Step onto an American dairy farm, and you might notice something unexpected amid the herds of cows and grassy fields. Clusters of undergraduate students, equipped with calculators, measuring tapes and notepads, are meticulously assessing local dairy operations. From jotting down notes on herd nutrition and milking systems to analyzing financial management and environmental practices, they’re diving deep into the details of modern dairy farming.
Welcome to the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge.
Dairy Challenge across the country
The Dairy Challenge is a national competition that challenges students to observe, evaluate and provide innovative solutions for local dairy operations. Five two-day contests take place each year—four at the regional level and one national competition.
At each contest, students tour and assess a real dairy operation, which they evaluate for set standards such as youngstock care and farm record keeping. They then work in teams to review their observations and develop a set of recommendations and strategies for the dairy farm to improve and maximize its herd profit. The competition culminates in a presentation of these recommendations to a panel of expert judges, who award the winning teams.
Farm Credit volunteers from multiple associations support Dairy Challenge
For over two decades, thousands of students have competed in Dairy Challenge and its expansion programs, Dairy Challenge Academy and Dairy Challenge Vet. Every competition challenges participants’ ability to think critically, work in teams, and apply classroom knowledge to real-life dairy farms.
Preparing students for futures in dairy and agriculture
Dairy Challenge offers more than just friendly competition. Each event provides a bounty of networking and professional development opportunities, from speaking with farm owners about the ins and outs of running a dairy operation to networking with industry professionals over dinner – many of whom are interested in recruiting well-rounded undergraduates for full-time jobs.
Participants also gain valuable insights into emerging trends in dairy farming, ensuring that they are able to adapt to future industry changes. This strengthens their preparedness for careers in the industry and equips them with the practical skills necessary to tackle the challenges faced by modern agricultural businesses.
Dairy Challenge also provides veterans of the dairy and agriculture industries a chance to give back to their communities by supporting the next generation through mentorship, networking and donations to the competition. Each year, eighty companies and over three hundred volunteers come together to put on Dairy Challenge events across the country and support its participants.
Dairy Challenge students connected with employers like Farm Credit East at a career fair
Farm Credit proudly supports Dairy Challenge
As an 11-star Platinum partner of Dairy Challenge, Farm Credit is proud to sponsor this valuable opportunity for students from more than fifty participating colleges and universities. In 2024, employees from six Farm Credit associations volunteered on-site at competitions to support participants and staff throughout each day’s programming, ensuring a smooth and rewarding experience for all.
Dairy Challenge is already gearing up for an action-packed year of competitions. For students looking to sharpen their skills outside their contest date, Dairy Challenge’s website offers a vast number of resources on relevant subjects such as understanding financial ratios and navigating DairyComp, a herd management software system. Students are encouraged to use these materials to prepare for upcoming contests, but the content is available for free year-round.
Thank you to all the dairy farms who generously open their gates to students in Dairy Challenge competitions each year, and to Dairy Challenge for hosting such a valuable and experiential learning initiative. Farm Credit is proud to partner with the program and continue to fulfill its mission of supporting young and beginning farmers.
To learn more about Dairy Challenge and how to get involved, visit https://www.dairychallenge.org/.
