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

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

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))