DAIRY ST R
Presents:
EDUCATION & CAREER CONNECTIONS DECEMBER 24, 2022
Pursuing a career in dairy Post-secondary instructors offer advice
helpful for students pursuing dairy careers in ac- to understand the transfer agreements that (the two quiring skills and potentially increasing their pay. schools have) if that’s your path.” “Visit schools, take a tour, talk to stuHalbach stressed the importance of making sure ahead of time that community dents and instructors of that program becollege credits will transfer to one’s unifore making your choice,” she said. “We By Jan Lefebvre versity of choice. even invite prospective students to sit in a jan.l@star-pub.com Dr. Isaac Salfer is an associate profesclass or two to see what it is about.” sor of dairy nutritional physiology at the Dr. Tera Montgomery is a professor of Editor’s note: Dairy Star asked several post- dairy and animal science at the University University of Minnesota. With his mother secondary instructors for their advice for prospec- of Wisconsin-Platteville. She encourages working at a community college and his tive and current students seeking a career in the students to nd what ts their individual father at a university, Salfer said he sees dairy industry. Visit Dairy Star’s Facebook page for goals and to embrace learning. how both types of schools provide benets. Dr. Isaac Salfer a link to more advice from these instructors. “Some of the advantages of a (commu“Regardless of where you go to school, University of Minnesota nity college) would be it’s a shorter period or if you even go on to additional schoolDecisions young people face if they of time, it’s cheaper and its programs tend ing after high school, the most imwant to pursue a career in the dairy industo have more direct, applied skills. They’re portant thing is to realize that you try can be challenging. Choosing whether very targeted programs.” are going to need to keep learnor not to earn a post-secondary degree Salfer said four-year programs offer ing,” she said. “The dairy industry and, if so, whether to attend a two-year or other benets. is changing, agriculture is changfour-year school involves consideration “The advantages of a four-year univering, business is changing; and so, of programs, degrees, time and money. sity are you have exposure to a wider variwe all need to keep learning.” Ted Halbach and Eric Ronk, faculty ety of people and it helps you build a wider Montgomery said she sees the instructors in the University of Wisconnetwork,” he said. “Also, larger programs variety of school options as a ben- Ted Halbach sin-Madison Department of Animal and Kari Slinden University of Wisconsin- allow you more exibility, which can be a et. Dairy Sciences, agreed the job outlook is Ridgewater College positive.” “All of our schools in the Mid- Madison positive. Salfer said for those who are unsure west that have dairy or agricul“All you have to do is look around at about their career path, it is OK to take ture programs are fantastic,” she farm owners and dairy industry personnel time to decide. said. “The industry needs dedito realize there are a lot of aging-out baby “You might be better off working for cated and well-educated people boomers in the industry,” Halbach said. a couple years, trying to save up some more than it matters where you “This naturally creates opportunities both money and guring out some of your ingo to school.” on-farm and in-industry for new graduterests,” Salfer said. Halbach said some students ates, evidenced by the nearly 100% job No matter the choice of school, all said combine community college and placement colleges are reporting for dairy there are ways to nance post-secondary university education. students.” Dr. Tera Montgomery education without compiling unreasonable “Some will start at a local Eric Ronk Kari Slinden is an agriculture instruc- University of technical college or two-year University of Wisconsin- debt. Numerous scholarships are availtor at Ridgewater College in Willmar, Wisconsin-Platteville institution to earn their associ- Madison able through all schools and also through Minnesota, which offers two-year deates degree before transferring grees. Turn to DAIRY CAREERS | Page 2 to a four-year university,” Halbach said. “Be sure Slinden said any post-secondary education is