Students invited to hands-on exploration experience, Oct. 14

Students will explore different dairy careers, learn about herd management

 

High school students in eleventh and twelfth grades who are interested in a potential career in the dairy industry are invited to the Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow “Own It” Exploration Experience. The day-long event has been rescheduled for Thursday, October 14 2021 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Brubaker Farms in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow and Premier Select Sires are partnering to host the event, and students will have the opportunity to explore four types of careers in different divisions of the dairy industry.

“The Exploration Experience goes beyond a simple farm tour. It’s an experiential, hands-on experience for high school students who want to take what they’ve learned in their agriculture classes and expand on that knowledge directly on a progressive dairy farm,” said Michelle Shearer, Workforce Development Manager at the Dairy Excellence Foundation. “Not only will they explore their individual career interests, they will also be able to network with industry professionals, gain public speaking experience, and learn how to create their own solutions at the farm level.”

During the day-long event, high school students will get a firsthand look at Brubaker Farms and hear from several Premier Select Sires professionals who will share information about specific career paths in the dairy industry. Students will also work together to complete a hands-on STEM activity about herd management and use various software programs to analyze data and draw conclusions about the farm’s herd. At the end of the event, students will present their findings to the herd manager.

“Premier Select Sires is thrilled to be part of the 2021 Exploration Experience. With our various career stations and plenty of hands-on learning experiences, this year’s event should provide high school students with a ton of opportunities,” said Karen Wheatley, Manager of Employee Development, Training and Engagement at Premier Select Sires. “It’s one thing to learn about careers in the classroom, but it takes it to a whole new level when you actually ‘do’ the career in a real-time setting like this.”

To participate, students are required to submit a brief application by October 4, 2021. Only 32 students will be accepted to participate in the event. Students who are interested in applying for the Exploration Experience must meet the following expectations:

• Must be in grades 11 or 12
• Should have successfully completed Algebra I, Biology and Chemistry
• Must have an interest in dairy
• Must wear a mask and should wear coveralls and boots
• Must have a chaperone/advisor travel with them

The Exploration Experience event is free, and lunch and snacks are provided. Participants must provide their own transportation.

To apply for this year’s event and learn more about the experience, visit www.dairyleadersoftomorrow.com/exploration-experience. If you have questions, contact Michelle Shearer at mshearer@centerfordairyexcellence.org or by phone at 570-768-8316.

The Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow Exploration Experiences began in 2017 and offer high school students the opportunity to utilize formal education skills in hands-on, experimental learning experiences. These experiences give students the opportunity to apply skills they learned in the classroom in real-world settings, engage in STEM learning through agricultural-focused areas, explore potential career opportunities, and cultivate a network of industry professionals.

Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow is a program managed by the Dairy Excellence Foundation and designed specifically to prepare high school students to work in the dairy industry. A three-part model program, Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow offers classroom instruction, on-farm experiences, and scholarship opportunities. Learn more at www.dairyleadersoftomorrow.com.