Junior DAIRY LEADER graduation

The program kicks off in fall with a trip to tour dairies in Wisconsin and attend the National 4-H dairy conference. Many of the participants meet for the first time in the airport as they prepare to leave for the trip.

“Debbie's been wonderful. She's done this for so long, she knows how to treat the students with a caring attitude, while also giving them the independence to become who they are and explore new things,” said Kirsten’s mom Alison Widrick, Chaumont, NY. “When they went to Wisconsin, Debbie encouraged them to find a buddy and have fun. It was a great growing experience for them.”

In eight more programs over the year participants learn about and develop technical production management skills, are exposed to career opportunities, and build tools to make positive contributions to the industry. All with the goal of developing a growth mindset and positive impact on the dairy industry.

“The program allows so many opportunities that they wouldn't have if they were just on the farm. It exposes them to other farms,” said Isaac’s mom Ginny Folts, North Collins, NY. “We have a smaller farm and milk about 120 cows. Isaac has come back with so many different things that he said, you know, I have an advantage through Junior DAIRY LEADER. I saw this, so should we try this? Just exposing them, whether you stay on the farm or you learn about other careers in the industry, it's just a really great opportunity for them.” Ginny said she has seen growth and leadership in Isaac throughout JDL. “If you're considering it, do it. It is a little bit of a juggle. Figuring out tour schedules and getting here can be challenging, but it's really worth it.”

The need to attract high-caliber youth to the dairy field is frequently identified as a top priority by farm owners and JDL engages youth with careers in the dairy industry and inspires their educational choices. Of the 554 Junior DAIRY LEADER graduates over the past 24 years, 97 percent continue their education beyond high school. Notable is that 84 percent of these youth choose agriculture, while prior to participation 53 percent indicated that they had not planned to pursue agricultural careers or had been undecided.

“I think Junior DAIRY LEADER is a great way for youth to meet others who share their interests,” said Kirsten’s mom Alison Widrick. “It helped her grow and become more self-assured and positive by meeting people her age and realizing that she is not alone in her love for dairy cows and farming. She saw there are many people who support the dairy industry. JDL also allowed her to see many different aspects of agriculture which opened up new opportunities for her future. Growing up on a dairy farm we don't always see other parts of the industry and this gave her a glimpse into what else was out there, which was extremely valuable as she considers college and career choices.”

Junior DAIRY LEADER impact

• Over 500 participants since 1999
• 96 percent say JDL influenced their decision to pursue dairy or agricultural careers
• 77 percent learned technical skills applicable to production management
• 98 percent increased their dairy knowledge
• 97 percent improved communication skills
• 87 percent improved teamwork
• 92 percent chose a career path
• 69 percent enhanced problem-solving skills
• 85 percent valued networking within the industry
• 58 percent of undecided participants chose dairy or another agricultural career path

2023 Graduates

• Abbie Ainslie
• Amelia Brewer
• Luke Enyart
• Allison Gabel
• Matthew Haier
• Allison Michel
• Peter Mueller
• Holly Niefergold
• Reagan Reese
• Sadie Thume
• Kristen Widrick
• Erma Wolcott
• Stephanie Youngers