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Volleman: Summer experience at Consortium ‘truly opened my eyes’
By Daniel Volleman
Sundance Dairy, Dublin, TX, and TAD Board of Directors
I grew up on my family’s dairy farm where we milk 5,000 cows. When I was moving on to college at Texas A&M University, I considered myself to be somewhat knowledgeable about the dairy industry and all the facets of what it took to operate a dairy.
When I learned about the opportunity to go to the U.S. Dairy Education & Training Consortium (USDETC), I of course thought it would be fun to get to do the things I grew up doing and get school credit for it. Little did I know how much a faculty-led program like that would impact me at that time.
The USDETC truly opened my eyes to EVERY aspect of the dairy industry. I learned more in the two six-week sessions I did in Clovis, New Mexico, than I did my entire childhood on a dairy. Giving students the opportunity to learn in a classroom setting and then, on the same day, applying what was learned on a truly modern, large conventional dairy, is something that is not offered anywhere else in the world.
Not only were we able to apply our knowledge on a large-scale operation, but nearly every day took us to a different site, helping open our eyes to many different ways of operating and managing. I had the pleasure to meet many students from participating universities, which gave me connections that I now have all over the United States.
Another large part of the program is being able to connect with supporting industry partners from different businesses. This can provide career opportunities or educate future dairy farmers about products and services that benefit dairy operations.
The many connections I made during my time at the USDETC gave me a network that I continue to profit from, to this day. I hope this program can continue to support students and hopefully even help educate my children when they are at that stage of life.
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