By Blake Jackson
Penn State had a strong performance at the 2026 North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge, where the contest team placed second in its bracket. The event was held in Sioux Falls from April 12 to 14 and brought together students from many colleges.
The competition was hosted by Dordt University, Iowa State University, and South Dakota State University. A total of 45 schools joined the event, with 144 contestants and 139 academy participants. Many coaches, volunteers, and company representatives also supported the program.
Penn State’s contest team included Jay Bratton, Rylan Curran, Hannah Mansfield, and Jessica Fleiser. Five more students joined the academy portion of the event. The group was coached by Leoni F. Martins and Dr. Chad Dechow, with additional support from student and graduate leaders.
Martins said, "Our team handled the pressure of the competition very well and showed strong analytical thinking and teamwork throughout. I am proud of our students who invested their time preparing for this competition and sharpening their skills to serve our dairy industry."
Students worked in a real-world setting where they had only 24 hours to study farm records, visit the dairy, ask questions, and build recommendations. They then presented ideas to judges from the dairy industry.
This year, Penn State students reviewed Tri-Cross Dairy and Boadwine Farms Inc., two large South Dakota operations. Tri-Cross Dairy uses a crossbreeding system and milks about 5,500 cows. Boadwine Farms is a family-owned dairy focused on innovation, renewable energy, and environmental care, milking about 4,600 cows.
Martins recognized the value to all students, saying, "I was very pleased with how the students performed. Beyond the results, what stands out is how much they grew through the process—working with students from across the country, applying what they've learned in the classroom, and thinking through real-world dairy management challenges."
The Dairy Challenge continues to help students build technical knowledge, leadership, communication, and career-ready skills for the future dairy industry.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-katie-ellement
Categories: Pennsylvania, Livestock, Dairy Cattle