Tracey Renelt Watertown, South Dakota Extension Dairy Field Specialist South Dakota State University

What are your new responsibilities?
In my position as Field Specialist, I will be based in the Watertown Regional Extension Center and will work with SDSU Extension Dairy Specialist Alvaro Garcia, to serve dairy producers throughout the state.

Some areas of expertise and interest areas include employee management, nutrition, quality assurance, dairy farm safety and various other aspects of dairy production.

What education are you bringing with you to this position?
I received my bachelor’s degree in dairy manufacturing and production from South Dakota State University (SDSU) in 1989.

What territory will you cover?
South Dakota
Advertisement

What previous positions have you held?
When I started in extension, I was based northeast of Watertown in the Grant County Extension Office in Milbank as the educator from 1989 to 1993 and again from 1995 to 2000. I worked for Land O’ Lakes from 1993 to 1994, based out of the Watertown Regional Co-op as a livestock specialist.

In 2000, I transferred to Kingsbury County and was employed as the extension educator there until the reorganization of the Extension Service this past fall. It was then that I obtained the position as the Extension Dairy Field Specialist and I am now back here in Watertown in the Watertown Regional Extension Office.

How will you be of most help to producers in your region or area of expertise?
Throughout my career I have served the dairy industry in South Dakota in many capacities including adviser to the South Dakote DHIA Board, Coach for the SD Holstein Association Quiz Bowl Team, Adviser to the South Dakota Dairy Fieldmen's Association, Co-coordinator/Organizer of the first Central Plains Dairy Expo, Chairman of the State 4H Dairy Cattle Show and Judging Contest for nine years, 4H Dairy Cattle Judging Team Coach for Grant and Kingsbury County.

Presently, I am serving as the secretary/treasurer for the South Dakota Dairy Fieldmen's Association, on the Central Plains Dairy Expo Advisory Board, and I have an integral role in the I-29 Dairy Expo.

What excites you most about working in your new role?
 It is great to be able to focus extensively on an industry that has made a tremendous impact in my life. PD