youth doing milk quality activity

Dairy Discovery Workshop

Dairy Discovery Workshop

The annual Dairy Discovery program provides New York youth with fun, hands-on science-oriented learning experiences in dairy production and management topics that feature the unique facilities, industry professionals, and staff at Cornell University.

The statewide program for youth ages 14 to 19 years-old is held one Saturday in March. Youth learn will understand, observe and participate in technical skill training by rotating through a series of hands-on stations that focus on specific aspects of the dairy industry, including:

  • Dairy Herd Health and Management
  • Calf and Heifer Production Management
  • Quality Milk and Milk Production
  • Whole Farm Management Planning
  • Maximizing the Feed Management Program.

Youth who are 14 to 19 years of age on January 1 of the program year and have an interest in dairy cattle and production management are eligible and strongly encouraged to attend (with their parents or chaperones). This program is not limited to any organization, 4-H project members, FFA youth, and others with a dairy interest or desire to learn about dairy are all welcome. 

 

March 28 - 29, 2025

Registration closes on March 24

Location: Frank Morrison Hall, 507 Tower Rd, Ithaca, NY 14853

2025 focus: Maximizing the Feed Management Program

Well designed and properly implemented dairy nutritional programs are a critical factor in determining the production potential of a dairy herd.  A sound feeding program needs to be cost effective, but at the same time managed to maximize a cow’s potential to be an efficient, productive, and healthy animal. Harvest techniques, diet formulations, purchased feeds, and management play keys roles to accomplishing a sound nutritional program for lactating dairy cows. 

youth reaching into a fistulated cows rumen
Youth participants learning about ruminants and how their digestive system works.

Nutrition and the Rumen

  • Understanding fermentation
  • Impact of the feeding program

Forage Quality

  • Forage production 
  • Feed identification 
  • Appraise feeds

Total Mixed Ration - TMR

  • Make TMR
  • TMR composition
  • Ration formulation
Four youth discussing a cow feed ration
youth and instructor looking at cow repro tracts
5 youth weighing cow feed

Youth participants are testing and evaluating the pH of silage samples

Youth learning about reproduction with instructor Dr. Rob Lynch at the 2022 program.

Youth participants using a tool that nutritionist and managers utilize to determine if the ration is mixed correctly and contains a healthy amount of fiber for the cows to maintain a healthy diet.

Eligibility

Due to the hands-on approach of the sessions, participation is limited to the first 65 individuals to enroll or March 20, 2025 deadline, whichever comes first. Youth who are 14-19 years of age as of January 1, 2025 with an interest in dairy cattle are eligible to attend.

How to register

Pre-registration and advanced payment is required for all participants (both youth and adult chaperones). A separate registration form must be submitted for each youth and chaperone attending in the workshop.  Additionally, all registrations must include approval from a Cornell Cooperative Extension educator, FFA advisory or 4-H club leader.

Due to the hands-on approach to this workshop, registration is limited to the first 65 individuals enrolled on or before March 20, 2025, whichever comes first.

Fees

Registration fees includes activities, materials, dinner Friday night and lunch Saturday.  

$50 per youth participants
$15 per adult chaperone

Payment

Advanced payment is required for this program upon completion of online registration  .  Credit card payments may be submitted online here.  If paying by check, please make check payable to Cornell University and mail to Dairy Discovery Registration, 161 Frank Morrison Hall, Ithaca, New York 14853.

Workshop agenda

6:30 PM

  • Welcome and dinner (Room 348 Morrison)

7:15 - 8:00 PM

  • CALS Admissions presentation and college planning (Room 146 Morrison)

8:00 PM    

  • Snack and Head for Lodging

 

Youth will rotate through three stations in the morning and three stations in the afternoo in Frank Morrison Hall and adjacent buildings.

7:00 AM

  • Breakfast on your own

8:00 AM

  • Registration (Morrison Hall lobby)

8:15 AM

  • Welcome and workshop introduction (146 Morrison)

8:30 AM

  • Workshop session 1

11:30 AM

  • Lunch (348 Morrison)

12:30 PM

  • Workshop session 2

2:30 PM

  • Team analysis of farm - rooms will be assigned

3:30 PM

  • Report back to group and discussion (146 Morrison)

4:30 PM

  • Discussion, wrap-up and evaluation

Lodging

Best Western University Inn

1020 Ellis Hollow Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850
607-272-6100

Group Room Rate

$189.00 per night

Dairy Discovery Booking Link

Reservation deadline: March 1st, 2025

Group rates apply to Friday night only until the reservation cutoff date.  If your hotel stay extends beyond these nights or is made after the cutoff deadline, prevailing rack rate will apply and is based on availability.

In order to receive sales tax exemption, participants should contact their local Cornell Cooperative Extension educator as a tax exempt form may be required.

Additional Area Hotels

 

For more information

Registration and payment questions:

  • Linzi Chambers (lc994 [at] cornell.edu (lc994[at]cornell[dot]edu) or 607-255-6695)

Program questions:

  • Debbie Grusenmeyer (djc27 [at] cornell.edu (djc27[at]cornell[dot]edu))