For my STEP Signature Project, I traveled to Madison, WI, and attended the World Dairy Expo. During this occasion, I was fortunate enough to attend a plethora of events, including, but not limited to expo seminars, knowledge nook sessions, and the dairy show.
This project was extremely transformational for me. The sheer amount of opportunities that the dairy industry provides for its members to advance their education and understanding was shocking and greatly appreciated. My understanding of the technology involved with the dairy industry was greatly improved during this trip. From Lely automatic milkers to videogame husbandry training, technology is at the forefront of the dairy industry, and the advancements that it has made. Being able to go through these trainings and learn about the different uses was beyond informational and inspiring to me.
My understanding of the dairy show cattle world has also greatly expanded. From someone who has grown up exhibiting beef cattle, the dairy cow is nearly a completely different and foreign species. I was able to develop a better understanding and appreciation for the hard work that goes into getting these cows show-ready. As for myself, my social networking was greatly improved and challenged during this trip. Due to the fact that I traveled alone, it was necessary for me to go out of my way, start conversations, and develop connections with individuals that I encountered. The diversity of the dairy community was also surprising to me, as I was able to meet dairy professionals from every part of the world.
Since I traveled alone for this project, it was a priority for me to expand upon my social and networking skills. I was required to approach dairy professionals, both in the show barn and the learning sessions, with hopes of further developing my understanding of the community, both on the commercial and show sides. Each individual that I approached was beyond welcoming and accepted my questions with kindness and a willingness to teach. After each interaction, my confidence in myself increased, which I know will be beneficial to me in every area of life. I now am more confident in my social and networking skills, as well as the dairy community and their hospitality.
The World Dairy Expo attracts a crowd from all over the globe. From the moment I got on my first flight to the moment I got off my last one, I was able to interact with individuals who were attending or had attended the World Dairy Expo. Every one of these individuals may have had a different background, but they all had one common passion; the dairy industry. As someone who comes from an extremely rural hometown that consists of less than 300 people, it was very refreshing to see this diversity. I was able to learn about different cultures and why the dairy community matters to them, which was very eye-opening.
Prior to this trip, I had a limited understanding of the dairy cow when it came to the show cattle industry. As previously stated, I have grown up exhibiting and raising beef cattle, which are extremely different from dairy cattle. From general care to champion titles to registration names to feeding, every single thing is different between these two groups of animals when it comes to the show world. By observing the shows, walking through the barns, and communicating with individuals participating in the show, I was able to gain a great appreciation for this industry and the work that goes into it. Overall, my understanding of the dairy show cows, as well as the individuals who care for them, was greatly expanded upon.
The changes and transformations that took place due to this trip are applicable and valuable not only to my personal life but also to my professional goals. I was able to further develop my competencies both in the dairy show industry and the dairy commercial industry. As a practicing veterinarian, it will be important for me to treat dairy cattle according to their goals and their jobs, so being knowledgeable in both of these areas is crucial for a successful treatment. It is also critical that I am confident in my networking and public speaking abilities as I will be required not only to talk to clients but also to make them feel comfortable and confident in my capabilities to properly care for their animals. In total, the skills that I gained from this project will be ineffable to my future success in all aspects of life.
Very informative and well expressed.