Herds And Her Workshop Supports Skill Building for Women in Dairy

By Blake Jackson

A special workshop designed to support women working in the dairy industry will take place on December 11, 2025, at the Central Milk Testing Laboratory in State College, Pennsylvania.

This event, titled “Herds and Her: Empowering Women in Dairy,” is the second in a series created to help women strengthen their knowledge, confidence, and leadership in dairy farming. The program will be held from 9:15 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and registration closes on December 9.

The workshop is presented in a hands on, boot camp style format, giving participants the chance to learn practical skills they can apply immediately on their farms.

The program focuses on key areas of dairy production, including milk quality, financial decision making, calf health, and herd lameness prevention. These topics are essential for ensuring successful and sustainable dairy operations.

Participants will learn how to culture milk samples to help identify issues that affect milk quality. This knowledge can support better udder health and improved production. Another session will guide attendees through calculating their farm’s breakeven point, a valuable skill for making informed financial decisions and managing expenses.

The workshop also includes training on serum total protein analysis, a method used to evaluate how well calves receive immunity from colostrum shortly after birth. Ensuring proper immunity is critical for raising healthy young animals.

Hoof health is another important focus of the event. Participants will learn how to identify early signs of lameness and ways to prevent it, helping maintain cow comfort and productivity.

All sessions are led by experienced instructors who work closely with dairy producers across the region.

The workshop is intended for women who own, manage, or work on dairy farms. It also provides an encouraging space for peer collaboration, allowing participants to share ideas, ask questions, and build supportive connections with others in the industry.

Funding for the event is provided through a grant from Northeast Extension Risk Management Education.

By offering hands on training and expert guidance, the “Herds and Her” workshop helps women build the skills needed to support healthy herds, stronger operations, and greater confidence in their daily farming roles.

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