Dairy Challenge educational events allow undergraduate students the opportunity to apply concepts they have learned in the classroom and internships, network with academic and industry partners, and further refine and develop troubleshooting and critical thinking skills needed once they enter the job market post-education.  Specifically, the Southern Dairy Challenge event involves participants evaluating the strengths and opportunities of an actual dairy farm, developing a set of recommendations, and then presenting and defending these recommendations to a panel of dairy allied industry leader.  Besides evaluating the management and business practices of an actual dairy farm, participants tour an additional dairy where 5 educational stations were set up showcasing the application of management concepts on an actual farm.  Dairy farmers along with local allied dairy industry leaders are the “educators” in both of these events.  Besides local dairy farmers hosting the on-farm events, local dairy allied industry partners served as student mentors and judges.

In November, the University of Kentucky Extension Service hosted the Southern Dairy Challenge, attended by 59 undergraduates representing 13 universities in the Southern US region.   Summarized questionnaires showed the goals for the contest were achieved and participants would recommend this educational experience to other undergraduates.  Allied industry partners had many positive comments regarding their experiences and interactions with the students.  Perhaps the hardest impact to document relates to life-long impacts on these students.  Many of these students do not come from a farming background, and for many this was their first and only experience visiting a dairy and talking to dairy producers.   They are able to learn first-hand from dairy farmers about the industry and the pride dairy farmers have in their businesses.  Students were able to experience first-hand how farmers manage their cattle and businesses, protect the welfare of their cattle, and practice environmental stewardship.   In my opinion, educating consumers, who in turn educate other consumers, is the greatest impact of this educational programming experience and one whose impact cannot be directly measured.