UWRF Hosts Regional Dairy Science Conference

By Trista Gropp

March 4, 2011--University of Wisconsin-River Falls’ largest student organization, the Dairy Club, hosted the Midwest Regional American Dairy Science Association-Student Affiliate Division (ADSA-SAD) conference the last weekend in February.

More than 380 students from 12 Midwestern universities visited UWRF to learn more about current issues in the dairy industry.

“UW-River Falls hasn’t hosted the conference in 18 years. Everyone in the club stepped up and helped to make this event a success. We were very excited to showcase the dairy science program and facilities,” says Tracy Loos, a senior dairy science student from Appleton and a co-chair for the conference.

The 130 Dairy Club student members spent a year planning and fundraising for the event. The club was responsible for raising more than $40,000 to host the conference.

“We had a lot of great support from leaders in the dairy industry, many of which went to ADSA while in college and gave back to help and support us today,” notes Loos.

Schools in attendance included Iowa State University, Kansas State University, North Dakota State University, Ohio State University, Purdue University, South Dakota State University, University of Illinois, University of Minnesota-Crookston, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

At the conference universities competed in Dairy Quiz Bowl where UW-Madison won the junior division and Ohio State University won for senior division. Professionals from the dairy industry presented workshops about farm management, pasteurization, transition cow management, media relations, calf care, milk quality, human resource management, production management, farm transfer, grazing and the transition from college to a career.

“It is a great opportunity to connect with other dairy science students and network within the dairy industry,” says Jillian Cowles, a senior dairy science student from Roberts and a co-chair for ADSA-SAD.

Industry supporters of the conference include National Dairy Shrine, Family Dairies USA, CHS Foundation, Fetzer Farm, Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, Dairyland Seed Co. Inc., Foremost Farms USA, American Dairy Science Association, Land O’Lakes Inc., Accelerated Genetics, Alta Genetics, Badgerland Financial, Ben & Jerry’s, Benson Farms, Cargill Animal Nutrition, CP Feeds LLC, Dairy Strategies LLC, Darlington Dairy Supply, Ricky and Gail Demmer, Greenstone FCS, Jung Seed, Midwest EnRG Flakes, Minnesota Milk Producers Association, National Farmers Union, Son-Bow Farms Inc., St. Joseph Equipment Inc., Udder Tech Inc., Waupun Equipment Co. Inc., Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board,, U-Pride Dairy LLC, Agri-Nutrition Consulting, ANIMART Inc., Bodart Farms LLC, Cattle Connection, Chatfield Lumber Co. Inc., The Country Today, Farm Bureau Financial Service, Grassland Dairy Products, LS Sales, Outagamie Holstein Association, Pierce Vet Clinic, Premier Community Bank, Pulaski Chase Cooperative, Saputo Cheese USA Inc. and Rodney and Evelyn Schumacher.

Photo: Visiting students observe the compost barn system at UW-River Falls’ Dairy Learning Center during ADSA-SAD.