In January, 45 CUDS members had the opportunity to travel to Italy. During this International Study Trip, students were able to learn about the agricultural practices in the Italian culture and the roles that farming and food play in their lives. While there was an emphasis on dairy production, the club also explored other facets of agriculture. These included various cheese production facilities, a winery, a water buffalo dairy, and a balsamic vinegar production operation. The club also had the opportunity to engage with and learn about the historical significance of the country by touring the city of Rome, where we were able to visit many monuments including The Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, and St. Peter’s Basilica.

In January, 38 students and five chaperones had the opportunity to travel to Beijing, China and collaborate with students from the China Agriculture University (CAU). During the ten-day trip, Cornell and CAU students were divided into groups and worked together to evaluate Chinese dairy farms for the Dairy Opportunity Challenge. Students also toured several dairy farms and dairy processing centers, and were able to evaluate the differences in production and processing of milk between the United States and China. Club members had the opportunity to learn about the rich history and culture of China from CAU students and through visiting historical landmarks including the Great Wall of China and Tiananmen Square. Many members would describe this as a once in a lifetime opportunity!
 

CUDS hosted the annual Holstein Harvest Sale in collaboration with NY Holstein Association on October 26th. The sale averaged $1,600 on 93 lots and the high seller was $7,100. This sale is a vital part of the history of CUDS, and club members work hard throughout the week to ensure all animals are looking their best for the sale ring. Throughout the week new friendships are made, new skills are learned, and many memories are created within the club. 

In January, 50 CUDS members continued the tradition of traveling to California to learn more about agriculture on the West Coast. The trip started out in Bakersfield, where we were able to visit various dairies and many of our members witnessed their first dry lot dairies! Along with the dairies we were able to visit various other types of agricultural businesses; including vineyards, citrus groves, feedlots, bottling facilities, a cotton mill, carrot farm, the largest almond processor in the world, goat farm, and many cheese producers, including Hilmar Cheese!