Brittany Stewart Dodgeville Dairy Specialist Mount Horeb, Wisconsin Vita Plus

What education are you bringing with you to this position?
I attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University for my undergraduate degree in dairy science. I continued my education there to earn my master’s degree in dairy science.

Please describe your agricultural background.
I did not have the opportunity to grow up on a dairy farm, but my family made frequent visits to a small dairy farm with an ice cream shop when I was a child. I became fascinated with dairy farms when I began my freshman year at Virginia Tech. Through classes and on-farm experiences, I grew to love working with dairy cattle and assisting dairy producers.

What territory will you cover?
I will work with dairy producers throughout southwest Wisconsin.

What are your new responsibilities?
My new responsibilities are to provide nutritional and management recommendations to help dairy producers achieve their business goals.

What previous positions have you held?
After graduating with my master’s degree in 2011, I worked for a nutrition company in Pennsylvania in a technical support role for almost two years.

Who has had the biggest impact on your career?
Numerous mentors have impacted my career, but first and foremost are my parents. They have always pushed me to pursue my dreams and have always supported me. I was also influenced by a group of veterinarians that I worked with in high school.

My undergraduate and graduate advisors as well as my other professors in the dairy science department at Virginia Tech all helped me to realize my passion to work with dairy producers and helped to guide me onto the path that led me to where I am today.

How will you be of most help to producers in your region or area of expertise?
I am passionate about spending time with dairy producers and learning about their operations. I have a continual thirst for knowledge. Sharing that information with producers to assist them in their decision making process is important to me and critical to success for the dairy producers.

Why did you choose this company?
I chose to work for Vita Plus because I knew that I would have continual education to help me better serve our customers and aid them in making the best decisions for the individual operations. Vita Plus has a strong foundation in commitment to customers and encouraging its employees to live out the company values every day.

What goals would you like to accomplish while in this position?
I would like to help dairy producers grow their operations and be profitable. I want to continually expand my knowledge base so that I can provide better service to customers in my area.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself continuing to assist dairy producers by helping them make the most economical decisions for their business structures. PD