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📰 In This Issue:
- Headlines
- UGA College of Vet Med Thompson Lecture Series Features Mike McCloskey
- Scholarship Opportunities for Ag and Dairy Students
- Submit Your Nominations for the 2026 Bobby Walker Award
- Frozen Dessert University Scholarship Opportunity for Value-Added Dairy Operations
- GMP Classifieds
- Calendar of Events
- GMP Intern Spotlight: Hannah Forthe
- GMP Associate Membership
| | UGA College of Vet Med Thompson Lecture Series Features Mike McCloskey | |
The UGA College of Veterinary Medicine hosted Dr. Mike McCloskey at its Fred Thompson Population Health Food Animal Lecture at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Athens. Dr. McCloskey is best known as the cofounder and CEO of Selection Milk Producers cooperative and Chairman of Fair Oaks Farms. In his lecture titled "A Perspective of 50 Years Looking Ahead," Dr. McCloskey shared stories and insights from his career in veterinary medicine, dairy farming, dairy processing, and the renewable energy space. He also discussed what he considers the Six Pillars of Dairy Sustainability: food safety, nutrition, animal care, environment, employee care, and community.
Before the lecture, several Georgia Milk members had the chance to visit with Dr. McCloskey and faculty from the College of Vet Medicine. Thank you to UGA CVM for highlighting the dairy industry as part of the lecture series. The Thompson lecture series is made possible by a generous donation from former UGA CVM faculty member, Dr. Fred Thompson.
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Scholarship Opportunities for Ag and Dairy Students | |
Scholarships are opening up for the 2026-2027 school year. If you know a high school senior or current college student, be sure to share these agriculture and/or dairy related scholarships! Click on the title below to learn more about each scholarship and apply.
Georgia Association of Conservation Districts Scholarship
- Open to high school seniors, undergraduates or graduate students from Georgia at any accredited college, school, or university in the United States
- Application deadline: December 31st, 2025
DFA Cares Scholarship
- Open to seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students
- Application deadline: January 9th, 2026
GFB Georgia Foundation for Agriculture Scholarship
- Open to high school seniors, rising junior or seniors in college, and technical college students
- Application deadline: March 1st, 2026
| Submit Your Nominations for the 2026 Bobby Walker Award | Georgia Milk Producers is taking nominations for the 2026 "Bobby Walker Award." Each year, the Georgia Milk Producers Board of Directors presents the award to a dairy professional, farmer, and/or company that is driving Georgia's dairy industry toward a brighter future through leadership, advocacy, and service. The award presentation will take place at the 2026 Georgia Dairy Conference in January. This award is open to any individual who is involved with the dairy industry (Cooperative officials/field representatives, feed/ supply companies or salesperson, veterinarian, farmer, etc.). Please send in nominations for this award to our office by November 10th, 2025 by using this link or emailing info@gamilk.org. | Frozen Dessert University Scholarship Opportunity for Value-Added Dairy Operations | |
The following is from the University of Tennessee Extension.
Through USDA Dairy Business Innovation Initiative resources, UT's Center for Dairy Advancement and Sustainability is pleased to provide stipends to assist value-added dairy producers or key personnel in the Southeast Region (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia) to participate in a special cohort of the Carpigiani Frozen Dessert University in High point, North Carolina January 12 - 16, 2026. Selected individuals will be reimbursed up to $1,000 to help defray registration and selected travel expenses for travel and lodging.
Eligibility is open to owners, managers, or key personnel of the following operation types located in the Southeast Region. Eligible applicants must be affiliated with either an existing or prospective value-added dairy operation. Existing value-added dairy operations must be producing and marketing value-added dairy products (from cattle, sheep, goats, etc.) such as fluid milk, butter, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, soaps, lotions, or other cosmetics. Operations working toward becoming licensed dairy product manufacturers within the next 12 months are eligible to apply as well. Only one applicant is allowed per dairy operation. However, applicants may suggest another person from their operation to be considered if the cohort does not fill up.
For more information about Carpigiani's Frozen Dessert University click HERE.
Applications open Saturday November 1 for free tuition and the travel stipend. Click HERE to apply. Applications close December 10 by 11:59pm.
| | Want to showcase your business to dairy producers and industry professionals across the Southeast and US? Email info@gamilk.org to learn more about how you can advertise in the GMP E-News. | |
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November 7 - Georgia Agribusiness Council Harvest Celebration
The Classic Center - Athens, GA
November 12-13 - 59th Dairy Production Roadshow
Okeechobee, FL (Nov. 12) Tifton, GA (Nov. 13) - Register here
December 7-9 - Georgia Farm Bureau Convention
Jekyll Island Conference Center - Jekyll Island, GA
January 19-21 - Georgia Dairy Conference
Marriott Savannah Riverfront Hotel - Savannah, GA
February Florida Snowbirds - The 2026 Dairy Old Timer’s Breakfast
O’Brien’s Irish Pub - Brandon, FL - Register and Learn More
| | Georgia Milk Producers Intern Spotlight | | The Georgia Milk Producers Fall Internship program is entering its third year, and we are thrilled to have three great ABAC students join the team this semester. Stay tuned over the next couple of weeks as we introduce the intern team that will help plan and run the Georgia Dairy Conference. This week we're introducing... | | | | Hannah is a Senior Agribusiness Major attending Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. She's an active member of the ABAC Agronomy Club and a student-worker at the Georgia Peanut Commission. Hannah is looking forward to learning about career opportunities in the dairy industry through networking at the conference, and she's excited to learn the behind-the-scenes aspect of the conference. After graduation, Hannah and her fiance plan to get married as she pursues a career in the ag industry. A Reese's Blizzard is her favorite dairy food. | | |
Thank You, Associate Members | | |
The mission of Georgia Milk Producers is to support, sustain, and grow the Georgia dairy industry. In addition to our partners in industry who support the Georgia Dairy Conference each January, we are also offering an opportunity for allied industry to partner with GMP year-round, network with producers throughout the year, and promote their companies outside of the conference. Thank you to our inaugural Associate Members, Dairy Farmers of America, FERA Animal Health, and BMO Bank.
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