Midwest Regional Dairy Challenge Will Draw 75 Students from 15 Universities

January 22, 2010 – Students from 15 universities will compete in the sixth Midwest Regional Dairy Challenge, February 11-13 in Wooster, Ohio.

The annual event draws the best and brightest among Midwest college students enrolled in dairy science programs. According to contest chair John Goeser of Vita Plus, 75 students are scheduled to participate in the management analysis and recommendation program. Host for this year’s contest is The Ohio State University.

Over the two-day event, students will work with teammates they have just met to visit a dairy farm and evaluate the business through both observation and interviews with the herd owner and/or manager. Their task is to identify management recommendations, which are then presented to a panel of judges with expertise in dairy management, nutrition and reproduction, animal health and ag business finance.

The Midwest event is one of four regional contests associated with the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge. NAIDC was established in 2002 as a management contest spanning all phases of a specific dairy business. It strives to incorporate a higher-learning atmosphere with practical application, in turn generating highly qualified graduates to lead and further improve the dairy industry. More than 1,500 students have enhanced their dairy management, communication and business skills through the Dairy Challenge program.

Financial support for the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge and its regional contests comes from generous contributions from dairy industry companies, associations and foundations, and dairy business owners. NAIDC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. Contributions to Dairy Challenge are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Visit www.dairychallenge.org for more information on sponsorship support, or contact Executive Director Molly Kelley at 217-684-3007 or naidcmjk@aol.com.

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