The University of Florida hosted the 2011 Southern Regional Dairy Challenge contest, with a total of 50 students from 10 southern colleges and universities participated in the sixth annual event.
A key objective is to present students with a real-life situation that stresses the importance of teamwork and professionalism. Teams of students from the different schools were formed to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of a working dairy farm. Afterwards, teams presented their analysis and prioritized opportunities for improvement to a panel of expert judges and the dairy owners. Hosts for this year’s Southern Regional Dairy Challenge were Keith Shiver, Shiver Dairy Farm, Mayo, FL and Ashley Bailey, Lafayette Dairy, Mayo, FL.
The 12 teams were named after major Dairy Challenge platinum sponsors: ABS Global Inc., Dairy Farmers of America, Dairy Production Systems, Dairy Records Management Systems, DSM Nutritional Products, Farm Credit, Genex Cooperative Inc., Land O’Lakes Purina Feed, Alltech Inc., Pfizer Animal Health, Select Sires Inc., and Southern States Cooperative.
Receiving Platinum Awards were:
Christie Burke, Louisiana State University; Alison Craine, Berry College; Erin Henley, Virginia Tech; Angela Stuart, Alabama A & M University
Rachel Manning, West Virginia University; Lauren Mayo, University of Florida; Lauryn Singer, Virginia Tech; Colton Turner, Alabama A & M University
Receiving Reserve Platinum Awards were:
Mae Dunn, Alabama A & M University; Ben Ketchie, North Carolina State University; Kaitlin MaGill, Berry College; Kaylee Quinn, Clemson University; Ben Smith, Virginia Tech
Elizabeth Eckelkamp, Louisiana State University; Chris Potts, Virginia Tech; Chase Rucks, Santa Fe College; Emma Schaffel, Clemson University
Receiving Gold Awards were:
Nikita Armstrong, Alabama A & M University; Sarah Burczynski, Virginia Tech; Andrea Steyer, West Virginia University; Claire Stuyck, Clemson University
Kaylene Lyons, Berry College; Cody Meyer, College of the Ozarks; Cory Robbins, North Carolina State University; Vaughn Stevenson, Clemson University
Janae Matthews, Alabama A & M University; Robin Nolan, Berry College; Abby Patch, Virginia Tech; Jodie Rose, West Virginia University
Lauren Clemency, North Carolina State University; Brenson Crenshaw, Alabama A & M University; Lindsay Hetrick, Virginia Tech; Nathan Leckie, Clemson University; Kenneth Sharp, Berry College
Receiving Silver Awards were:
Karl Paulson, Virginia Tech; Martha Peterson, Alabama A & M University; Carmen Riguero, Berry College; Alex Swain, University of Florida
Caitlin Coriasso, Alabama A & M University; Justin McEntyre, North Carolina State University; Ty Rowland, College of the Ozarks; Grace Skaff, West Virginia University
Alyssa Degreenia, North Carolina State University; Kelly Jo Johnson, Virginia Tech; Gairy Kimber, Alabama A & M University; Leah Moore, Berry College
Phillip Gunter, Clemson University; Michael Hemme, College of the Ozarks; Carrie Hoffner, North Carolina State University; Matthew Scott, Louisiana State University