News release
Published: May 7, 2008

Read the news release from Virginia Tech below

Virginia Tech’s Dairy Challenge Team, a competitive group of students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences http://www.cals.vt.edu/ achieved the gold award at the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge on April 4-5 in Madison, Wisconsin.

The Virginia Tech team members included:
==> Jessica Bross, senior dairy science major from Fredericksburg, Pa.
==> Mary Dickenson, senior dairy science major from Galax, Va.
==> Sonja Galley, senior dairy science major from Garrattsville, N.Y.
==> Jason Stuth, senior dairy science major from Mt. Solon, Va.

The coaches were Ron Pearson and Mike McGilliard, professors of dairy science.

The North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge http://www.dairychallenge.org/ is an innovative two-day competition for students representing dairy science programs at North American universities. It enables students to apply theory and experience to evaluate a commercial dairy operation while working as a four-person team. On the first day of the competition, team members analyzed business records, conducted a herd visit, and created a presentation. On the second day, the team presented its recommendations to a panel of five industry experts.

Thirty-two teams put their education and practical knowledge to the test at this year’s competition. The University of Illinois and The Ohio State University placed first and second with platinum awards in the group with Virginia Tech.

The dairy challenge was established as a management contest to encompass all phases of dairy business management to prepare students for careers in the dairy industry. To that end, the event is supported extensively by donations from a variety of prominent agribusinesses.

Nationally ranked among the top research institutions of its kind, Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences focuses on the science and business of living systems through learning, discovery, and engagement. The college’s comprehensive curriculum gives more than 2,400 students in a dozen academic departments a balanced education that ranges from food and fiber production to economics to human health. Students learn from the world’s leading agricultural scientists, who bring the latest science and technology into the classroom.