Ohio State University Hosts Northeast Regional Dairy Challenge

While its own students vacated the Ohio State University Wooster campus for fall break; students from across the Northeast filled the void on campus as Ohio State hosted the 2025 Northeast Regional Dairy Challenge. Students spent October 16-18 participating in the event made up of schools from the Northeast and the Midwest. Eighty-eight students with a focus in dairy competed in this farm evaluation competition to improve and learn new skills from industry professionals. The task given to students is to evaluate dairy farm records, financial summaries, facilities, and management practices. Based on their self-reported skills and interests, students are placed into aggregate teams to evaluate a farm and present recommendations to judges that work in various areas of the industry including nutritionists, agribusiness professionals, veterinarians, financial professionals, and producers.

The event began with students meeting their teams and participating in a team building activity to promote teamwork and communication. Students then received files of data to review before traveling to the dairies for an in-person evaluation. Students, judges, mentors, volunteers, and coaches were welcomed by one of two dairies: RMD Dairy in Rittman, OH and Clardale Farms in Canal Fulton, OH. While visiting the dairies, the students had access to mentors representing event sponsors available to answer questions. Before departing the dairies, students were able to ask the producer questions on management to help develop recommendations.

Students worked the rest of the evening and the next morning to create their presentations. The recommendations were in the areas of nutrition, cow comfort, financials, reproduction, management, and facilities. Students spent the evening full of fun fall activities with our sponsors to relax before presenting their recommendations the next day. The remainder of the weekend was full of presentations, tours, and networking opportunities for students. Once students complete their presentations, they attended the career fair comprised of the companies that sponsored the event and their employees that volunteered for the event. This allows students to chat with potential employers for internships and jobs after graduation. Students also not presenting visited Pine Tree Dairy, a nearby farm to learn about utilizing robotics on the farm.

Once presentations concluded the judges deliberated and then gave students their comments about the farm. Ashley Bliss representing Pinion Global announced the winners as follows:

Farm 1:

1st Place

Team #1 Sponsored by Farm Credit East, ACA – Laura Coddington (McGill University), Katie Nelson (University of Vermont), Lynn Strik (University of Guelph) & Kent Hamstra (Purdue University)

2nd Place

Team #5 Sponsored by Dairy One – Briana Haas (SUNY Cobleskill), Joey Harasta (Alfred State College), Sean Kersmanc (Cornell University) & Jacob VanDoren (Delaware Valley University)

Farm 2

1st Place

Team #14 Sponsored by Renaissance Nutrition, Inc.  – Karissa Ayer (Ohio State University), Florence Bolduc (McGill University), Miah VanNoord (University of Guelph) & Eli Swyers (Michigan State University)

2nd Place

Team #12 Sponsored by Balchem Animal Nutrition & Health – Zoe Jovkovic (University of Guelph), Rachel Craun (Purdue University), David Merrell (Cornell University) & Blanche Wolf (Morrisville)

Farm 3:

1st Place

Team #17 Sponsored by Mercer Milling Company Inc. – Jessica Fleisher (The Pennsylvania State University), Jasmine Desautels (McGill University), Annette Prezzano (Cornell University), & Sadie Brearly (Michigan State University)

2nd Place

Team #20 Sponsored by DRMS – Amy Kern (Michigan State University), Gabriela Galvez (University of Vermont), Isaiah Eisert (Purdue University), & Charlie Haynes (Cornell University)

We would like to thank The Ohio State University for hosting the Northeast Regional Committee; especially Wanda Emerich, our generous sponsors, mentors, volunteers.

The North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge 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, agribusiness and university personnel. Over its 21-year national history, Dairy Challenge has helped prepare more than 9,000 students for careers as farm owners and managers, consultants, researchers, veterinarians, or other dairy professionals.

The next national event will be in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, April 12-14, 2026. Regional events take place in late fall and winter; details are at www.dairychallenge.org.