The language barrier is real, but so is the solution. Dairy producers, if you’re looking to enhance your Spanish language skills, sign up for this online “Spanish for Agriculture” course from Katie Dotterer of AgvoKate. The eight-week online course this fall is designed for English-speaking dairy professionals who work alongside Spanish-speaking colleagues or team members. Whether you’re milking, managing or maintaining herd health, you’ll learn practical Spanish that improves communication, increases workplace safety, and builds mutual respect. Students of all stripes in this industry – veterinarians, herdsmen, farm managers, employees and hoof trimmers – take this course and find it to be a gamechanger. Learn how to say “Bring the cows in,” We are going to vaccinate on Tuesday,” “Can you work this weekend?” and so much more.
Led by Katie Dotterer, the Center for Dairy Excellence is offering another round of $100 discounts for dairy producers who sign up for the course. The course will run from September 23 – November 20, 2025. Choose from either the Beginners or Intermediate course. You’ll receive regular check-ins from Katie along the way and can take the course at your own pace.
Click here to learn more and register for the course by September 19 to receive the $100 discount!
Early Bird Offer: Enroll by September 9 and Receive Katie’s HR Onboarding Script FREE! This 10-page bilingual onboarding script guides employees through W-4, I-9, and payroll forms in Spanish & English. The HR Onboarding Script will automatically be emailed to you if you sign up by Sept. 9 using the form below.
“I loved getting back into the Spanish language. For any dairy that works with Spanish-speaking personnel and are sweating the communication gap, this course will help alleviate the stress of communication. Learning the proper terms of all things dairy around the farm has been a great benefit to communicating with our Spanish-speaking employees.” –Pamela Barnes, Maple Knoll Farm
“This course met all my expectations and then some! Within a couple classes I was able to start putting phrases together and communicate with our employees. I don’t know who is more excited –them or me!” –Nicole B., dairy farmer
About the Course:
When: The online course will be held September 23 through November 20. Live classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays each week:
- Beginners: The beginner’s live class will run from 7:45 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. EST on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Recordings will also be available.
- Intermediate: There will be no live classes. You will receive direct recordings of the very recent spring/summer session. Direct communication, feedback and continual support will be provided throughout the course.
All classes are recorded for on-demand viewing – no mandatory live attendance. You will have 24/7 access to all course content through December 30 for self-pacing. You’ll receive regular check-ins from Katie and can take the course at your own pace.
Cost: The course is $747 per person, which includes the $100 discount from the Center for Dairy Excellence for dairy producers. The course is designed to track individual progress, not a couple or family. Select either beginner or intermediate level when you register below.
How to Sign Up: Click here to register by September 19. You must sign up using the form on this page to receive the $100 discount.
Learn More: Click here to learn more about the course and what to expect. Note: You must register and pay for the course using the form below to receive the $100 discount from the Center. If you have specific questions about the course itself, email Katie Dotterer.
Course Benefits:
- 100% online with live classes. The lessons are also recorded and available for your convenience throughout the course. If you are unable to join the live lesson, you will be able to watch the recorded video afterwards. You will have password-protected access to the videos during your subscription to the course.
- 16 live targeted lessons over 8 weeks on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. You’ll be creating sentences by week 3!
- One-on-one instructor support throughout
- Regular check-ins and ability to take the course at your own pace
- Interactive discussions and practical activities
- Homework that includes real life phrases used daily on the farm
- Dairy/ag specific vocabulary and essential grammar taught through an agricultural lens
- Certificate of completion at the end of the course after submitting the final assessment
What Will You Learn?
- Language Basics: Spanish alphabet, numbers, colors, articles; Subject pronouns, common verbs, and verb conjugation; Days, months, weather expressions, greetings, prepositions
- Agriculture Vocabulary: New industry-specific vocabulary lists each week tailored to your chosen segment: dairy, swine, or poultry. General ag terms covered and incorporated into applicable sentences/phases.
- Cultural Competency: Understanding cultural concepts like holidays, customs and correct terminology; Awareness of regional differences and inclusive practices; Gain insights of how to build/repair on-farm relationships with Spanish speakers.
About the Instructor, Katie Dotterer of AgvoKate:
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 eight years — serving 800+ students from the U.S., Canada and the UK. She has worked with native Spanish speakers for 21+ years. Katie also studied abroad in Panama, Mexico, Cuba and Honduras. She is certified in ESL-English as a Second Language. She teaches ESL to the Hispanic community and her mission is to “meet in the middle.” She received the 2008 Employer of the Year (Dotterer Dairy) from The PA Department of Education Migrant Education Program.