Meet Hannah, an Enthusiastic On-Farm Intern Expanding Her Knowledge for the Future  

Love Hannah’s story? Click here to meet more interns and read their stories! A North Carolina native has been spending her summer immersing herself in the Pennsylvania dairy industry. Hannah Mansfield, a rising junior at Penn State University, is studying Animal Science with plans to become a dairy herd manager after graduation. Hannah wasn’t raised on…

Meet Isabella, an On-Farm Intern Who’s Learning About Ice-Cream Making and Calf Care 200 Miles From Home

Love Isabella’s story? Click here to meet more interns and read their stories! Growing up in Connecticut, Isabella Anderson discovered her passion for the dairy industry after participating in 4-H and finding herself spending more and more time on the farm. “My great uncle had some cows. He lived literally right down the road from us,…

Meet Holly, an On-Farm Intern Who’s Getting an Inside Look at Robotic Dairy Farm

Love Holly’s story? Click here to meet more interns and read their stories! As an animal science major at West Virginia University with one semester to go, Holly Mahala decided to complete an On-Farm Internship to explore the dairy industry and consider whether she enjoys a farm-level role. Holly was paired with Vista Grande Farm in…

“Adopt a Cow” Program Brings Agriculture to the Classroom, Open for Enrollment Until September 15

The Interactive Lesson Series Can Be Incorporated Into Both Virtual and In-Person Instruction Discover Dairy’s “Adopt a Cow” program is open for enrollment for the 2025-26 school year until September 15. The free program, which impacted more than 1.7 million students worldwide last year, is a year-long, interactive learning opportunity that gives students an inside…

Meet Shyanne, an On-Farm Intern Who’s Exploring Breeding and Herd Health Technology

Love Shyanne’s story? Click here to meet more interns and read their stories! Shyanne Ackerman grew up on a 100-cow, tie-stall dairy operation. When she had the chance to complete an On-Farm Internship this summer at Rohrer Dairy – a 1,700-cow dairy farm with a rotary parlor that’s vastly different from what she experienced growing up…

Dairy Farms Encouraged to Host High School Graduates as Apprentices on Their Operations

Dairy Producers Who Are Looking for Herd Managers Can Apply for the Apprenticeship Program Pennsylvania dairy producers who are looking for an employee to serve in a herd management role are encouraged to apply for the Center for Dairy Excellence’s Dairy Herd Manager Apprenticeship Program. The program is registered through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor…

Nominate Young Individual with Exceptional Service to PA Dairy for Award

The Jan Harding Ruslavage Memorial Service & Promotion Award Recognizes Someone Between the Ages of 18 and 30 If you know an individual between the ages of 18 and 30 who has demonstrated exceptional service to and promotion of Pennsylvania’s dairy industry, nominate them for the Jan Harding Ruslavage Memorial Service & Promotion Award by…

Speakers Announced for 2025 Dairy Financial and Risk Management Conference

Sessions Will Focus On Navigating Rock-Bottom Years, How High-Performing Dairies Can Level Up, and More Registration is now open for the 16th annual Dairy Financial and Risk Management Conference, titled “Leveling Up Pennsylvania Dairy.” Designed to help attendees protect their risk, navigate the ever-changing dairy marketplace, and make financial decisions with the future in mind,…

Meet Emma, an On-Farm Intern Who Is Honing Her Breeding Skills and Gaining Experience on Larger Dairy Farm

Love Emma’s story? Click here to meet more interns and read their stories! Emma McLaughlin’s first experience working with dairy cattle began in high school. She grew up in 4-H and FFA, showing a large variety of livestock. Her neighbors had a dairy farm, and she eventually started showing cows with the family. Emma’s dairy experience…

Meet Jessica, an On-Farm Intern Who’s Exploring Her Passion for Herd Management on 700-Cow Dairy

Love Jessica’s story? Click here to meet more interns and read their stories! Jessica Fleisher is a rising senior at Penn State University studying Animal Science. Her plans for the future? She hopes to become a dairy herd manager. To help explore her dream, she is interning at M. W. Smith Farms in Perry County,…