abby Wiedmeyer - Staff Writer 608-487-4812 • abby.w@dairystar.com Kate Rechtzigel - Staff Writer kate.r@dairystar.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Advertising Sales Main Ofce: 320-352-6303 Fax: 320-352-5647 Deadline is 5 p.m. of the Friday the week before publication Sales Manager - Joyce Frericks 320-352-6303 • joyce@dairystar.com Bob Leukam (Northern MN, E. Central MN) 320-260-1248 • bob.l@star-pub.com Mark Klaphake (Western MN) 320-352-6303 (O) • 320-248-3196 (C) Laura Seljan (National, SE MN) 507-250-2217 (C) • 507-634-4413 (F) laura.s@dairystar.com Jerry Nelson (SW MN, NW Iowa, SD) 605-690-6260 • jerry.n@dairystar.com Mike Schafer (Central, South Central MN) 320-894-7825 • mike.s@dairystar.com Amanda Hoeer (Eastern IA) 320-250-2884 • amanda.h@dairystar.com Megan Stuessel (Western WI) 608-387-1202 • megan.s@dairystar.com Kati Kindschuh (NE WI and Upper MI) 920-979-5284 • kati.k@dairystar.com Deadlines The deadline for news and advertising in the Dairy Star is 5 p.m. Friday the week before publication. Subscriptions One year subscription $35.00, outside the U.S. $110.00. Send check along with mailing address to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378.
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Page 4 • Dairy Education Special Edition • Saturday, December 25, 2021
Generations of Badgers
UW-Madison school of choice for Brooks family By Stacey Smart
stacey.@dairystar.com
WAUPACA, Wis. – Going to college was never a question in the Brooks family. The question was, which college? For Zoey and Sydney, the answer was the University of Wisconsin-Madison – the same school their father, Ron, attended. Although their college experiences were different, both generations believe they received a valuable education that opened doors and provided opportunities that might not have otherwise come their way. “There’s no magic in a fouryear degree, but it does give you a little more exibility in your back pocket,” Ron said. “I had endless opportunities, including an offer to build dairy facilities in the United Arab Emirates. An opportunity like that probably wouldn’t have come about without my dairy science degree.” Ron and Zoey own Brooks Farms – a 700-cow, 1,500-acre operation near Waupaca. Zoey returned to the farm full time in 2015 following her reign as Alice in Dairyland. She manages cows and people, while her dad is in charge of the agronomy side. In addition to her full-time job at Filament Marketing, Sydney works on the farm part time as an assistant herd manager and
also oversees the direct marketing of the farm’s beef and cheese business with Zoey. The sisters are the sixth generation on their family’s farm. “Zoey gave up walking across the stage to receive her college diploma so she could attend the Alice in Dairyland nals,” Ron said. Ron graduated from UWMadison in 1982, Zoey in 2014 and Sydney in 2019 – all earning bachelor of science degrees. Ron majored in dairy science production and technology, and minored in geology and physics. Zoey majored in animal science, and Sydney majored in dairy science and life sciences communication. Ron was on track to be a veterinarian but instead returned home to farm with his father. “I was accepted into the rst class at Madison’s new vet school,” Ron said. “It was a Monday, and the next day, my dad called and said my uncle’s health was failing and he wanted to leave the partnership. My dad asked if I wanted to come in, and so I was faced with a really hard decision.” Ron chose to go back to the farm, but the university gave him an open ticket to return to vet school if the opportunity at home did not work out. “I give the university a lot of credit for allowing me to return
to the farm to work with my father while still providing the option to attend vet school in the future if I changed my mind,” Ron said. “It was really fantastic to have that opportunity if I wanted to fall back on it.” From Ron to Zoey and Sydney, both generations found hands-on learning to be the most benecial part of their college experience. “Madison excels in providing hands-on courses,” Sydney said. “I could step into the barn on campus and apply lactation physiology work with the cows. Those labs were the best thing for me.” Ron agreed. “Having a dairy farm right on campus was huge, and being a farm kid, I couldn’t keep my hands out of it,” he said. “I didn’t technically work there, but they took me under their wings. And as an undergrad, I assisted in surgeries and did a lot of work in the lab. My study went above and beyond the undergrad curriculum.” Sydney started out at UWGreen Bay studying nursing and transferred to UW-Madison in her sophomore year. At Madison, she was involved in Badger Dairy Club, the Association of Women in Agriculture, the Collegiate Farm Bureau and the National Agri-Marketing Association. “Being involved in these industry-related organizations was a great opportunity as a transfer student to network and make connections with those
PHOTO SUBMITTED
The Brooks family – (from leŌ) Ron, Sydney and Zoey Nelson – celebrate Sydney’s graduaƟon from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in May 2019. The family members are all Badger alumni. who shared my love for the dairy industry and agriculture in general,” Sydney said. Zoey was also involved with the Association of Women in Agriculture and the Collegiate Farm Bureau. “My daughters were far more involved on campus than I was,” Ron said. “Today, it’s so much more about networking than in my day and age. Networking has become so vital. I wish I would’ve done more of what they did in college. I also regret not doing any internships.” Ron was recruited by several schools to play football but chose to go to Madison and walked on to the football team in the spring of 1979. He also taught
scuba diving as a member of the Wisconsin Hoofers and went back home often to help on the family farm. Between Ron’s days at Madison and his daughters’ time spent there, advances in technology brought about many changes in university structure and curriculum. For example, Ron stood in line on campus to register for classes, whereas Sydney selected her courses through an online library. “It’s a shockingly different world from when I went to college,” Ron said “We were just on the cusp of computers coming in 1982. I had a class in which we
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Dairy Education Special Edition • December 25, 2021 • Page 5
had to build a herd of dairy cattle and were in charge of mating, etc. We did it all on punch cards. You would then feed your punch card into a big IBM mainframe computer to see how your dairy herd ranked.” From classes to extracurriculars, Sydney witnessed how the dairy curriculum at UW-Madison evolved and adapted to keep up with the industry. “Automation and technology are a main driver in the dairy industry, and the classes at Madison reect that,” Sydney said. Classes added to the roster were specic to dairy software like DairyComp. “It was truly helpful to understand and know how to use this technology back on the farm and to be able to interpret the data,” Sydney said. Sydney also has a well-rounded resume of internships under her belt. “I learned from my dad, sister, mentors and peers that I wanted to expand my portfolio with experiences,” she said. “I set a high goal to have different experiences within different segments of the industry.” Sydney spent one summer working for an A.I. company, another summer launching a beef business and event venue, and the following summer doing an internship in
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Zoey Nelson pets one of the cows in the parlor in between milking groups on their farm near Waupaca, Wisconsin. Nelson returned to Brooks Farms in 2015 to farm with her dad aŌer compleƟng her reign as Alice in Dairyland. the Netherlands with a robotic dairy company. She also did a business internship with Professional Dairy Producers focused on events and program management, and served as a media intern for World Dairy Expo. Finally,
an internship at Filament Marketing led to her current fulltime job at the agency as a client management executive. In addition, Sydney has opened an event venue. “Zoey was required to work for someone else for at least a year before returning to the farm full time,” Ron said. “I’m blessed and excited with what I have coming back into the business.” Ron’s other two daughters, who do not work on the farm, attended college in Minnesota where Alyssa earned her doctorate, and Kelsey obtained a master’s degree. “I believe lifelong learning is paramount to a successful, meaningful life,” Ron said. “I learn every day. The industry is changing so fast that by the time you exit college, what you learned as far as stats and data is already outdated. The important part of an advanced degree is learning how to nd the answers and college prepared me for that.” Sydney agreed. “The entire degree can only provide a certain extent,” she said. “My dairy classes like lactation, ruminant nutrition and reproduction physiology were extremely benecial and established my foundation for helping on the farm. But hands-on experience is also necessary.”
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Page 6 • Dairy Education Special Edition • Saturday, December 25, 2021
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Dairy Education Special Edition • December 25, 2021 • Page 7
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Page 8 • Dairy Education Special Edition • Saturday, December 25, 2021
Dairy at the heart of it all
DeBoer uses degree to connect with exhibitors in current role By Abby Wiedmeyer abby.w@dairystar.com
MADISON, Wis. – While the industry gathers for one week in the fall at World Dairy Expo, it takes months of coordinating the world-class show. Mikayla DeBoer, a 2017 graduate of University of Wisconsin-Platteville, uses her dairy science degree to help facilitate the event as the trade show coordinator. This is a year-long task and one that DeBoer nds her degree to be surprisingly relevant to. “My degree really helps me connect because I have some sort of knowledge about each thing,” DeBoer said. “I can help people have their best experience at the show.” As the trade show coordinator, DeBoer, along with her manager, facilitates anything to do with the trade show and sponsorships. DeBoer helps contract out all the companies that have booth space at World Dairy Expo and then works with them throughout the year to make sure all the paperwork is accounted for. The sponsorship aspect involves securing support for all
the signage or dairy cattle show awards as well as any events that happen on grounds. DeBoer also helps coordinate meeting space rentals and some of the educational opportunities. “Two days are never the same in our ofce,” DeBoer said. DeBoer grew up around the animals on her grandparents’ farm near Stoughton. She was involved in showing dairy cattle with a family friend which is what led her to get involved in the animal agriculture industry as a whole. “It kind of progressed from there,” DeBoer said. “I wanted to do that and head to (UW-) Platteville for dairy science,” DeBoer said. When choosing a school to pursue her education, DeBoer was attracted to UW-Platteville because of its welcoming environment. “I was on my own and getting the college experience but it felt like home immediately,” DeBoer said. “The professors were always incredible to work with.” DeBoer credits some of her success to the small class sizes for the hands-on experiences like giving vaccinations and working in the lab. “In labs, we actually had
time to work with different things and got that real handson experience that I don’t think you always would get with a larger class size,” DeBoer said. “Just the learning aspect of it was great.” DeBoer has found her degree to be helpful personally and professionally since her time at UW-Platteville. She has worked with World Dairy Expo for almost three years now. “My degree has helped a ton in this position,” DeBoer said. “At rst, I didn’t know how learning a bunch of stuff about cows was going to help me work with people needing a booth space. But honestly, the amount of knowledge that I have about the dairy industry as a whole from (UW-)Platteville has really allowed me to connect with all of our exhibitors whether they are a nutritionist or they have a new technology.” The coursework at UWPlatteville included instruction animal science, dairy science, beef management, genetics and reproduction. DeBoer said she also feels she has a better understanding of the animal genetics side of the industry, thanks to her coursework in college. “It’s helped me understand all the genetics and the time spent going into that kind of show,” DeBoer said. “They do so much work to get ready for that.” Just like farming, DeBoer’s
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Kelsey and Mikayla DeBoer are University of Wisconsin-Platteville graduates. Mikayla is employed with World Dairy Expo. day-to-day responsibilities depends on the time of year. Right now, she is working on getting contracts ready for renewal of booth space and sponsorships. From there, she and her coworkers move on to the next portion of planning. “There are always people who want to move or expand their booth space or add on to their sponsorships or rent meeting space,” DeBoer said. “It’s an ebb and ow of all sorts of things all the time.” DeBoer said she starts planning for the next year’s show
before the current show even takes place. “We had the theme and everything already picked out for 2022 well before the 2021 show even happened,” DeBoer said. With a busy career on track, DeBoer enjoys her time with her husband, Kelsey, who works for a dairy technology company in Madison and is also a UW-Platteville graduate. What started out as an interest in show cattle has led to a career among the dairy industry’s world-class genetics.
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Will help get CDL
On Traveling Harvest Crew May–October/November
Milker | Calf Manager
Dairy Education Special Edition • December 25, 2021 • Page 9
DAIRY SCIENCE PROGRAM UW-Platteville’s School of Agriculture offers...
• Courses that focus on Farm to Fork concepts for a better producer, consultant, and consumer • Opportunities for competition with other dairy schools through Pioneer Dairy Challenge Team & Pioneer Dairy Judging Team • A wide variety of industry support and resources available to Dairy Science majors through internships and other networking opportunities • Agriculture-focused Faculty-Led Education Abroad with Service Learning Components • COMING SOON - Dairy Pilot Plant at Pioneer Farm! This new facility will allow for dairy food production as well as research and education in sustainable on-farm dairy systems and food production • Pioneer Farm - campus farm giving students opportunities for hands-on work experience
PIONEER DAIRY CLUB
Close to 75 members, learning about the dairy industry and giving back through a wide variety of philanthropic and service learning opportunities.
Annual Consignment Sale
Dairy Science major
50+ students and growing! MINORS
Agribusiness • Ag Engineering Technology Spanish • Soil and Crop Science
- student run, opportunities for networking through Midwest ADSA and the PDPW Mentor program
Become a Part of the NEW Student Run Business Pioneer Sweets! HANDS ON LEARNING IN CLASS
CAMPUS DAIRY FARM
NEW LELY ROBOTIC MILKERS
Plus 17 other clubs/ organizations and 6 other competitive teams in the School of Agriculture!
The Dairy Innovation Hub is bringing almost $2 million per year to UW-Platteville
Schedule a visit today! www.uwplatt.edu/department/school-agriculture
Page 10 • Dairy Education Special Edition • Saturday, December 25, 2021
COME WORK WITH US! WHY DAIRY AND FOOD SCIENCE? South Dakota State University offers state-of-the-art research and processing facilities, acclaimed faculty and great opportunities in dairy production, dairy manufacturing and food science.
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B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in dairy science and food science
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Opportunities for work-study, internships and undergraduate research
$150,000 in scholarships awarded annually with more than 90% of students receiving departmental scholarships
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100% JOB PLACEMENT with starting salaries over $45,000
State-of-the-art Davis Dairy Plant and Dairy Research and Training Facility
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Active Dairy Club, Food Science Club and dairy judging teams
POSITIONS INCLUDE:
General Production in Cheese and Whey & Supervisors in Cheese and Whey
MEET A DAIRY AND FOOD SCIENCE STUDENT
We offer a comprehensive and Àexible bene¿ts package!
Jacob Schaefer Fairfax, MN Dairy Production “With 100% job placement and the specialized dairy major, I truly believe that SDSU is the best place to be for dairy students. SDSU is also a very welcoming place to be with an unmatched culture!”
Contact: Robert “Lane” Speirs – Coordinator of Recruitment & Academic Services robert.speirs@sdstate.edu | (605) 688-5482
www.wapsievalley.com
A Lea der in Da iry Science Educat ion This is an exciting time in agriculture. Technology continues to evolve, impacting industry and the family farm; from robots in the barn, to GPS in machinery and the science behind balanced nutrition. Hands-on learning in the world-renowned Iowa’s Dairy Center positions you to impact the future.
Ex plor e Da iry Science at NICC! V I S I T Ca m p u s. 2022
UPCOMING VISITS Feb. 10 Feb. 24 March 3
SCHEDULE A VISIT TODAY!
� www.nicc.edu/visit LEARN MORE.
Dave Lawstuen, Dairy Science Instructor 833.642.2338
� www.iowadairycenter.com • www.nicc.edu/agscience
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AGRICULTURE AND ANIMAL SCIENCE PROGRAM PREVIEW Feb. 25 • 10 a.m.
Dairy Education Special Edition • December 25, 2021 • Page 11
What are some classes you took that were benecial in our current occupation? Mark Nelson Benson, Minnesota Ridgewater College for farm operation and management
Shannon Watrin Sandstone, Minnesota SDSU for dairy science-production and agricultural business
Tell us about yourself and your current career. I’m 57 years old. I farm in a partnership with my two brothers and two nephews north of Benson.
Tell us about yourself and your current career. I work as a program manager for Minnesota Milk and Midwest Dairy.
Why did you go to college? To learn as much about agriculture as I could and to be able to experience life and maturity for the two years I was at school. What are some classes you took that were benecial in your current occupation? I took equipment classes, nutrition, rst aid responder classes, electricity and farm record keeping. All the classes I took I use sometime during the year. When you get into certain situations, you think back and say, “I learned that back at college.” What connections did you make in college that have benetted you in your career? The teachers. I have kept in contact with certain teachers to this day. And, fellow students. I have keep in contact with them yet now. On loan applications, they ask if you went to college. Tell us about a college experience that prepared you for your career. The eld trips we took where you could learn how other people did things and the on-land demonstrations we took part in. I used knowledge from the rst aid class on my own kids. What advice do you have for incoming college students? Soak up as much information as you can. Take part in all the trips that are provided. Make college a fun experience. Justin Schaffer Miesville, Minnesota NICC for dairy science and agricultural nance Tell us about yourself and your current career. I am a fthgeneration dairymen. I work as a herdsman for our 210-cow herd. I farm with my dad, uncle and two brothers. In May 2020, we moved into our new three-unit robotic, tunnel-ventilated barn. Why did you go to college? Growing up on the family farm, I knew dairy was my future. I wanted to get out and see other operations and learn the trends of the industry. What are some classes you took that were benecial in your current occupation? One of my favorite classes was the reproduction lab. I learned how to feel what the ovaries were telling me to make reproductive and calving decisions. Lab classes also included evaluations of sick cows and calves. Also, all classes based on nances have paid off. What connections did you make in college that have benetted you in your career? College will expose you to new peers and industry professionals. I now have lifelong friends. We talk on the phone about what’s happening on our farm and in life. We even plan vacations together. The friendships I have gained are worth just as much as, if not more than, the education.
Why did you go to college? I wanted to be a farmer since I was in kindergarten. I had a solid base from my dairy and swine farm background but wanted to learn more. I was also looking for a more hands-on experience from a university in addition to the classwork. College was my opportunity to learn about the changing dairy industry. What are some classes you took that were benecial in your current occupation? I work in communications now, and all of my English courses are useful. I remember studying sociology, and now I use those skills in my work and managing employees. Business courses are helpful in managing money and making good business choices. Sciences have been helpful in deciding what is best for a herd of cows. What connections did you make in college that have benetted you in your career? The network of friends that has been the most benecial. I can call any one of them and ask them about a practice on the farm or a view on a policy issue. We talk through the perspectives, and I leave with an informed decision. Tell us about a college experience that prepared you for your career. Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge. I was able to help farmers and use my experience and knowledge, but more importantly, I began the important lesson of listening to farmers, understanding them rst and then connecting. What advice do you have for incoming college students? Take advantage of every opportunity you can. Find someone who is doing something that you might want to do, and ask to job shadow, intern or have a conversation. Try new things. Take new classes. You might be surprised what you have a natural skill in. Austin McCulley Valders, Wisconsin UW-Madison Farm and Industry Short Course for dairy herd management Tell us about yourself and your current career. My father and I milk 270 cows. My parents built on to the farm in 2009, which allowed me to work for them full time after I graduated from high school. My wife, Brittany, and I have a son named Bennett. In my free time, I hunt and coach middle school wrestling. Why did you go to college? I chose to go to school in Madison because I knew I wanted to farm but didn’t want to do a four-year bachelor program. Short course is designed so that the coursework all happens during the winter while farm work is slower. What are some classes you took that were benecial in your current occupation? There were classes that helped me become a better employee, including dairy cow reproduction as well as articial insemination. I also learned better care for fresh cows as well as how to weld.
Tell us about a college experience that prepared you for your career. One of my teachers challenged me to think about what I wanted to pursue as a career. He suggested banking because I grasp onto numbers quickly. But, I decided it would be more rewarding for me to see the results of my own work on the farm rather than making decisions for other farmers.
What connections did you make in college that have benetted you in your career? I met a lot of friends from all across the country. When I was there, the class spent a lot of afternoons touring farms. You can learn a lot talking to farmers about what they like about their operations and what management decisions they have made to better suit their farms.
What advice do you have for incoming college students? I would not be where I am today without a higher education. I would encourage anyone with an interest in the dairy industry to pursue more knowledge and gain experience. There are great jobs with growth potential available. Also, college is the time for you to excel. Do not be afraid to ask questions and stand out in the crowd.
Tell us about a college experience that prepared you for your career. I knew very little about registered cows prior to college but had some classmates who were very educated in this department. Although I do not get too excited about shows, I do enjoy making nice cows. Recently, my rst cow scored 93 points.
NWTC’S
E R U T L AGRICU OGRAMS! PR
What advice do you have for incoming college students? You will get out of college what you put into it. Make sure there are opportunities for jobs in the eld of education you are going into.
Page 12 • Dairy Education Special Edition • Saturday, December 25, 2021
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