We are all familiar with the daily routine on our own farms and maybe how dairy producers in other regions of the country operate their facilities, but a select few have ventured internationally to learn more about dairy production on another continent. One young lady, Anna Gibson, is excited to be spending her summer on a dairy farm in Tasmania (Australian island) and reporting to us on her dairy experiencing throughout her trip. Her internship begins in May. Look for reports on "Dairy Down Under" throughout the summer on the HD Notebook blog and our Hoard's Dairyman facebook page. Following is a brief introduction to Anna.

"My name is Anna Gibson and I'm currently an agriculture education student at Washington State University (WSU). I grew up in the small town of Puyallup, Wash., and have a passion for agriculture.

This summer, I will be going on an amazing trip to Tasmania to live, work, and study dairy production and dairy management. This is an astonishing opportunity because I have always wanted to go "down under," and the idea of going to Australia to work with cows is a dream come true.

Last summer, I was an intern with WSU livestock nutrient management working on the digester project. Not only did I learn a lot about nutrient management, but I also learned more about what I want to accomplish as a student and what I have to do to accomplish those goals.

My professor, Dr. Larry Fox, received an email from the Shoestring Dairy herd manager in Tasmania, Australia, asking for an undergraduate student who was interested in an overseas internship where he or she would be responsible for the day-to-day activities on the farm. When I heard about this once-in-a lifetime opportunity, I quickly jumped on the computer to email the dairy a personal letter of interest. After an application, listing my five-year personal goals, and statement letter, I became the newest member of the Shoestring Dairy team. This summer will be the first time living and working with all the responsibilities as a farmer, and I could not be happier!

I love dairy and dairy farms. An opportunity like this may only come once in a lifetime! I plan to develop my networking skills and dive further into the areas of animal health, parlor, heifer, and pasture management."

Don't miss next Monday's webinar, "Managing cow behavior for profit and performance" presented by Rick Grant, Miner Institute. It is brought to you by Merial and their www.bestinclassdairies.com program. To learn more visit www.hoards.com/webinars. See you May 9!