Over winter break, UConn Animal Science in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) hosted the Dairy Winter Travel Course, an opportunity to bring New England undergraduate students from public universities together to tour dairy farms in the region.
Professors, graduate students, and undergraduates from the University of Maine, the University of New Hampshire, and the University of Vermont joined the UConn community for a tour of local farms.
Throughout the tour, the group visited farms across Connecticut, and even New York, to get an overview of the state of the dairy industry.
“Seeing that there are so many different paths you can take with one major and that there are so many people out there with such unique jobs, lets me know that I don’t need to know exactly what I want to do right now,” says Tahlia Watson ‘29 (CAHNR).
This one-credit course introduces undergraduates to the opportunities awaiting them once they graduate with their animal science degrees.
“It’s incredible how much the dairy industry constantly changes, and how these farmers, throughout it all, have a positive outlook on life,” says Luke Lightbown ‘27 (CAHNR), who is on the Pre-Veterinarian track. “These farmers are realistic. They meet challenges, and are adaptable and proactive, too, as they prepare their farm for the next generation.”
During this experience, students learned how different farms operate. Whether it’s through incorporating technology, starting a first-generation farm, or being the largest dairy farm in Connecticut, the visiting students all gained fresh insight to their prospective field.
“Things aren’t going to stop changing, and the fact that these farmers can continue to do what they love while also like finding new ways to integrate other things, is so cool,” says Watson.
For UConn students, seeing such drastic innovation occur so close to campus was remarkable.
“We were visiting farms maybe 20 minutes from here, and I had no clue that there were dairy farms that close besides ours. Driving through rural Connecticut, you wouldn’t think they would have a big impact. But after touring their facilities, I was able to see how much more they were doing than I thought,” says Lightbown.
“No two farms are the same, management-wise,” says Oliver Przech ‘27 (CAHNR). “A lot of us spend most of our time in and around the barns, and not actually on the production side. It was great to get that perspective and have any questions answered by the farmers.”
After seeing these production processes at the farms, students reflected on what it takes for food and drink to come from farms to their tables.
“These farms are fueling America,” says Lightbown. “We grab milk at the dining hall or grocery store and don’t even think about it, while these farmers are working 24/7, 365 days to produce that. Seeing the entire process, and the hard work and dedication it requires, made me realize how much we take our food for granted.”
One of the biggest takeaways students had after touring several farms is the importance of community in the dairy industry.
“A lot of farmers rely on each other, mainly through co-ops, and work closely together,” says Przech. “Meeting other farmers and forging those connections makes it easier to reach out with any questions, especially since many are familiar with our program at UConn.”
The significance of community within the dairy industry has inspired UConn students to maintain their tight-knit bond, and with this hosting opportunity, they also had the opportunity to reflect on their education thus far in Storrs.
“The barn staff at UConn work year-round, rain or shine, and their care for managing the herds is amazing,” says Lightbown. “It’s all because of UConn. These people are showing up and, even us students, we’re doing coursework and still put it in hours each week to work with these animals. It’s amazing what such a good university can do for this cultural community.”
The flexibility of the Animal Science program at UConn enables students to try experiences they would not have had elsewhere.
“I came here for an education and have applied what I’ve learned in the barns, but classes like the Dairy Winter Travel Course have shown me and allowed me to apply these lessons in real life situations,” says Lightbown.
Watson adds, “I came into UConn with animal experience, but there are people that have never seen a live animal before and they will leave UConn with so much experience. Knowing that whatever you want to do here, you will be supported in that, and there are resources for everything.”