Since my freshman year, I had always heard about the Midwest American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) Meeting. At our first few Dairy Science Club meetings, juniors and seniors would reminisce about the fun they had, the friendships they built, and the connections they made with students from universities across the Midwest. My friends and I eagerly signed up to attend, only to have the event canceled due to post-COVID-19 restrictions and logistical challenges. For years, we heard stories about the meeting, and it felt like a tradition just out of reach.
That changed last spring when my roommate and I were going through older yearbooks and scrapbooks, exploring photos from previous meetings. Intrigued, we spoke with alumni at our club banquet and heard even more memorable stories. Our club president, Mari Brenner, and I started discussing the possibility of reviving the event, realizing that our class would be one of the last to have strong connections with recent alumni.
As the idea took shape, I had further discussions with Midwest faculty at a nutrition conference. Then, at the National ADSA undergraduate student division (USD) meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., we spoke with our ADSA-USD liaison about the feasibility of bringing the event back.
Over the summer, the conversations slowed as everyone focused on internships and other commitments. But when we returned to school in the fall, Mari, our treasurer Louis Hamlett, and I sat down to seriously consider the logistics. Despite an already packed semester of tailgating, dairy judging, industry trips, and cattle shows, we presented our idea to club advisors. Though hesitant at first, they encouraged us to move forward, we began planning: determining which universities would participate, where it would be hosted, and what the event would include. While central Iowa doesn’t have an abundance of dairy farms, many of our usual industry contacts had already been engaged for other events. Still, we remained persistent.
Momentum grew when we met with our ADSA-USD liaison at World Dairy Expo. With support from our advisors, department, and college, we committed to making it happen.
With only three months to plan, we set the dates — January 24 to 26, 2025 — and posted a save-the-date on the event’s Facebook page. We reached out to industry sponsors and university contacts, unsure of how much interest we’d receive. To make the event feasible in its first year back, we limited attendance, capping participation at 15 students per school. To our excitement, eight schools expressed enthusiasm for the meeting’s return.
As the event approached, industry and alumni support exceeded expectations. Businesses offered milk and cheese, volunteered at the event, and provided competition awards. With final details in place — tours, competitions, sponsorships, and event authorization — we were ready.
On Friday, January 24, 104 students from eight schools, including Modesto Junior College from California, arrived in Ames, Iowa. We kicked off with welcoming remarks from Mike VandeHaar, ADSA president and Iowa State alumnus, followed by Iowa State’s Don Beitz, who shared insights on ADSA’s history. The Young Professionals Panel provided students with advice from recent graduates, and Steve Bohr of Farm Financial Strategies discussed transition planning for careers in the dairy industry.
The afternoon featured competitions in dairy judging, dairy products evaluation, and a skill-a-thon, where students navigated reproductive tracts, evaluated feeds, diagnosed illnesses, tasted cheeses, and performed genetic evaluations. The evening wrapped up with a Career Roundtable Dinner, industry networking, Kahoot games, and ice cream.
Sunday concluded with a competitive quiz bowl and discussions on key dairy industry topics, including extension services, silage management, and calving protocols. At the final luncheon, students and universities were recognized for their competition successes, and Jodi Sterle delivered a keynote, “The web we weave,” highlighting the power of networking and collaboration.
Nearly a year after our initial conversations, we are thrilled to have brought the Midwest ADSA-USD Meeting back to life. The support from alumni and industry professionals was incredible, and we look forward to seeing the event continue under the leadership of the newly elected board and the University of Wisconsin–Platteville, which will host the 2026 meeting!
The author is a student at Iowa State University studying dairy science, international agriculture, and agriculture communications. She was a member of the social media corps at the 2023 Midwest Regional Dairy Challenge and 2024 National Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge contests.
