Hi, Kathy!

It’s National FFA Week. If you were a member of FFA growing up, I bet you can still recite the FFA creed by heart. If not, here are the first few words: I believe in the future of agriculture. Remember it now? Last fall I was a speaker at a women in ag leadership event hosted by Osage FFA. There, I met with over 50 young ladies to share how FFA has impacted my life, both personally and professionally. Meeting with those girls that day instantly flooded my mind with memories of my FFA experience. FFA is filled with students with a fire lit beneath them to become the next farmers, innovators and leaders in agriculture. At Iowa’s Dairy Center, we are proud to support FFA through providing learning opportunities in agriculture. We believe in the future of agriculture and will continue to do our part in supporting the next generation of agriculturalists.  

Mariah Busta
Coordinator, Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation

What's Happening at Iowa's Dairy Center

Mike Hutjens to Speak at Annual Meeting

Thursday, March 12 | 10 a.m. | Iowa’s Dairy Center

Join the Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation in celebrating 20 years at the 2020 Annual Meeting. The keynote speaker for the event will be Dr. Mike Hutjens. He will speak on the changing dairy industry, focusing on the U.S. and Midwest dairy industry and the impact of the 2019 forage and feed production year challenges related to weather. All interested in the Dairy Foundation and the event’s speakers are encouraged to attend. There is no cost to attend, and lunch will be provided. Read more.

Register Now for the Central Plains Dairy Expo Bus Trip

Tuesday-Wednesday, March 24-25  | Sioux Falls, S.D.

We’re teaming up with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and All American Co-op to offer a two-day bus trip to Central Plains Dairy Expo. The bus departs from Iowa’s Dairy Center on Tuesday, March 24 with a pick up location in Stewartville, Minn. Riders will tour Dabru Dairy, attend the welcome reception and concert and spend Wednesday at the expo. For the full trip itinerary, pricing and registration, visit our website.

Student Ag Trip Highlights Dairy Center Partners

NICC agriculture students enjoyed a three-day, two-day night trip to visit several partners of the Dairy Foundation and NICC. The trip started with a tour of the John Deere Tractor Cab Assembly plant near Waterloo, followed by a visit to Iowa State University and tour of Lely North America in Pella. Day two consisted of touring the dairy, beef, equine and companion animal centers at the Purina Animal Nutrition Center near Gray Summit, MO. The final day included touring St. Louis, visiting the Gateway Arch and St. Louis Zoo. We appreciate our partner’s support in student education. Check out photos on the NICC Dairy Science Club Facebook page.

NICC News

Dairy Students Among Winning Teams at Dairy Challenge

NICC Dairy Science Technology students recently participated in the Midwest Regional Dairy Challenge hosted by UW-River Falls. There, students were placed on aggregate teams with students from other Midwestern colleges and universities. Together as a team, they analyzed information on a real-life dairy, including production and farm management data. Following a farm evaluation, teams developed recommendations for nutrition, reproduction, milking procedures, animal health, housing and financial management. Judd Samerow, Waterville, Minn.; was a member of the first place team while Austin Raymond, New Richmond, Wis.; was on the second place team. Other participants from NICC include Brandon Gilbertson, Elk Mound, Wis.; Bailey Smirnov, Goodhue, Minn; and Collin Wille, Rice Lake, Wis.

Ag Students Advance to Nationals

Sixteen NICC agriculture students participated in the Iowa Professional Agricultural Student Organization (PAS) contests in Ames earlier this month. Emily Olson, Platteville, Wis.; and Hannah Evert, Mazomanie, Wis.; placed first and second individually in the Vet Tech contest. Brandon Gilbertson, Elk Mound, Wis.; Garrett Pfieler, Holy Cross, Iowa; and Emily Olson earned a first place Dairy Team finish, and were also named the top three, first place individual winners. View photo.

Register For Agriculture and Animal Science Program Preview

This program preview day is designed for students interested in programs in Agriculture and Animal Science fields. Faculty are proud to showcase our College, their facilities and expand your understanding of the programs, career opportunities and earning potential in each career field. The program preview option is similar to a regular visit day with the addition of being customized to provide in-depth information on a specific area of study. Register.

Save the Date: NICC Dairy Science Club Sale

The NICC Dairy Science Club will be hosting their annual sale on Thursday, April 9. This year’s sale will be different; for the first time it will be hosted primarily online. Follow the NICC Dairy Science Club on Facebook for additional details and consignments.  

Dairy Profile: Chad & Erin Hunt

NICC Dairy Science alum Chad and Erin Hunt were recognized as the Outstanding Young Holstein Breeder by the Iowa Holstein Association. Together with their children, the couple operates their dairy farm in Clayton County. The herd's current BAA is 106.9 and the herd averages 25,545 pounds on 2X milking with 955 (3.9%) F, 802 (3.1%) P. Their breeding program focuses on longevity and type by improving feet/legs, udders without sacrificing milk and components. Read more.

Industry News

Iowa State University Extension Dairy Team is hosting a five-week farm labor webinar series from Noon to 1:00 p.m. each Wednesday through March 4. Read more.

Two more sessions of Boots in the Barn for beef and dairy women will be held in Mitchell County. Read more.

The Dairy Science Club at Iowa State University is hosting Iowa Youth Dairy Coalition March 28-29 in Le Mars with transportation available from Northeast Iowa. Register.

Bring Undeniably Dairy to your local community with funding from Midwest Dairy available for organized dairy groups and dairy farmers. Read more.

Midwest Dairy is offering scholarships to students who are from dairy farms or are studying in dairy-related majors. Apply.

Iowa State Dairy Association will be awarding 14 college scholarships of $500 each for the 2020 fall semester. Apply.

I-29 Moo University Dairy Beef Short Course to Focus on Carcasses and Animal Health. Read more.

Dairy Design Calf Workshops will highlight calf facility design and ventilation. Read more.

The Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee will host the annual Ag Appreciation Luncheon on March 18, 2020. Read more.

Calendar of Events

Visit our website to see all upcoming events and continuing education courses.

Dairy Foundation Board Meeting
Feb. 28 | 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | Iowa's Dairy Center

Agriculture and Animal Sciences Program Preview
March 6 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Iowa’s Dairy Center

Dairy Foundation Annual Meeting
March 12 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Iowa's Dairy Center

Bovine Artificial Insemination Class
March 17-29 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Iowa’s Dairy Center

Central Plains Dairy Expo Bus Trip
March 24-25 | Sioux Falls, S.D.

Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation 
1527 Hwy. 150 S., Calmar, Iowa
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