Harrisburg, Pa. – The Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow annual farm tour dates are now available. High school students interested in pursuing dairy industry careers are invited to participate in a day-long tour of two Pennsylvania dairy farms on either Friday, October 28 in Lancaster and Dauphin Counties or Wednesday, April 5 in western Pennsylvania.
The tours will give high school students the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of modern working dairy farms, while showcasing careers within the dairy industry and agricultural technologies used to help improve today’s farming practices.
The first stop on the October 28 fall tour will be Meadow Vista Farm, LLC, in
Bainbridge. Two generations of the Risser family currently milk 750 cows in a double 16 herringbone and farm nearly 700 acres. Having four partners allows the Rissers to intensely manage many areas of the farm and perform most tasks without hiring outside help. The family does all of its own A.I. work, heifer ultrasounding, crop spraying, manure hauling, forage harvesting.
Jubilee Dairy, located in Middletown, will be the second stop on the fall tour. Owners Jeff and Kendra Nissley milk 170 cows and farm 350 acres. The Nissley family prides themselves on managing a profitable business while maintaining a healthy work environment for their family members and employees. In addition to milking cows and crop farming, the family established Jubilee Heritage Cheese in 2013. The cheese, made from milk produced by their cows, is sold in a “cheese shed” on the farm along with honey and their own cage-free eggs. The family values the connection with their community and enjoys the contact the cheese sales create with their neighbors.
In addition to touring the dairy facilities, students will hear from industry professionals who will share information about their role in the dairy industry, as well as introduce them to the several career opportunities.
Registration is due on October 14, 2016 and space is limited. Pick up locations are tentatively scheduled for Selinsgrove, State College and Lancaster with definite locations being determined at the close of registration.
Center for Dairy Excellence
2301 North Cameron St.
Harrisburg, PA 17110
717-346-0849
www.centerfordairyexcellence.org
More information about the tour can be found by visiting dairyleadersoftomorrow.com/contact/dairy-leaders-farm-tour/. To register, either contact Mary Foote at the Center for Dairy Excellence at 717-346-0849 or mfoote@centerfordairyexcellence.org or go to surveymonkey.com/r/6KRHNLM.
This tour is funded by the Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania.
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The Center for Dairy Excellence is a non-profit organization initiated by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture in 2004. Bringing together people from more than 40 different dairy organizations in Pennsylvania, the center’s mission is to enhance the profitability of the dairy industry by empowering people, creating partnerships, and increasing the availability and use of resources. Learn more about the center at centerfordairyexcellence.org.
Source: The Center for Dairy Excellence
