Dairy Activities

Building a legacy beyond tragedy

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Time stood still for the Hebgen family that late October day in 2021. In fact, Nicki Hebgen remembers every detail of the day their second daughter Ela died in a tragic UTV accident at the family farm.

California Milk Advisory Board interns travel to Thailand

frances@agproud.com — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Anissa Borges and Dayana Limon Santiago traveled to Thailand with the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) as part of its international internship program this summer.

Zachary Damrow inspires youth to get involved in the dairy industry

frances@agproud.com — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

When Zachary Damrow first moved to Idaho, youth involvement in the dairy show industry was very minimal – and over the years, it continued to decline. After he and his wife had their two children, Callen and Dawson, Damrow felt inspired to ensure there would be something meaningful for them to be a part of.

Try new things

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

As kids, we are often told to try new things. Whether it is a new food, or a new activity, or sport. Starting something new is supposed to be an opportunity to expand your horizons, see what you’re good at or enjoy and learn from your mistakes. Even in our adult lives, trying new things is a great way to continue learning, but sometimes as adults I feel like we are more intimidated to say yes than when we were kids.

Dotterer Dairy: Where sunflowers and farming blossom together

audrey@agproud.com — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

To innovate in ways that bring the community together, Doug and Cortney Dotterer have ventured beyond traditional dairy farming, transforming a section of their land into a vibrant sunflower maze – a project that has become a local attraction. What began as a casual idea inspired by a farm in Kentucky has now flourished into an annual event, attracting thousands of visitors eager to experience the beauty of sunflowers and farm life.

Balancing farm life and back-to-school season

audrey@agproud.com — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

As summer fades into fall, the familiar rhythm of the school year begins anew. For dairy farming families, this transition brings unique challenges. Balancing the demands of a busy farm with the back-to-school season requires careful planning, time management and a focus on family activities. Here are some ideas that may help your family navigate this busy time of year.

Feeding show heifers during different stages of growth

josh_hushon@cargill.com — Fri, 17 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The number one goal of a feeding program is to promote healthy development from birth to freshening. Additionally, we want to maximize each heifer’s growth and genetic potential to its fullest – while also promoting healthy hair coats, good muscle tone and ideal body condition – when it matters most, show days.

Progressive Events: Dairypalooza! Connecting the dots while cultivating curiosity and compassion

jwalker@kinderground.org — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

What do you get when two passionate dairy professionals decide that college students deserve a broader view of the dairy industry, an opportunity to connect the dots from farm to factory and to begin building their professional network all while keeping animal welfare and a healthy planet top of mind? Dairypalooza!

Preparing the next generation: Dairy Consortium celebrates 15 years of dairy education

kimmi@agproud.com — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

In the mid-to-late 2000s, dwindling university dairy herds and dairy programs in the Southwest led Dr. Mike Tomaszewski from Texas A&M and Dr. Robert Hagevoort from New Mexico State University (NMSU), along with Dr. Bob Collier, previously with the University of Arizona, to develop a program that provides university students with a hands-on dairy education to prepare them for careers in the dairy industry.

Not your ordinary cattle trailer

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

When dairyman Ralph Keel was asked to lend one of his cows for the launch of the educational program in Oklahoma, he was skeptical. However, as he witnessed a presentation by the mobile unit, he quickly began to love it.

Benefits of dairy judging leave lifelong impacts

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 11:07:06 -0400

You may have grown up participating in dairy judging, or someone close in your life is currently reaping the benefits of participating in this activity. Hear from coaches and youth participants alike about the benefits of dairy judging and why this “sport” among dairy enthusiasts is so important. Read more at the link below.

Leading the way: Five steps to the perfect show day fill

katie@agproud.com — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 21:08:04 -0400

There are three things that can bring you to the winner’s backdrop at a show. Here are five steps to a great fill and a blue ribbon.

Leading the way: What’s in your fitting box?

katie@agproud.com — Wed, 25 May 2022 19:22:08 -0400

In late summer of 2021, Hannah Loftin, an up-and-coming fitter and showman from North Carolina, turned to Facebook to ask if anyone had an animal she could fit in the World Dairy Expo fitting contest.

Leading the Way: 3 steps to getting the edge in showmanship

katie@agproud.com — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 17:08:38 -0500

As a keen showmanship class heats up, it is common for judges to “break the tie” by asking a question. As we have mentioned in previous articles, these questions should not be open-ended such as “tell me about your heifer,” but specific questions that require a well-thought-out answer.

Leading the Way: Pick a mentor, set goals and seek success

katie@agproud.com — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 14:00:01 -0500

As we look to a new year, whether you are just beginning a show season or just ending one, it’s a great time to look ahead to 2022 and what you would like to achieve.

Leading the Way: Four common sense aspects of showmanship

katie@agproud.com — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 18:45:32 -0400

It’s been 10 years since the Purebred Dairy Cattle Association (PDCA) in the U.S. looked to Canada and Europe to standardize showmanship rules and guidelines that utilized a “common sense” approach to making animals look their best in the show ring.

Leading the Way: Building on success

katie@agproud.com — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 18:17:11 -0400

In rural western New York, just south of Buffalo, Isaac Folts rises each day before school to head out to the barn to do chores. Unlike most youth, Isaac, who is 15, heads out to his own barn.

Heather Jauquet: Making a difference, one calf at a time

matti@agproud.com — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 22:25:09 -0400

For a dairy kid, there’s not much that compares to the emotional high you get from participating in dairy quiz bowl or dairy jeopardy.

Leading the Way: A special space for show heifers leads to success for the Noble kids

katie@agproud.com — Mon, 24 May 2021 18:35:18 -0400

Editor’s note: This is part one of a two-part series. When we were kids, we added a few holes to a sheep feeder and tied heifers up to it. In the evening, they went out to a dirt lot. It wasn’t ideal, but it worked.

Leading the Way: Work hard, play hard – share your talent

katie@agproud.com — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 14:00:01 -0500

Jayden and Kennedy Kimball of Windham, Maine, are a force to be reckoned with on the softball field and in the show ring. These young dairy exhibitors are intense and dedicated with an incredible work ethic that is taking them to the national stage in both cattle showing and softball.

Leading the Way: Test your show knowledge

katie@agproud.com — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 14:00:01 -0500

Here’s hoping 2021 will bring back county and state fairs and youth dairy exhibitions. During these winter months, here is an activity to get dairy youth thinking about their projects.

Leading the Way: Dairy judging: Develop the eye for cattle and the ability to articulate it

katie@agproud.com — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 14:00:01 -0500

At every fitting and showmanship clinic, we ask how many people are involved in dairy judging. Sometimes numerous hands go up, and sometimes just a few. Youth who love working with and showing cattle stand to benefit from a dairy judging program.

Leading the Way: Clipping 101

katie@agproud.com — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 13:00:01 -0400

As we present clinics from coast to coast, we find youth, parents and leaders wondering where to begin with the dairy cattle clipping process.

Leading the Way: Success in the show ring is 365

katie@agproud.com — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 13:00:01 -0400

All across the country this summer and fall, traditional youth shows and county fairs have been canceled. Fortunately, there are dedicated volunteers who have put together backyard shows, virtual shows and regional shows so the dairy youth who work so hard 365 days a year can show off their hard work.

Providing milk to those in need: How the dairy industry worked to fill the gaps during COVID-19

Fri, 22 May 2020 20:00:34 -0400

Editor’s note: This is not an all-encompassing list, but we wanted to highlight stories of dairy farmers, companies and organizations across the country stepping in to provide milk and other dairy products to food banks and others in need during the COVID-19 crisis. This list is compiled by our staff and their news sources. We recognize it is not a complete list of all dairy donations that have occurred in the past few months. To have your story of goodwill added, email Progressive Dairy Editor Dave Natzke.

Leading the Way: Hope

katie@agproud.com — Fri, 22 May 2020 19:45:51 -0400

There is no better word to describe this issue’s Leading the Way article than HOPE.

Leading the Way: 8 tips for filling out phenomenal scholarship and award forms

katie@agproud.com — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 13:00:01 -0400

Each year, I am asked to review and give input on scholarship and award forms. Learning how to make a great form is a handy life skill to possess. It’s a great way to earn scholarship money for college or secondary school.

Leading the Way: 4 tips to grow your show heifer through winter

katie@agproud.com — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 14:00:01 -0500

Even though you may not be busy heading out to a show this time of year, there is still important work to be done so, when show season kicks in, your heifer is ready.

Leading the Way: Four dairy exhibitors rocking their junior days all the way to the end

katie@agproud.com — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 20:11:18 -0500

From the early 4-H years all the way to graduating from a junior breed association, the dozen years or so that span a junior member’s career are sprinkled with opportunities to learn, compete and succeed. However, some youth get discouraged along the way, or settle for less than what they have the true ability to achieve.

Trio of Topp brothers to tap World Dairy Expo champions

Mon, 23 Sep 2019 23:01:53 -0400

Brothers Eric, Keith and Phillip Topp are no strangers to the colored shavings at World Dairy Expo, where each is taking a turn judging the international dairy cattle shows.