The Southwestern Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (SWCMA) recently awarded their sixth annual $2,000 Young Dairy Producer Educational Scholarship to Matt Minder of Minder Farms, Browntown, Wis.

The purpose of this individual scholarship is to encourage young dairy producers to pursue educational opportunities that will allow them to continue in the dairy business.

Minder, a recent high school graduate, will use the scholarship money to attend the Farm and Industry Short Course at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and pursue a certification in Dairy Herd Management. Matt plans to complete the two year program and then return to the family farm. They currently milk 80 cows and Matt has a future goal of operating a 300 cow herd with a free stall barn and milking parlor. Matt currently works with their farm’s dairy nutritionist to produce high quality milk with good protein and butterfat composition. Minder currently owns four Holstein cows and three Holstein heifers.