Animal & Food Sciences

Why Participate in the Dairy Challenge?

• No matter what aspect of animal sciences you are interested in, the skills you will gain from participating in the Dairy Challenge will help further your career.
• This is your chance to apply your coursework to real-world situations.
• You will have the chance to visit dairy farms in Kentucky and throughout the country.
• You will learn evaluation, priority setting, critical thinking, and presentation skills, which are skills identified by employers as critical in job success.
• You will have the chance to network with potential employers who are active participants and supporters of the Dairy Challenge.
• You will have a lot of fun!

What is the Dairy Challenge?

To create an intercollegiate dairy management competition based on the examination of all aspects of a dairy business. This competition will challenge students in recall of basic dairy management principles and their practical application, while testing organizational, time management, data analysis, public speaking, leadership and teamwork skills. Agribusiness and universities will cooperate to stage this event to increase students' knowledge and comprehension of dairy business management and thereby promote a strong future for the dairy industry.
 
What do You Do at the Contest?

The North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge allows students to apply theory and learning to a real-world dairy while working as part of a team.

Day one begins with each four-person student team receiving information on a real-life dairy, including production and farm management data. Following a visit to a dairy farm, teams develop a comprehensive plan including recommendations for nutrition, reproduction, milking procedures, animal health, housing and financial management.

Day two is a presentation day, where team members present recommendations to a panel of judges. Team members must field questions from the judges. Presentations are evaluated based on the analysis and recommendations. The evening concludes with a reception and awards banquet.

Team Selection Procedures

• At the Southern Dairy Challenge, students participate on composite teams with students from other institutions.  Students may participate in the regional contest in multiple years.  The number of students attending per university is determined prior to the contest (generally, 6 students per university).
• Priority for the Southern Dairy Challenge will be given to students enrolled in ASC 420G-Dairy Cattle Science.  If openings remain, additional students will be selected based on classification (senior, junior, sophomore), courses taken, and practical experience.  All students planning to participate in the Southern Dairy Challenge are expected to all attend practices, farm visits, and meetings.
• At the National Dairy Challenge, students compete as a four-member team representing their respective universities.  Students are only eligible to participate in the national contest once.
• Students interested in participating in the National Dairy Challenge will need to enroll in ASC 395-Dairy Management and Diagnostics (Fall Semester-1 hour; Spring Semester, 2 hours). Students will be expected to attend in-class sessions and afternoon/Saturday farm visits. Again, priority will be given to students who have completed ASC 420G-Dairy Cattle Science and upperclassmen.