The Scholarships Allowed 32 Young Dairy Professionals to Network and Expand Their Skills
“I decided to apply for the Young Dairy Professionals Scholarship to expand my knowledge in dairy and create connections in the industry. The breakout sessions at Summit gave me practical education I can take back to the classroom and eventually to a career,” said Hannah Hoover, one of the scholarship recipients and a student studying Dairy Science at Delaware Valley University. “The Young Dairy Professionals dinner allowed me to practice networking, while making connections with dairy professionals I might work with in the future. It’s a great experience for young students hoping to get involved within the dairy industry.”
Individuals who received the Young Dairy Professionals Scholarship and attended the Summit include Isabella Anderson, Malayna Barnhart, Joshua Becker, Kelly Bliss, Breanna Bone, Raegan Braund, Alexis Butler, Lillian Corbett, Alexander Coursen, Hannah Dice , Emma Eckenroad, Maddie Fairfield, Grace Ferri, Brooke Gochnour, Nellie Hankinson, Roy Hissong, Rachel Hollinger, Hannah Hoover, Isabella Johnson, Roxanne Kingsley, Sam Minor, Lauren Over, Amanda Peirson, Kayla Rhinesmith, AuBree Route, Adria Russell, Jack Rynd, Mackenzie Thomas, Caitlyn VanDeusen, Sierra Wilson, Faith Wolfe and Natalie Yoder.
The scholarship winners attended the two-day Dairy Summit as well as a Young Dairy Professionals Reception. During the reception, they rotated through different career areas where they could network with dairy professionals who work in various fields – from herd management, nutrition and veterinary medicine to marketing, business and more.
The reception also featured three panelists who shared advice and insight about their careers in the dairy industry. Each panelist received a scholarship from the Dairy Excellence Foundation during their college years and reflected on how their educational and life experiences prepared them for full-time careers serving the dairy industry.
Josh Brubaker, partner at Brubaker Farms LLC in Lancaster County, PA, shared his experience majoring in Ag Business Management to now working full-time on his family farm, where he had the opportunity to buy in and join some of his family members as a managing partner.
Nicole Guise, an Agriculture Education Teacher at Millville Area Jr/Sr High School in Columbia County, PA, described how she made the decision to join the field of education and share her agriculture background with the next generation of students. She talked about some of the agriculture activities and lessons she is able to introduce to her classes and gave advice for how she strives to find work-life balance.
“I wanted to share my experience as a young dairy professional because I was excited by the opportunity to mentor the next generation of agriculturalists,” said Nicole Guise. “My biggest takeaway was the partnerships I was able to glean and the connections I was able to make with the students. They taught me a few things, too.”
Paul Brown, Trade Strategy Manager at the Hershey Company, closed the panel discussion by sharing how he was immersed in the dairy industry through his college years. Though no longer directly in agriculture, he reflected on the robust work ethic and resilience instilled into him. He shared his journey to joining the Hershey Company team with roles in field sales, procurement and now the commercial trade strategy realm.
New this year, the Young Dairy Professionals scholarship recipients also completed an in-depth Career Development Workshop using the Predictive Index work style strength assessment tool. They learned about their own Predictive Index working style results and how each style interacts. They also gained resume-writing and interviewing tips.
Young dairy professionals who are interested in receiving a scholarship for the 2025 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit should look for applications to be released in November 2024. Individuals who are attending high school, college or working on dairy farms between the ages of 18-30 are eligible to apply. The 2025 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit will take place on February 5-6, 2025 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College, Pa.
Visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/summit-scholarship to learn more or contact Michelle Shearer at 717-346-0849 or by email at mshearer@centerfordairyexcellence.org.
The Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax deductible organization that is Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) approved. Established in 2010, the foundation’s mission is to build and invest in programs that cultivate and empower the next generation of producers, consumers, and advocates for the Pennsylvania dairy industry. Learn more at centerfordairyexcellence.org/our-foundation/.
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