For Immediate Release
Contact: Daniel Wackershauser, Marketing and PR Specialist
Phone: 608.822.2303
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: February 20, 2025
Students compete at Midwest Regional Dairy Challenge
Brookings, S.D. -
The 2025 Midwest Regional Dairy Challenge, hosted by South Dakota State University concluded Feb. 14 in Brookings, South Dakota. The event saw significant participation with 110 students from 13 colleges and universities, along with coaches and volunteers, for an immersive learning experience.
Students from Southwest Wisconsin Technical College were vital members of winning teams. Abbygail Foster, Blanchardville, was part of the first-place team on Panel A. Addie DeMars, Cazenovia, was a member of the first-place team on Panel C. Other Southwest Tech students who participated included Payton Gratz, Darlington; Emma Rood-Reuter, Benton; Kylie Schilling, Mount Hope; Sadie Weigel, Platteville; Garrett Gildersleeve, Lancaster; Wesly Winch, Fennimore, and Levi Wehrle, Bloomington. The team is coached by Ryan Weigel, agriculture instructor.
Upon arrival, students attended educational seminars covering financial management, automatic milking systems, and emerging farm technology. They also had the opportunity to meet their mentor and teammates over dinner, followed by a brief team building activity. Afterwards, teams received farm information and began analyzing data in preparation for their farm visit on Feb. 13 and their upcoming presentation.
On the second day, students visited MoDak Dairy, Inc., where they toured the calf and heifer barn, lactating barn, and milking parlor. Guided by industry mentors, teams assessed various aspects of each facility at the dairy farm, including animal health, parlor management, transition pens, and feed management processes. Additionally, student teams conducted interviews with the producers to gain deeper insights into farm management practices and goals. In the afternoon, teams used the data collected to develop their presentations. After submitting their work, all attendants, volunteers, and coaches gathered for dinner and a networking event.
The final day of the contest featured team presentations, evaluated by a panel of judges. Each team delivered a 20-minute analysis outlining the strengths and areas of improvement of the farm they had assessed. Additionally, students were able to attend a career and innovation fair, educational sessions, including a Dairy Challenge alumni panel and an informational session on The Future of Dairy Products by Dr. Prafulla Salunke, a professor at South Dakota State University. The event concluded with the presentation of student awards, marking the end of the successful 2025 Midwest Regional Dairy Challenge.
Learn more about Southwest Tech’s ag program: www.swtc.edu/agriculture
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, is one of 16 institutions that comprise the Wisconsin Technical College System. The college was recently named a top 10 finalist for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. Southwest Tech offers more than 60 programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Courses are offered on campus, online, HyFlex and in a blended format. The college provides apprenticeship, certificate, technical diploma, and associate degree programs that respond to district workforce needs and prepare student for family-sustaining jobs and career advancement. |