Gopher Dairy Club

Congratulations Jacob, Alexis and Tyler! 🎉

Students in their third year of college are eligible for the Merton Sowerby Junior Merit Scholarship. Merton Sowerby was a dairy leader internationally recognized for his expertise as a classifier and judge of dairy cattle. The scholarship is to encourage qualified undergraduate students to pursue a career related to dairy and have demonstrated leadership skills, academic ability, and interest in dairy cattle.

The top recipient receiving a $2,000 scholarship is Brianna Meyer, a dairy science student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The remaining recipients receiving $1,500 scholarships are:

Joseph Achen, an agricultural business student at Iowa State University

Jacob Harbaugh, a student at the University of Minnesota majoring in animal science and applied economics.

Alexis Hoefs, an animal science student at the University of Minnesota

Tyler Ratka, a student at the University of Minnesota majoring in animal science and agricultural and food business management.

Garrett Ulness, a dairy science student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Congratulations!

Congratulations Trevor! 🎉

Our next scholarship recognition is for the Mike Lancaster Sophomore Merit Scholarship. Mike Lancaster, owner and operator of Olympic Vista Dairy Farm in Sequim, Washington, was an industry leader and an outstanding supporter of student programs and activities. The scholarship is to encourage qualified undergraduate students to pursue a career related to dairy and have demonstrated leadership skills, academic ability, and interest in dairy cattle.

The scholarship is available to any undergraduate student currently enrolled in their second year in a four-year college.

Receiving top honors with the $2,000 scholarship is Ainsley Sellers, an animal science major at Penn State.

Receiving $1,500 scholarships are:
Summer Hammann, dairy science major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Trevor Hath, a student at the University of Minnesota majoring in animal science with a dairy production emphasis.

Julianne Headings, an agricultural communications major minoring in dairy science at The Ohio State University.

Zachary Johnson, an animal science major at The Ohio State University.

Hannah King, a student at Penn State majoring in animal science.

Kelsey Timp, a dairy science and agricultural communications major at Iowa State University.

Congratulations!

Congratulations Kaitlin and Rachel! 🎉

The Dairy Shrine/DMI Education & Communication Scholarship is to encourage qualified undergraduate students to pursue education or communication careers in dairy product industry or related food industries.

The scholarship is available to any undergraduate student currently enrolled in their sophomore or junior year in a four-year college with an explicit interest in dairy industry education or communication.

The top recipient receiving a $2,000 scholarship is Clancey Krahn, an animal science and agricultural communications major at Oklahoma State University.

The other recipients of $1,500 scholarships are:

Abigale Bricker, a student at Penn State majoring in agricultural and extension education.

Sara Kennedy, majoring in animal science and nutritional sciences at Penn State

Kaitlin Reitmeier, a student at the University of Minnesota majoring in agricultural education and animal sciences.

Rachel Visser, majoring in agricultural and food business management and agricultural communications and marketing at the University of Minnesota.

Natalie Yoder, a student at Penn State majoring in agribusiness management.

Congratulations!

Congratulations Abbygail and Shelby! 🎉

The National Dairy Shrine has had a great partnership with Dairy Management Inc. to support scholarships. One of the scholarships named on behalf of this partnership is the Dairy Shrine/DMI Milk Marketing and Dairy Products scholarship.

This scholarship is to encourage qualified undergraduate students to pursue careers in milk or dairy product marketing, dairy market enhancement or similar roles in the food industries. The scholarship is available to any undergraduate student currently enrolled in their sophomore or junior year in a four-year college.

Recipients the top $2,000 scholarship is Shelby Swanson, an agriculture and food business management major from the University of Minnesota.

Receiving $1,500 each are:

Alia Domeyer, a finance and marketing major at the University of Northern Iowa

Mallory Mohn, a student at Northeast Iowa Community College majoring in agriculture business.

Emma Parrigon, an agriculture communications major at Missouri State University.

Abbygail Schlough, a student at the University of Minnesota majoring in agriculture and food business management.

Faith Wolfe, an agribusiness management student at Penn State.

Congratulations!

A huge THANK YOU to all of our incredible sponsors for supporting Gopher Dairy Camp 2026!

Because of your generosity, our campers had an unforgettable week filled with learning, leadership, and hands-on experiences. From auctioneering and calf purchasing to fitting, showmanship, dairy foods, and so much more, every opportunity was made possible through your support.

Thank you for investing in the next generation of dairy leaders and helping us create memories and experiences that will last a lifetime. We are truly grateful for your commitment to our camp and the future of the dairy industry!

Congratulations Kayla and Madison! 🎉

Today we highlight recipients of the Marshall E. McCullough Freshman Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded annually in memory of Marshall McCullough, a widely known Georgia nutrition researcher and educator. In a career that spanned nearly 50 years, McCullough became a prolific writer, popular speaker, respected researcher and effective consultant.

This scholarship is available to any freshman in a four-year college or university with a commitment to major in Dairy/Animal Science with a Communications emphasis or Agricultural Journalism with a Dairy/Animal Science emphasis.

Receiving the $1,500 scholarships this year are:

Madison Mowrer, an animal science major at Penn State

Kayla Visser, a student at the University of Minnesota majoring in animal science and agriculture communications and marketing.

Madison Wiese, another student at the University of Minnesota majoring in animal science and agricultural communications and marketing.

Congratulations!

Congratulations Campbell, Dan, Logan, Claudia and Ella! 🎉

Today we recognize recipients of the Maurice E. Core Freshman Scholarship. Maurice E Core, long time employee and Executive Secretary of the American Jersey Cattle Breeders Association and Executive Director of the Dairy Shrine, was an outstanding supporter of student programs and activities.

Awarded to a current first-year college student at a four-year university working toward a Bachelor of Science in Dairy/Animal Science or has a major in preparation for a dairy related career.

Recipients of the scholarships, valued at $1,500, are:

Jillian Anderson, a Penn State student majoring in agricultural and extension education.

Campbell Booth, studying animal science, agriculture and food business at the University of Minnesota.

Alaina Dinderman, a University of Wisconsin-Platteville student studying animal science pre-vet.

Claudia Frenchick, an animal science pre-vet student at the University of Minnesota

Dan Frericks, an animal science student at the University of MInnesota

Logan Harbaugh, a University of Minnesota student majoring in animal science and agricultural and food business management

Kiara Konyn, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying dairy and food animal management - pre-vet.

Ella Raatz, majoring in animal science and agricultural communication and marketing from the University of Minnesota

Alexis Schultz, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in dairy and food animal management.

Congratulations!

Congratulations Brady and Keenan! 🎉

Our next scholarship category is the Dr. Les Hansen Student Recognition Award. Before his retirement in 2024, Hansen was Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Minnesota, earning accolades for his ground-breaking research in dairy genetics and ability to inspire excellence among both graduate and undergraduate students.

The purpose of this award is to recognize and reward graduating university or four year college seniors who are planning a career related to the dairy industry or production agriculture and who have demonstrated leadership skills, student activity participation, academic ability and interest in the dairy industry.

Receiving the top $2,500 award is Lauren Breunig, who graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in life sciences communications and certificates in food systems, agricultural business management, digital studies, and entrepreneurship.

The next recipient was awarded a $2,000 scholarship. Ryan Wolf graduated from Iowa State University with an animal science degree.

Receiving $1,500 scholarships were:
Brady Gille, a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in animal science with a production emphasis.

Hannah Mansfield, an animal science graduate from Penn State

Tessa Tauke, a graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in animal science

Keenan Thygesen, who received an animal science degree from the University of Minnesota

Regan Jackson, who received a nutrition and food science degree from Louisiana State University.

Congratulations!

Congratulations Ben! 🎉

We hope you enjoyed the reel of scholarship recipients we posted yesterday. Over the next several days we will feature each scholarship category individually in order to add more recognition to the scholarship recipients.

We start with the scholarship with the longest history. The National Dairy Shrine Kildee Graduate Scholarship has been awarded every year since 1950. It is named in honor of H.H. Kildee, Dean Emeritus at Iowa State University, who inspired many of the industry’s early dairy leaders.

Students in their senior year of college through the first year after graduation may apply for up to two $3,000 scholarships. These scholarships are to be used for advanced study related to the dairy industry at the school of their choice.

This year's recipients are:
Benjamin Styer, a graduate of the University of Minnesota who is pursuing a graduate degree also at the University of Minnesota with an emphasis in dairy genetics.

Anne Simpson, an Iowa State University graduate who is pursuing a graduate degree at Kansas State University.

Congratulations to these recipients!