Dairy Industry Outside the U.S.

The trip

The trip was two weeks long and by the end of the trip, I traveled around Europe, visiting the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. The focus of the trip was the dairy industry. Over the course of those two weeks, we would study the cultural, social, and economic forces which affect the lifestyles, economy, policies, and food production system in those three countries. Additionally, we were to gain an appreciation for the food production system and how that system contributes to the economy of all three countries. Our group studied the size of each country’s dairy production and their processing industry. We would get a behind the scenes look at how these small and large operations were running and taught all it takes to run a farm. Finally, we were taught the regulatory systems put into place by all three countries to ensure protection to the animals, the environment, the animals products, as well as the workers on the farms.

How was this experience transformational?

I grew up in a rural community where farming and the dairy industry is a way of life. Since I grew up around the industry, I had some knowledge of how a farm was run, how the animals were treated, and some of the hardships that farmers face. I was unaware of how the same industry operated outside of the United States. From there very first day and the very first farm we visited I got to see, learn, and experience firsthand how an industry can differ so much between all four countries. Not only did I get to learn about a typical dairy, but I also had to opportunity to learn about other aspects of Europe’s dairy industry such as the sheep, goat, and mare dairy industry.

Not only did I learn about the dairy world, but I also had the chance to see the historical side of each country. I have always been a sort of a history buff, so I really enjoyed getting to learn about the culture and history which is unique to each country. My favorite places we visited were Bergen-Belsen, a concentration camp in Germany and the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam. To be at the camp where such atrocities occurred but to see the growth of the land, hearing stories from the survivors, people living around the camps, soldiers, and liberators, and to pay tribute to the departed were some truly touching moments. It was also appropriate because this was the last resting place for the Frank family. So, when we went to the Anne Frank house, it gave us a unique insight to her entire life, from beginning to end.

What was the cause of this transformation?

The people I met on the trip were what really set this experience apart and what made such a difference for me. With each farm, we visited you could see and hear the passion of the framers in their faces, voices, and stories.

One female farmer was incredibly proud of her farm. Her farm started long ago, back after World War II. Farming had been a passion in her family, and like many other families, the farm had been passed down generation to generation. After the war, their family suffered a great loss to the war, a relative who the farm was then renamed after. The family was obviously played a large role in the lives of the farmers, which was something nice to see as that is going out of practice here in the U.S.  She has since built her farm up to be a successful, full automated farm from automatic feeders to automatic robotic milkers. She has made this transition all while keeping the health and safety of the cows in mind. It was amazing for me to see this transformation and brings me hope that these changes are changes we can make to our farms back at home.

Another person who brought the history to life was our guide around Brussels. She was a bitty old lady who had grown up in the city all her life. You could tell the pride she had for her city and its history with every story she told and every building or monument we saw. The history of much of Europe is a colorful one. Each country was often inhabited and taken over and occupied by another country, empire, or ruler throughout history. It is what gives each country and city their own special stories to tell. She expanded my knowledge about the country and its people, as I knew little to nothing before coming over.

Finally, our group had the opportunity to visit a vet school in Utrecht.  This stop was the most relevant to me as I hope to become a mixed practice veterinarian. We got to tour the vet school and see a behind the scenes on what goes on at the vet school. Afterward, we had a social mixer with students from the university and got to connect with these students on a personal level. Getting connected to these students also let us see just how different schooling was over there. I also got to ask questions about vet school and the application to vet school, as it is one of the schools I have looked at applying to. Each of these incidences, as well as so many others, came together to make this trip truly unforgettable.

Why is this transformational experience relevant to me?

As I mentioned above I have always aspired to go to vet school. Vet school, like most graduate school, is highly competitive and a lot of experience with animals and the animal industry help make one a better, well-rounded applicant. I plan on using all the information, experience, and knowledge that I gained on this trip to make me a well-rounded individual. Also, those farmers showed me how much passion and the high care they give their animals. Animal welfare is taken seriously over there and goes into all decision making when animals are involved.  I am excited to be an animal welfare advocate as our welfare standards are steps behind that in Europe. This trip was a once in a lifetime experience and I am very grateful for STEP giving me the opportunity to go.