Five University of Georgia Dairy Science students recently attended the Dairy Academy as part of the 2016 North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge in Syracuse, New York.  Nathan Webb, Marlee Garner, Kayla Alward, Sarah Jane Thomsen, and Mary Wright along with their advisors, Dr. Jillian Bohlen and graduate student Lark Widener, were part of this international event that was host to 240 students from over 32 colleges and universities April 7-9, 2016.  The pre-contest farm tour was one not to be forgotten!  The progressive dairy, Hemdale Farms, located in Seneca Castle, New York, currently milks over 1,000 cows with 21 robotic milkers.  For most students at the pre-contest tour, this was the first time they were ever on a farm using robotic milkers and likely for all students, this was the first time on a farm this large using only robotic milkers.  This initial event was definitely a tremendous learning opportunity with stations focused on education in reproduction, technology management, nutrition, waste handling, cow comfort (they used waterbeds) and calf rearing. 

 

That night, UGA students were placed into teams with members from other colleges and universities from across North America.  They set out on a mission to identify the "Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats" of a local dairy operation.  Working with an industry mentor, the teams spent that first night sifting through data, protocols, and information related to the dairy farm's daily operation. Day two started with a (very cold and snowy) trip to the actual dairy farm.  Here the teams were able to make visual observations to identify areas that are strengths or weaknesses for the farm, validate information they were seeing in the farm's data, and try to understand the reasons for where the farm was succeeding or underperforming. That afternoon, the teams developed presentations that they would deliver the following day to teams that visited the same farm as well as industry experts. 

 

Each UGA student did a tremendous job adapting to the different husbandry styles and making sound recommendations to the farm for improvement.  Each farm was milking over 1,000 cows and was actively seeking ways to improve and grow and while also experiencing "growing pains" on how to do that most effectively.  Each farm had its own strengths and areas of novelty. One farm had one of the most immaculate and well-run heifer rearing barns while the other was cost saving by using energy from its own manure digester to power the farm.  

 

Beyond being able to learn and develop by sifting through the nuts and bolts of tremendous dairy operations, the UGA students were able to learn from some of the best and brightest in the industry. One of the main objectives of the Dairy Challenge and Academy is to promote a networking opportunity between students and professionals in the field of dairy science.  From this interaction, UGA students walked away with increased knowledge, internships and leads on potential job opportunities.  As a group, the UGA Dairy Science students and advisors would like to thank the Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation for their support of such a tremendous event.