2013 North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge

The North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge (NAIDC) held its 2013 national contest in Fort Wayne, IN this past April. NAIDC is a two day competition for students to represent their dairy science programs from North American universities. During the contest, students apply theory and learning to evaluate a working dairy farm. The students are then expected to develop recommendations for nutrition, reproduction, milking procedures, animal health, housing and financial management. These recommendations are presented to a panel of five judges for consideration.

The panel of judges includes dairy producers and industry experts in dairy finances, reproduction, nutrition, and animal health. Jean Conklin, Senior Loan Officer and Tax Specialist from the White River Jct. Office, became involved with the Dairy Challenge in 2003 when Don Rogers invited her to be on the judges’ panel for the first Northeast Regional contest. Jean, who works with her husband on their dairy farm in New Hampshire, thought that this opportunity sounded interesting and looked forward to working with the students and the other judges. She was elected in 2007 to the National Board of Directors and was re-elected in 2010.

The National Board is made up of 15 members. Jean represented both the Northeast and Farm Credit. She mentions that being on the board is very hands on and it is important for members to secure funding for the annual event. Farm Credit is the biggest contributor for the NAIDC and is a 16 star platinum sponsor as listed in the 2013 program.

Over the past few years it was noticed that the National Dairy Challenge was meeting its limit of 128 students and wanted to add something that was not competitive but educational. The Dairy Challenge Academy saw its first event this past April running in conjunction with the Dairy Challenge as a separate program. Jean says that the great thing about the Dairy Challenge Academy is that students participating do not have to be from a 4 year school which is one of the requirements for the NAIDC. Instead students from a 1 year or a 2 year school can also attend. The addition of the academy attracted 95 more students to the event. The academy places these students into larger teams that analyze the same farms as the Dairy Challenge while providing an educational aspect. Jean reports that the board has received positive feedback on the Dairy Challenge Academy and hopes that the academy continues to grow in numbers.

When asked what some of the opportunities are for students participating in the Dairy Challenge, Jean says that it is a great opportunity to visit different parts of the country. In 2010 the national contest was held in California. Students had the opportunity to visit other dairies before the contest began since most students had never visited a California dairy farm. The contest also allows students to meet other students, interact with the industry through tradeshows, and participate in seminars. The academy featured a career panel as well as a tech presentation in which Jean presented the 5 C’s of Credit to the students.

While Jean’s time on the national board is coming to an end, she plans to stay involved regionally. She would encourage those who are considering becoming a board member to get involved at the regional level. The Northeast contest will be taking place in the Plattsburgh/Chazy, NY area this fall. The mission of the NAIDC is to facilitate education, communication, and an exchange of ideas among students, agribusiness, dairy producers and universities that enhances the development of the dairy industry and its leaders. We can support the contest and the dairy industry by being at the regional contest this fall, volunteering and getting involved. For more information please visit http://www.dairychallenge.org/.