Dairy Herd Manager Apprenticeship Offers Hands-On Training

By Blake Jackson

Dairy producers in Pennsylvania seeking skilled help in herd management are encouraged to apply for the Dairy Herd Manager Apprenticeship Program, offered by the Center for Dairy Excellence.

Registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, the program is designed to train apprentices over an 18-month period on a working dairy farm.

Several high school graduates interested in herd management are currently waiting to be matched with employer farms through the program. Applications from dairy farms are accepted year-round.

“We’ve heard from dairy producers about their need for a more skilled workforce in management on Pennsylvania farms and the challenges they face in filling this important leadership role,” said Michelle Shearer, Workforce Development Manager at the Center for Dairy Excellence.

“Our Dairy Herd Manager Apprenticeship program pairs you with a high school graduate who is eager and ready to work full-time at the farm level in the area of herd management alongside a current employee to develop the skills they need in herd health, reproduction, calf care, data analysis, and more.”

Farms accepted into the program must provide comprehensive exposure to a modern dairy operation, offering guidance as apprentices develop key competencies.

Employers must also provide a starting wage of $11.00 per hour, increasing to $16.00 by the end of the program.

“The apprenticeship program was a great way to enhance our employee’s knowledge while growing her role on our farm. There are only so many hours in a day, so we cannot possibly expose her to everything she really needs to know about farming. Having the outside educational components [through the program] allowed her to expand her knowledge without taking any of our time,” said Katie Sattazahn of Zahncroft Dairy, one of the employer farms in the program.

To qualify, apprentices must be at least 18 years old and possess a high school diploma or GED. They are required to complete 3,000 hours of paid, hands-on training and 216 hours of unpaid technical instruction.

Visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/apprenticeship for more details. For questions, contact Michelle Shearer at mshearer@centerfordairyexcellence.org or 570-768-8316.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-baranozdemir