California Ag Network

Tag: North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge

  • NAIDC Elects New Leadership for 2026-2027

    North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge® (NAIDC) recently elected new leadership, including one new board member and the 2026 – 2027 Executive Committee. As stated in the NAIDC mission statement, the organization strives to “Develop tomorrow’s dairy leaders and enhance the progress of the dairy industry, by providing education, communication and networking among students, producers and agribusiness and university personnel.”

    In its 24-year history, Dairy Challenge has evolved significantly to meet the ever-changing needs of the dairy industry. The Program originally beganin 2002 with 56 students from 13 colleges competing in one national event. Today there are more than 500 dairy students participating annually throughout the national competition, Dairy Challenge Academy and four regional events. The volunteer Board of Directors represents the many university professionals, dairy producers and industry sponsors who contribute to these opportunities.

    Newly elected to the 15-person volunteer NAIDC Board of Directors is:

    •  Brian Waymire, Nedap Livestock, CA. — Brian Waymire serves as a Large Herd Specialist for Nedap Livestock, working with dairy producers throughout the Western United States to implement technology-driven management solutions that improve dairy performance, labor efficiency and animal health. A graduate of California Polytechnic State University, Waymire began his career in dairy management in 2010 and has managed dairies ranging from 400 to 7,000 milking cows. His previous management experience includes Giacomini Dairy in Petaluma, Tony De Groot Dairies in Hanford, Alhem Family Partnership in Hilmar and Jones Farms in Stevinson. He later served as a Premier Account Manager with Alta Genetics before joining Nedap. A proud alumnus of the Western Regional Dairy Challenge, Waymire has remained actively involved with the program by hosting Dairy Challenge practices, mentoring students at regional contests and Dairy Challenge Academy, judging both regional and national competitions and serving on the Western Regional Planning Committee. He credits Dairy Challenge with providing foundational skills that continue to shape hisprofessional career and values the program’s ability to bridge classroom learning with real-world dairy management.

    The NAIDC Executive Committee for 2026–2027 includes:

    •  Chair: Ted Halbach, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI.

    •  Vice Chair: Gail Carpenter, Iowa State University, Ames, IA.

    •  Associate Vice Chair: Erin Spangler, Riverview, LLP, Morris, MN.

    •  Promotions & Engagement Chair: Elizabeth Eckelkamp, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN.

    •  Finance Chair: Heather Weeks, Farm Credit East, Bedford, NH.

    •  Program Committee Chair: Trevor DeVries, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.

    Continuing their terms on the board are:

    ·         Doug DeGroff, Progressive Dairy Solutions, Tulare, CA.

    ·         Jeff Elliott, Balchem, Amarillo, TX.

    ·         Jordan Fisher, Mapleview Dairy, Madrid, NY.

    ·         Matt Groen, Cargill, Guelph, ON, Canada.

    ·         Jen Lane, Cargill, Hanford, CA.

    ·         Lauren Mayo, North Carolina A&T University, Greensboro, NC.

    ·         Linda Parreira, Farm Credit West, Tulare, CA.

    ·         Craig Walter, Valley Ag Software, Poynette, WI.

    The Board also recognizes the service of retiring board member Megan Mouw, Elanco Animal Health, Riverdale, California. Throughout hertenure, Mouw contributed her leadership and expertise in support of Dairy Challenge’s mission to prepare the next generation of dairy industry professionals. The organization extends its appreciation for her years of volunteer service and dedication to Dairy Challenge.

    — Story contributed by Dairy Challenge

  • Students Face Nation’s Top Collegiate Dairy Program

    At Fresno State, senior Alexis Jackson found a calling in the animal science field, thanks to a series of campus farm positions that started when she was a freshman working at the campus dairy.

    As a sophomore and junior, the Antelope Valley native lived at the dairy unit, where she was responsible for milking cows, feeding calves and assisting with their health needs. Those experiences involved real-life problem-solving as well as managing late-night and weekend responsibilities as calves were born or cows needed medical treatment.

    That experience made her a strong candidate to help a team of Fresno State students compete at the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge national event held April 12 to 14 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

    Together with fellow seniors Drake Bair (of Merced), JonMichael Silva (Visalia) and Diego Olivares (Bakersfield), the team placed fourth in the nine-team D panel, which was won by Iowa State University.

    Senior Jose Vargas (Tulare) competed on an aggregate team of individual students from various universities in another panel.

    Junior George Gioletti (Turlock) also competed on an aggregate team that won their panel in the Academy Division. This section followed the same contest format and is ideal for students who are new to the event and may compete in the future, and emphasizes practice and learning.

    Overall, 36 of the 43 universities in attendance had students competing in the national team competition, which was divided into four groups, or panels. Additional students from many of those same universities participated in the Academy Division.

    “We had practiced for many months for this event, but there were still a lot of things for us to adjust to, since dairies in the Midwest oftentimes do things differently than what we see out here,” Jackson said. “It was fun to see the differences and meet other students and professionals from across the nation. We owe a lot of thanks to our faculty adviser, Dr. Jessica Townsend Graybeal, and industry professionals who gave us great training beforehand in how to analyze dairies.”

    At the event co-hosted by Dordt University, Iowa State University and South Dakota State University, students also participated in team-building activities, met professionals to learn about industry topics and networked at a career and innovation fair.

    Fresno State prepped for the national event by competing at the Western Regional Dairy Challenge March 5 to 7, organized by the University of Alberta in Camrose, Alberta. The regional event, one of four held nationally, included 77 students from 15 schools.

     After their presentations, judges selected Jackson’s and Bair’s team presentations as the best in their four-team panels, and Olivares and junior Jaleesa Sousa’s teams received runner-up honors.

    The host dairy posed a unique challenge for students, as the Canadian national production quota system limited some of their potential suggestions, such as increasing milk production or herd size. Fresno State instead offered feedback to increase profitability by improving health monitoring and reproduction practices for younger heifers, so more could be sold at higher prices to other dairies in the United States, which did not have production quotas or herd size limits.

    Like the national event, the regional contest was funded through the support of more than 100 agribusinesses and dairy producers, and was one of four held across the country.

    To prepare for both events, Fresno State students were advised by campus dairy supporters Rick Rocha (Valley Ag Software), Denise Athy (Valley Ag Software) and Ryan Cabrera (Ag West Financial Credit).

    Students also evaluated Central Valley dairies in the contest format that are operated by Fresno State alumni Caleb Zwart (Mineral King Dairy in Visalia), Matt Strickland (Double Creek Dairy in Merced), Alex DeJager (Vista Verde Dairy in Chowchilla) and Johnny Serpa (Black Diamond Dairy in Riverdale).

    A Jordan College endowment organized by another supporter, Tony Campos, helped fund the team’s travel to the regional event.

    “As they approach their careers, our students gained invaluable insight through the professional connections and networking at the event’s career fair and through our training,” said Townsend Graybeal, the assistant professor who served as the team’s coach. “This event is made possible by the generous support of our industry, which helps keep costs low, from registration to hotels, and allows more students to take advantage of this opportunity.”

    Graybeal, who joined the faculty this past fall and teaches dairy science classes, traveled with the students to both events. She also teaches the Advanced Commercial Dairy Management Evaluation Class (ASCI 164), a requirement for all dairy science students.

    “It was great watching the students come together as a team and come out of their shells,” Townsend Graybeal said. “They really bonded while they were learning about the industry, so it was a great return for the team, which hadn’t been active for several years. I’m incredibly proud of how hard they worked throughout the process. I know our graduating seniors will go on to do amazing things, and I’m excited to have several students returning to the team next year.”

    Graybeal said she was drawn to the Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education Department because of the teaching, research, campus dairy opportunities and strong ties to the industry. In recent years, she completed her doctoral degree, conducted animal genetic research and worked with undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Simi Valley native had previously received an undergraduate degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and conducted research at its campus dairy.

    Fresno State’s dairy program started in 1954, and its current facility is named after donor Manuel Mancebo, Jr., and Katye Mancebo. The unit has over 250 Jersey and Holstein cows, and gives classes and nearly 20 student assistants hands-on experience in dairy production, animal health and welfare and genetics. California is the nation’s leading state in milk production, and the Central Valley is the state’s leader.

    For Jackson, a dairy science major, her passion for the industry continues to grow, and she can see herself working in many areas. Following her role at the Fresno State dairy, she gained experience at Standard Cattle, a calf ranch and feedlot in San Joaquin, and now works at the Fresno State beef and sheep units. This summer, she will compete on a campus quiz bowl team at the Recriprocol Meat Conference in June before she finishes her dairy science degree this fall.

    “Dairy Challenge is something we have heard about from alumni who have shared their experiences, and we are thankful to have a team again at Fresno State,” Jackson said. ”This was an amazing experience that allowed us to learn more about the industry, connect with others through networking and build friendships with students from across the nation.” — Story contributed by Fresno State University

  • California Hosts 17th National Dairy Challenge

    College dairy students – 235 in total – from 28 different states and Canadian provinces recently traveled to sunny California for the 17th annual Dairy Challenge.® This was the first time many of the students had visited a Western dairy, which provided extra intrigue and challenge in their task as a consultant team for a local dairy.

    Visalia, Calif., was home base for the 2018 North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge® (NAIDC) held April 12th to 14th, with six area dairies participating in the educational event. Dairy students from 38 colleges worked to improve their dairy management and communication skills, networked with other students, and explored industry careers.

    “It is really incredible to see the California dairy community come together to make this premier event possible for these college students – from host dairies, to agribusiness sponsors and dairy product donors, to the more than 120 volunteers that helped plan and coordinate the Dairy Challenge,” explained Chad Wright, DVM, of Bidart Dairy and NAIDC Board Chairperson.

    Dairy Challenge is a unique, real-world experience where dairy students work as a team and apply their college coursework to evaluate and provide solutions for an operating dairy farm. In Visalia, two programs ran concurrently – the 17th annual Dairy Challenge contest and the sixth annual Dairy Challenge Academy. The events were coordinated by the NAIDC Board of Directors and the Western planning committee.

    This year’s contest included 38 universities, whose four-person teams competed for awards based on their quality of teams’ farm analysis and appropriate solutions. Their farm presentations were evaluated by a panel of five judges, including dairy producers, veterinarians, finance specialists and seasoned agribusiness personnel.

    The Academy provided interactive training for more than 90 students from four-year universities or two-year dairy programs. Academy participants were divided into smaller groups including students from various schools, and dairy industry volunteers worked as Advisors to coach these less-experienced Academy participants as they assessed the dairy and developed recommendations.

    Dairy Challenge Applies Learning to a Real-world Dairy

    Over its 17-year history, Dairy Challenge has helped more than 6,400 students prepare for careers in the dairy industry, dairy production and veterinary medicine.

    The three-day event began with learning stations at Maddox Dairy, Riverdale, CA, where the Maddox team and their consultants helped students better understand California dairy conditions and shared details about reproduction, nutrition, cow comfort, milking protocols and other key areas. Back at the Visalia Convention Center, students enjoyed ice cream sundaes as they poured over the in-depth dairy records for their assigned dairy.

    Day two began with the on-farm analysis, with all students having just two hours to visit their assigned dairy and witness the dairy’s operations. After a question & answer session with the farm owners and advisors, the student teams developed recommendations for nutrition, reproduction, milking procedures, animal health, cow comfort, and labor and financial management.

    On Day Three, students presented their recommendations to the judging panel, visited with sponsors at the Career and Innovation Fair, and learned through presentations from top-level NAIDC sponsors. These talks were presented by:

    • Ryan Camara, Vice President-Credit and Linda Sousa, Assistant Vice President-Credit, Farm Credit West – “How to Prepare for Your Lender”
    • Brad Barham, Sales Support Manager, All West/Select Sires – “Utilizing Data to Maximize Genetic Improvement”
    • Heather Lee, Dairy Regional Account Manager and Kurtis Monteiro, Dairy Account Manager, Genex Cooperative, Inc. – “Bringing Value to the Dairy Industry as a Recent Graduate”
    • Josh Hushon, US Dairy Marketing Communications Lead, Cargill – “Farm Decision Making: Unlocking the Power of Data and Analytics”
    • Christie Underwood, Ph.D., Nutritionist & Technical Consultant, Land O’ Lakes – “Getting Your Career Started: Launching a Successful Path”
    • Jack Hippen, North American and EU Sales Director, ST Genetics – “The History of Sexed Semen”
    1st Place Team – California Polytechnic State University: L to R: Coach Vagnoni, Anthony Echeverria, Amber LaSalle, Matthew Ruby, Tony Lopes

    Eight College Teams Earn Top Awards

    At Saturday evening’s banquet, the following contest teams and students were announced as First Place winners, with each student receiving a $200 scholarship.

    • Michigan State University: Alycia Burch, Nicole Chase, Ethan Haywood, and Ellen Launstein coached by Roger Thompson
    • University of Wisconsin-Madison: Charles Hamilton, Anthony Schmitz, Logan Voigts and Connor Willems Coached by Theodore Halbach and Dave Combs
    • Iowa State University: Kassidy Buse, Brady Goetz, Cassie Krebill and Sabrina Portner. Coached by Hugo Ramirez
    • California Polytechnic State University: Anthony Echeverria, Amber LaSalle, Tony Lopes and Matthew Ruby. Coached by David Vagnoni

    Teams and students earning Second Place and $100 student scholarships include:

    • University of Vermont/Vermont Technical College:  Michelle Poulin, Julee Tellkamp, Sharron Palmer, Quentin Nelson. Coached by Wanda Emerich
    • Cornell University: Cooper Galton, Britney Hill, Jake Palladino, Keith Koerner. Coached by Mike Van Amburgh
    • University of Guelph: Andrew VanderSpek, Jeroen Slits, Matthew Wells, Michael Reijnen, Coached by Trevor DeVries, Robyn Walsh, Matt Groen
    • The Ohio State University: Jaclyn Krymowski, Hannah Meller, Alexandra Houck, Marina Sweet. Coached by Maurice Eastridge

    All Dairy Challenge contest participants received a lifetime membership to Dairy Shrine, compliments of Allflex USA and Lely North America.

    Total Industry Effort

    Five dairy farms opened up their farms for analysis and in exchange, received a wealth of ideas from students and judges. Host farms for the 2018 Dairy Challenge were:

    • Van Beek Brothers, Tipton, CA
    • Double J Dairy, Visalia, CA
    • Rancho Sierra Vista, Visalia, CA
    • Delta View Farms, Visalia, CA
    • Double Oak Dairy, Tulare, CA

    “On behalf of all the students and organizers, we sincerely thank the hundreds of individuals and organizations that made this event possible,” said Cathy Myers, Co-Chair of the event. “We look forward to interacting with these students as they continue onto careers as dairy owners, managers, consultants and the many other support roles that make dairy possible.”

    About Dairy Challenge

    NAIDC is an innovative event for students in dairy programs at North American post-secondary institutions. Its mission is to develop tomorrow’s dairy leaders and enhance progress of the dairy industry, by providing education, communication and networking among students, producers, and agribusiness and university personnel. Over its 17-year national history, Dairy Challenge has helped prepare more than 6,400 students for careers as farm owners and managers, consultants, researchers, veterinarians or other dairy professionals. The next national event will be hosted in Tifton, Georgia, March 28-30, 2019. Four regional events are held in late fall and winter; details are at www.dairychallenge.org.