Dairy I Manuel Peña, Regional Dairy Educator
An educational station for youth and other agricultural agents, where attendees learned about the general programming of Extension but also about the Mooving Cows app, that supports the active training of cow handlers at dairy farms developed by Dr. Jennifer Van Os at UW Madison. They also learned about our Bilingual newsletter “BoviNoticias”, the intention is not only to promote its use but also to maintain communication/feedback with the users of it to provide the information they need to overcome their challenges.
I was invited to attend the National 4-H Dairy Conference at the Crave Brothers Farm, which is located in the region I serve, and hosted participants from all around the country. The goal was to promote Extension’s programing and contribute to build a sense of community in agriculture in Wisconsin and America. The event provided an opportunity to connect directly with 4-H youth, dairy industry partners, and adult participants from across the region. We set up an educational station with information and games to engage with participants and create meaningful interactions with 4-H youth, dairy industry partners, and adult attendees. Throughout the event, I shared information about Extension programs and resources, answered questions, and facilitated conversations about agriculture and youth development opportunities. By engaging participants from across Wisconsin and the United States, I helped promote Extension programming, strengthen relationships with industry stakeholders, and contribute to a welcoming environment that fostered a sense of community within agriculture. The event also provided an opportunity to increase awareness of local Extension efforts and build connections that may support future educational and outreach initiatives.A bilingual (English and Spanish) newsletter, Bovi-noticias, for dairy farm owners, managers, employees, and industry partners, where readers gain practical, research-based information that explains the reasons behind key farm management practices and supports everyday decision-making. Through this effort, dairy operations are better equipped to strengthen workforce engagement, improve communication and safety, enhance animal well-being, and support long-term farm sustainability and profitability.