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 27 - 28, 2026

Registration closes on March 23

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

2026 focus: Quality Milk and Milk Production

Milk quality and milk production represents the most critical enterprise of dairy production management. Dairy producer’s today are in the business of making food.  The producer’s definition of quality milk is the level of quality, which provides the greatest value for your milk and provides the highest quality product for the consumer.  The environment, nutrition, cow comfort, milking equipment and milking procedures all affect milk quality and milk production. 

conducting a Standart Plate Count test

Steps to take - Better Milk Quality

  • Evaluate milk quality and udder health
  • Take a look at milking procedures and milking efficiency

The Mammary Gland

  • Milk production in the mammary gland
  • Effects of mastitis on mammary tissue
  • Dry cow treatment procedures 

Managing Pathogens - Where do you start

  • Cultures
  • Clinical/Subclinical infections
  • Dry-off
  • Herd Health and the environment
youth looking at milk samples under the microscope
Youth participating in a dairy cow udder dissection
Youth participants learning about standards of cleanliness for dair cows and the environment around them.

Youth looking at milk samples under the microscope.

Youth observing a dissection of a cow udder

Youth participants learning about standards of cleanliness for dairy cows and the environment around them.

Eligibility

Due to the hands-on approach of the sessions, participation is limited to the first 65 individuals to enroll or March 21, 2026 deadline, whichever comes first. Youth who are 14-19 years of age as of January 1, 2026 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 21, 2026, whichever comes first.

Fees

Registration fees include 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 afternoon 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

Ithaca Area Hotels

 

For more information

Registration and payment questions:

  • Linzi Chambers (lc994 [at] cornell.edu (lc994[at]cornell[dot]edu))

Program questions:

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