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HARRISBURG, Pa. — A group of 42 young dairy professionals and two college educators recently received scholarships to attend the 2025 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit on February 5-6 in State College, Pa. The Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association, the Center for Dairy Excellence, and the Dairy Excellence Foundation awarded the Young Dairy Professionals Scholarships to individuals between the ages of 18-30 who are either in high school, college or working on dairy farms in Pennsylvania. The scholarships support young professionals who are passionate about the future of dairy and motivated to grow their skills through networking and professional development.
“I found great value in my experience at the PA Dairy Summit. For young individuals, I think the variety of topics and discussions was important. There was a unique combination of dairy farmers and industry professionals who discussed both types of careers. There was great exposure to different types of farms, the future of dairy products, and the current topics in the industry,” said Sara Kennedy, one of the scholarship recipients and a student at The Pennsylvania State University. “I would definitely encourage any young professional who wants to be involved in the dairy industry to attend – especially if they want to gain exposure to the industry from different perspectives.”
Individuals who received the Young Dairy Professionals Scholarship and attended the Summit include Yusuf Adeniji, Isabella Anderson, Malayna Barnhart, Crystal Bomgardner, Breanna Bone, Kathryn Bosley, Lorinda Brenize, Abigale Bricker, Alexander Burleigh, Alexis Butler, Dr. Rachel Carter, Grazielle Cioletto, Calvin Dechow, Hannah Dice, Katie Evans (Timmons), Grace Ferri, Jessica Fleisher, Rylee Fuller, Sophie Griswold, Nellie Hankinson, Katelyn Heckman, Brinley Hess, Jillian Hughes-Brown, Sadie Innerst, Sara Kennedy, Hannah King, Morgan Larson, Alana Lee, Kira Maurer, Emma McLaughlin, Ava Neville, Wesley Noble, Dillan O’Shell, Gillian Plaugher, Dr. Joanne Powell, Kristina Quinn, Lauren Ross, Lily Schaap, Alanna Staffin, Rebecca VanBlargan, Caitlyn VanDeusen, Charlotte Wallace, Shawna Weaver, and Abigail Winemiller.
The scholarship winners attended the two-day Dairy Summit as well as a Young Dairy Professionals Reception. During the reception, they rotated through different career areas where they could network with dairy professionals who work in various fields – from herd management, nutrition and veterinary medicine to marketing, business and more.
The reception also featured three panelists who shared advice and insight about their careers in the dairy industry. Each panelist reflected on how their educational and life experiences prepared them for full-time careers serving the dairy industry.
Maggie Harding is a Cheese Scientist for Lactalis, the largest Fresh Mozzarella plant in the United States. After growing up on her family’s seventh-generation Central Pennsylvania beef farm, Maggie shared her path and career trajectory in food science during the panel discussion. She described the business and operations side of the dairy industry, research and development, and what it’s like to work in a lab.
“It was gratifying to be able to share some future career ideas to young professionals, because while I was in their seat I really felt unsure about what my future career could possibly entail. To me, the day-to-day is important [for young professionals] to picture versus the overall title of a position. It was also inspiring for me to hear the other panelists’ stories,” shared Harding.
Blaine Walizer is currently employed at Dotterer Dairy in Mill Hall, Pa. as a herdsman assistant for the dairy, and he also oversees the Beef x Dairy Herd being raised on the farm. Blaine talked about his responsibilities on the farm, his involvement in different agricultural organizations, and how he works with people from every generation to balance tradition and modern technology.
“I think sharing my story is valuable because agriculture is built on strong communities, and connecting with young professionals helps strengthen the future of the industry. As a panel, each of our stories are unique in their own way. I hope I was able to teach others a few life lessons along the way. This was by far the most engaging group I have worked with,” Walizer added when reflecting on the Young Dairy Professionals Panel and Reception.
Casi Long owns and operates Kolb’s Farm Store in Spring City, Chester County, where she sells milk, ice cream, eggs and a variety of other local products in her store. During the panel, she shared her journey as a first-generation dairy farmer and her passion for hosting community members at her farm, providing tours of the dairy, educating families about the milking and bottling process, and connecting the community to the farm-to-table experience.
“If there is one thing that I have learned as a first-generation farmer, it is that even the biggest and wildest dreams are obtainable. The biggest piece of advice I can give is to never give up. Through every journey, big or small, there will be mountains and valleys to cross. Roll with the punches and be adaptable. Even if your path takes a few turns you weren’t expecting, or you encounter a roadblock, that doesn’t mean you won’t reach your goal in the end,” said Long.
The Young Dairy Professionals scholarship recipients also completed an in-depth Career Development Workshop during their time at the Summit. Young dairy professionals who are interested in receiving a scholarship for the 2026 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit should look for applications to be released in November 2025. Individuals who are attending high school, college or working on dairy farms between the ages of 18-30 are eligible to apply. The 2026 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit will take place on February 4-5, 2026 in Grantville, Pa.
Visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/summit-scholarship to learn more or contact Michelle Shearer at 717-346-0849 or by email at [email protected].
–Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania
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