Dairy Challenge strives to incorporate a higher-learning atmosphere with practical application to help prepare students for careers in the dairy industry. Students are challenged with analyzing every aspect of a dairy farm and then compiling a presentation showing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that the dairy faces. Each team, which is made up of students from different schools, made recommendations to the farmer that would either save or make the farmer money. During this time, students also had the opportunity to network with producers and industry professionals from across the country, in addition to catching up with students from other universities! Our 2023 Dairy Challenge team of Sara Beth Sledge, Mackenzie Jones, and Sophie Dupont recently competed in regionally in Georgia, with our president Sophie being part of a winning team!

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The 2019 National Dairy Challenge was hosted by us, the University of Georgia in Tifton, GA. The University of Georgia Dairy Challenge team consisted of seniors, Greyson Fernandez, James Holton, Matt Holton, and Will Porter. Over the course of the competition these individuals examined every aspect of a specific dairy farm near Tifton. From financials to on- farm observations, they left no stone unturned while creating a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threat) analysis of this particular dairy. They places 5th in their division against some very tough competition. More importantly, this competition taught them what makes a dairy efficient and profitable or the complete opposite. James Holton’s favorite memory from the event was being able to work with his best friends and make a great presentation that represented the University of Georgia well.

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