![W. Alton Jones Dairy workers show Holstien and Guernsey dairy cattle at Missouri State Fair Aug. 7-17.]()
W. Alton Jones Dairy workers show Holstien and Guernsey dairy cattle at Missouri State Fair Aug. 7-17.
The College of the Ozarks W. Alton Jones Dairy, supervised by Dairy Manager Ryan Bilyeu and Assistant Dairy Manager Dylan Erwin, attended the Missouri State Fair Aug. 7-17, in Sedalia, Missouri, and the Ozark Empire Fair, July 24 – Aug. 2, in Springfield, Missouri. Bilyeu and Erwin traveled with students to present the best Holstein, Ayrshire, and Guernsey dairy cattle. Senior Layla Giorgianni, mathematics education major; senior Morgan Westerman, animal science major; junior Dally Wiesner, elementary education major; sophomore Rachel Baretich, video production major; senior Owen Pritchett, agriculture education major; and Renee Hayes, freshman agriculture education major were chosen to represent the work of the dairy on this trip.
“Winning these awards is testament to the student’s dedication and teamwork,” Bilyeu said. “Our students are passionate about their work and put in lots of early mornings and late nights to make this possible.”
The dairy was recognized as Intermediate Champion, Reserve Grand Champion, and Premier Breeder at the Missouri State Fair with five first place recognitions. The first-place categories included: Holstein Senior Two-year old, Holstein Senor Three-year old, Missouri Holstein Three-year-old, Ayrshire Fall Heifer, and Ayrshire Junior Three-year-old. They also took home seven second place awards and a total of 21 awards at the Missouri Fair.
At the Ozark Empire Fair, the dairy earned 12 first place awards in addition to receiving top recognitions as Intermediate Champion, Reserve Grand Champion, Premier Exhibitor, and Premier Breeder. They also took home three second place awards and a total of 22 awards at the Ozark Fair.
“I am proud of the students and their commitment,” Erwin said. “The cattle may get the ribbons, but it’s the students’ care, day in and day out, that really shines. Their work ethic and willingness to learn is what makes this program and the College so special.”
There are approximately 30 students working in the dairy, and each student works two or three shifts each week. The students in the dairy farm workstation perform many tasks, including caring for the cows, bottle-feeding, milking, mixing of feed for the cows, and more.
Pritchett, also agriculture education club president, shared about what working in the dairy means to him:
“Through daily hands-on involvement, I’ve developed not only skills, but a passion for the dairy industry, livestock and agriculture,” Pritchett said. “Compared to many other agricultural colleges, we’re at an advantage: instead of just field trips or short internships, we get to apply what we’re learning every single day in our workstation.”
“For many students it’s not just our workstation; it’s our family and passion,” Giorgianni said. “I think that is reflected in our awards.”
After completing their time at College of the Ozarks and working in the dairy, most graduates hold positions such as herd managers, feed salespeople, loan officers, agricultural teachers or professors, and veterinarians.