From dairy science club to dairy judging to Dairy Challenge, Jaylene Lesher participated in as many programs as she could while attending Penn State. She also made it a priority to take advantage of internship opportunities during her time away from the farm.
“My classes and connections at Penn State further grew my desire to learn more,” the Pennsylvania dairy farmer shares. Jaylene and her family own and operate Way-Har Farms LLC and Way-Har Farm Market, a country store in Bernville, Pa.
Jaylene always knew she wanted to be part of her family’s farm. Her deep-rooted passion for working with registered cows served as the motivation that pushed her to obtain an Animal Science degree from Penn State.
In 2014, Jaylene packed her farm boots and headed to Wisconsin where she landed a summer internship at Rosy-Lane Holsteins in Watertown where she had a hands-on learning experience that she says was a turning point to return to her family dairy.
Jaylene also took on a second internship in food processing at Bell and Evans Chickens.
“I wanted to see how they manage that growth and see food processing on a bigger scale,” she says.
Jaylene worked as the calf manager for Kings-Ransom Farm LLC, in New York, before returning to her family farm in 2018.
For students considering a career in dairy, also look into the clubs and programs a university offers. Most universities offer several opportunities, including:
- Dairy Challenge Team—a competition team teaches students how to critically evaluate a dairy farm’s financial records as well as being able to identify areas of opportunity by conducting a walk-through of the farms’ facilities.
- Dairy Judging Team— Judging team members develop and hone their critical thinking, decision-making, and communication skills all while advancing their abilities to visually assess dairy cows and heifers.
- Dairy Science Club—A venue for club members to network with their future colleagues and to get plugged into the dairy industry along with advocating and educating the public about all things dairy.
- Internship Programs—Designed to expand a student’s education by including academic credit for meaningful work experience. Internships are important for both the professional and personal growth of the student.
While there is uncertainty, there are also big opportunities ahead for the younger generation. Explore your options, but also dive deep into what colleges and universities offer to best help you for your future career in the rapidly changing dairy industry.
To read more on preparing for the future:
