Without growing up on a dairy farm, I entered college feeling that I lacked the experience to take a critical eye and problem-solving skills to the dairies I visited. As fewer college students pursuing an agricultural degree come from farms, there is a growing need for platforms where students can bridge the gap from classroom to farm. Dairy Challenge, an academic competition designed to enhance the dairy industry knowledge and skills of college students, is an experience that does just that.

The North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge was established in 2002 as a management contest at Michigan State University. In its first year, there were 14 participating teams. Since then, it has grown to be held nationally and include regional competitions. The Dairy Challenge Academy was also established just over 10 years after the first contest was held, providing an educational and training opportunity for younger or less experienced students to be mentored by industry professionals.

During a Dairy Challenge contest, students work in teams and demonstrate teamwork, leadership, critical thinking, and professional networking skills. They are provided with information about a contest farm, visit the farm, and then develop a professional presentation with recommendations to improve the dairy operation. Presentations are evaluated by a panel of judges with different areas of expertise, including producers, veterinarians, nutritionists, youngstock specialists, and reproductive specialists.

My first experience with the Dairy Challenge programs was during my freshman year when I had the opportunity to participate in the Academy during the national event in Green Bay, Wis. While unsure of what to expect, I found that Academy was the perfect opportunity to ask questions of my mentors, learn from my aggregate teammates, and gain experience taking a critical eye to dairy operations. The following year, I had the opportunity to participate in the Midwest regional contest and the Academy, both of which were fantastic experiences where I got to meet and work with other students from across the Midwest and the nation. Collaborating, connecting, and competing with students from different dairy experiences, backgrounds, and interests allowed me to learn how different dairying systems work across the country and understand how closely connected the dairy industry is.

This past year, I took on a different experience with Dairy Challenge, serving as a social media intern for the Midwest regional and national contests. Through this role, I shared contest information and coverage across different digital platforms, sharing why students, coaches, mentors, and industry professionals participate in and contribute to Dairy Challenge year after year. As a student interested in the applied side of farming but who also enjoys sharing the experiences of others in the dairy industry, this program is a fantastic opportunity for dairy-interested students excited about communications, marketing, or public relations. Across the experiences offered by Dairy Challenge, there are unique networking opportunities to meet professionals from across the nation who specialize in the different sectors of the industry.

My favorite part of Dairy Challenge is having the opportunity to visit different farms and meet new people. I have visited farms in New York, California, and throughout the Midwest because of my participation in Dairy Challenge. Dairy Challenge allowed me to have an immersive, hands-on experience, working to provide real recommendations to support dairy farmers. During my years of participation, I have been on multiple aggregate teams with students across the country who I still keep in contact with and see consistently through other experiences, such as internships, dairy judging, the American Dairy Science Association, and other conferences. This upcoming year, I am very excited to travel down to Gainesville, Fla., where the 2025 national contest will be held, to learn more about their production system as a fluid market and collaborate with my peers from Iowa State University to develop a presentation demonstrating what I have learned over my past four years of Dairy Challenge involvement.

The opportunities and experiences offered by Dairy Challenge are unlike any other for college students looking to grow their skills and understand how a consulting role looks on a dairy farm. Working with fellow students and industry professionals allows participants to develop connections across the nation, explore internships, and gain experience in teamwork. Often, it is so important to be a problem-solver on farms, and Dairy Challenge does a remarkable job of fostering an inquisitive mind and developing a farm-ready skillset. Whether students are interested in returning to a farm, working as a consultant, or another role in the dairy industry, I can’t recommend Dairy Challenge programs enough to gain hands-on experience while having genuine interactions with producers and industry members.

This fall and into the new year, regional contests will be starting:

• Northeast Regional Contest: October 17 to 19, 2024, in Plattsburgh, N.Y.
• Southern Regional Contest: November 17 to 19, 2024, in Radford, Va.
• Midwest Regional Contest: February 12 to 14, 2025, in Brookings, S.D.
• Western Regional Contest: February 27 to March 1, 2025, in California

To close out the contest year, the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge Contest and Academy will be held April 6 to 8, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla.