The Center Is Offering a $100 Discount to Dairy Producers Who Enroll in Fall Course
The United States has the second largest Spanish-speaking population in the world, and 80 percent of the agricultural workforce in the U.S. speaks Spanish. To assist dairy farm families in enhancing communication and building rapport with Spanish-speaking employees, the Center for Dairy Excellence is once again offering $100 discounts to dairy producers from any state who sign up for Katie Dotterer’s “Spanish for Agriculture” (Dairy Beginners or Intermediate) online course this fall. The course is being held from September 19 through November 9, 2023. Individuals who sign up will have 24/7 access to all course content through December 22.
Thanks to a grant from the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC), dairy producers from any state can sign up to receive $100 off the cost of registration and access to 16 online, interactive classes along with all the resources the instructor provides. The $100 discount is available for both the Beginners and Intermediate course.
“I teach these courses the way I wish someone would have taught me: with simple explanations and fun ways to learn a second language. Working with native Spanish speakers for 20+ years allowed me to create this specific curriculum that’s applicable to daily farm life,” said Katie Dotterer. “Students get so excited when they’re putting sentences together by week three. My passion is agriculture and education, and I’m here for my students every step of the way.”
Led by Katie Dotterer, a lifetime dairy farmer and former Spanish teacher, the online Spanish course will be held live on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from September 19 through November 9, 2023. The Beginners course will be held from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Intermediate course will be held from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All classes are recorded and readily accessible to accommodate dairy producers’ schedules.
“After working with Spanish speakers for years and trying to learn on my own, I was pointed to this class. Best decision ever. The class is so thorough; it greatly exceeded my expectations and now I can understand and communicate much better. I highly recommend – my coworkers are impressed,” said Michelle S., a dairy farmer who took the course.
The 16 classes span over a total of eight weeks and include two, one-hour classes per week. Classes are interactive with in-class work and participation as well as homework for reinforcement of the material. The course begins with Spanish basics and expands to include specific dairy vocabulary that will help farmers better communicate with employees.
“I took Katie’s Beginner’s class along with four of my farm’s team members. We all had varying levels of Spanish comprehension going into the class. I would strongly encourage any person planning to work on a larger dairy farm or currently working on a dairy farm with native Spanish-speaking staff to take Katie’s class,” said Walt Moore, Dairy Farm Owner, West Grove, Pa. “She tailors the class to help you understand the basics of the language and specific vocabulary centered around dairy farms that we use every day. Her format and passion for teaching Spanish and making connections to dairy farming is infectious. During the live part, she encourages participation and questions which makes the learning experience even better.”
Learn more about the course:
- When: September 19 through November 9, 2023. (Individuals will have 24/7 access to all course content through December 22).
- Class Time: Spanish for Dairy/Ag Beginners Course will be LIVE and recorded as well. Live classes will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. EST.
Spanish for Agriculture Dairy/Ag Intermediate Course will be LIVE and recorded as well. Live classes will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. EST.
- Cost: The course is $400 for dairy producers, which includes a $100 discount from the Center for Dairy Excellence.
- How to Sign Up: Dairy producers should visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/spanish-basics to sign up and receive the discount. You will receive details on how to access the course after registering.
Katie Dotterer is a lifelong dairy farmer who received degrees in business management and secondary education, Spanish. She worked as a Spanish teacher in middle and high school for 4+ years, and has worked to develop curriculum and instructed online courses for the dairy industry for five years. She is certified in ESL- English as a Second Language and received the 2008 Employer of the Year (Dotterer Dairy) from The PA Department of Education Migrant Education Program.
Visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/spanish-basics to learn more about the discount and the course, or call 717-346-0849 for more details. Sign up no later than September 15 to receive the discount.
Visit www.agvokate.com/8-week-spanish-course-2022 to learn more about the course.