Green Bay, WI, February 22, 2022 - The North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge (NAIDC) 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.
The NAIDC committee is excited to showcase the best of Northeast Wisconsin. Participants will tour Wayside Dairy in Greenleaf, the Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center in Manitowoc and Majestic Crossing Dairy in Sheboygan Falls. Students will also enjoy a tailgate experience at historic Lambeau Field.
"We are ecstatic to have the national contest return to the Dairy State for the 20th anniversary of the program,” said 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. 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."
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 20-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.
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.
Dairy Challenge is funded through the generous support of more than 130 agribusinesses and dairy farms. To learn more or become a Dairy Challenge sponsor, please visit www.dairychallenge.org.