On paper, it may seem like a small interaction: hosting a student for a single day on a dairy farm. In reality, that one-day experience can spark career paths, build lasting mentorships and strengthen the future of the dairy industry, one student at a time.

That scenario has played out more than 1,100 times over 30 years through the Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) Mentor Program, where students in four-year universities, technical colleges and short-course programs are paired with Wisconsin dairy farms to provide a firsthand – and often hands-on – look at modern dairy production. The program was established in 1996 with a goal to help students explore careers in production agriculture. It is coordinated by PDP and underwritten by Dairy’s Foundation and Alliant Energy Foundation.

Setting participation records

Each fall, students submit applications to participate and are then matched with a mentor farm. It’s up to students to schedule a daylong job shadow. The format is simple, and each experience is unique and often eye opening. Students spend the day immersed in daily farm operations like management meetings, animal care, feeding, and frequently interacting with veterinarians, nutritionists and other professionals with whom the farm works. For some students, it is their first time stepping foot on a working farm. For those who grew up in agriculture, the program provides exposure to new technologies, management styles and farm sizes.

After completing the on-farm mentorship, students complete a short report about their experience and are invited to the annual PDP Business Conference. There, they reconnect with mentors and meet other students at a mentor breakfast, then have two days to learn from the world-class researchers, economists and dairy industry professionals at the conference.

“It is exciting to see how the program has continued to evolve and grow over the years,” says Emily Vander Grinten, former PDP intern and Mentor Program coordinator. “It’s a testament to the strength of our dairy industry that students are interested in taking a day to spend on a farm engaging with dairy producers and their teams.”

The 2025-26 program saw a record number of participants, pairing 72 students from nine colleges, technical schools and short-course programs with more than 60 dairy farms.

Leadership opportunities on several levels

Behind the scenes, the program also provides leadership opportunities to college students. Each year, a PDP intern coordinates every aspect of the Mentor Program from promotion and recruiting to managing applications, connecting students with mentors and coordinating the final breakfast program.

Maya Wiltzius, a junior at the University of Wisconsin – Madison majoring in animal and veterinary biosciences and life sciences communication with a certificate in agricultural business management, is coordinating the 2025-26 program. So far, she has communicated with students, faculty and industry leaders across Wisconsin to promote the Mentor Program via in-person presentations, virtual meetings and outreach to student organizations. She has also recruited dairy farmers to serve as mentors and worked with PDP staff to pair students with farms.

For Wiltzius, serving as PDP intern has also been a great introduction to the dairy industry. She grew up active in 4-H and showing horses but didn’t get engaged in the dairy sector until joining the Association of Women in Agriculture, Collegiate Farm Bureau and the Badger Dairy Club at UW – Madison.

“I really enjoyed talking to producers across the state to learn about their operations and their passions, then making connections with the students,” Wiltzius says. “We do our best to give students the most relevant and meaningful experience, including pairing them with farms that are different from the ones they grew up on or have strengths in areas they are interested in, such as robotic milking technology, genetics, calf care or sustainability practices.”

Wiltzius says one of the most rewarding aspects of the program is reviewing student reflections after their on-farm shadows.

“I love reading the reports from students, especially those who had more hands-on opportunities than they expected,” she says. “It has been an incredible experience to see how excited students become after just one day on a farm and opening their eyes to the wide range of career opportunities in dairy.”

Impacts last beyond one day

With more than 1,100 matches made over three decades, the PDP Mentor Program has made impacts across generations. At many farms, the responsibility for serving as a mentor has passed from one generation to the next, and many students have built lasting connections or found full-time job opportunities.

Sam Peetz experienced that firsthand when he was matched with Rosy-Lane Holsteins in 2020 as a UW – Platteville student. What began as a single-day experience led to a full-time position on the farm and growth into management and leadership roles. Peetz became a partner at Rosy-Lane Holsteins in 2024.

“I made a lot of connections and saw more than just Rosy-Lane,” he says. “Through the mentor program during all four years of college, I was able to see how different people approach dairy farming. And today, I am here at Rosy-Lane making it my career, which was a good connection.”

Hosting students is also a learning opportunity for many of the mentors.

“Students come to our farm to learn, but the reality is that I gain just as much from the program as they do,” says Katy Schultz, dairy producer at Tri-Fecta Farms Inc. “I am always blown away by the caliber of individuals coming into our industry. The day we spend with them is always impactful and inspires me that the next generation will do incredible things for dairy.”

Schultz says the one-day program opens the door to ongoing relationships and continued learning and friendships. She is always open to a phone call or email from previous mentees with questions, and she enjoys catching up with former students at industry and networking events over the years to see how they’ve grown in skills and confidence.

As the Mentor Program celebrates its 30-year milestone, its influence continues to grow, building confidence in students, strengthening farm connections and ensuring the dairy industry remains innovative, resilient and prepared for the future.

The above update is provided by the Professional Dairy Producers Foundation (Dairy's Foundation), which raises funds nationwide and awards grants and sponsorships for educational programs and initiatives that benefit the U.S. dairy community. Dairy's Foundation is committed to uniting the dairy community on issues of common concern to achieve its vision of a professional, proactive and prepared dairy community. Dairy’s Foundation was established by PDP in 2002. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) entity.