The North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge and Dairy Challenge Academy is coming to Northeast Wisconsin on March 30-April 2, 2021.
More than 200 students from 36 colleges across the U.S. will put their textbook knowledge to work by evaluating a dairy operation and developing recommendations.
NAIDC is an innovative event for students in dairy programs at North American post-secondary institutions. The mission is to develop tomorrow’s dairy leaders to foster a sustainable future by providing education, communication and networking among students, producers, and agribusiness and university personnel.
Over its 19-year national history, Dairy Challenge has helped prepare more than 5,000 students for careers as farm owners and managers, consultants, researchers, veterinarians or other dairy professionals.
“We are ecstatic to have the national contest return to Wisconsin,” says Ted Halbach, UW-Madison Dairy Management faculty associate and NAIDC Program Committee. “In the Green Bay area students and their instructors will be visiting farms that are representative of the progressive dairy industry we have in the state.”
He says in addition, Dairy Challenge gives both producers and industry professionals in the area a chance to “grow the next generation” by becoming involved in volunteer roles such as contest officials, student mentors and sponsors.
Contest participants will evaluate an operating dairy farm, analyze farm data and ask questions of farm owners. Each team then develops recommendations which will be presented to the farm owners and a panel of judges. Students will also participate in educational and networking activities such as farm tours, research presentations and agribusiness interaction in a career fair.
