Four Students Begin Hands-On Dairy Farm Internships in 2026

By Blake Jackson

Four college students pursuing careers in the dairy industry have started summer internships on progressive dairy farms across Pennsylvania and New York through a long-running workforce development program.

Established more than a decade ago by the Dairy Excellence Foundation, the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Dairymen's Association, the initiative helps prepare future dairy managers, producers, and industry professionals through practical, on-farm training.

“Every year, we work to match students with dairy farms that align with their interests and career goals, push them out of their comfort zones, and give them hands-on experience in specific areas of dairy production throughout their internship,” said Michelle Shearer, Workforce Development Manager at the Dairy Excellence Foundation.

“Not only are these students building on skills they learned in the classroom, such as completing on-farm culturing for clinical mastitis treatment, but they are gaining direct experience on different types of operations and with different types of technology. We look forward to seeing what type of impact these interns make this summer.”

The internship program runs for 10 to 12 weeks, allowing students to gain valuable experience while participating in virtual networking sessions with fellow interns.

Throughout the program, participants learn about the day-to-day responsibilities of managing successful dairy operations while working alongside experienced producers and farm managers.

Each intern also completes an individual research project focused on improving farm operations or addressing an area of personal career interest. Their findings will be presented at the end of the program in August.

2026 Dairy Internship Participants:

• Malayna Barnhart - Smith-Ziegler Farm and Hideaway Dairy, Lebanon, Pennsylvania
• Eliana Koehler - Walmoore Holsteins, West Grove, Pennsylvania
• Ainsley Sellers - Oakfield Corners Dairy, Oakfield, New York
• Jacob VanDoren - Zugstead Farm, Mifflintown, Pennsylvania

Applications for both host farms and student interns for the 2027 summer program will open on September 1, providing another opportunity to support the next generation of dairy industry leaders.

For more information, visit https://www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/for-students-and-educators/on-farm-internships/.

Photo Credit: center-for-dairy-excellence