The 2025 Midwest American Dairy Science Association Undergraduate Student Division (ADSA-USD) Regional Meeting marked a long-anticipated return after a five-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Hosted by Iowa State University from January 24-26, the three-day conference provided undergraduate dairy students with the opportunity to connect with other dairy clubs, compete in dairy-related contests, and explore the dairy community near Ames, Iowa.
UW–Madison was one of eight schools in attendance, with eighteen students representing Badger Dairy Club. Students were selected through an application process to attend and participate in the weekend’s events.
Engaging Presentations & Career Networking
The conference opened with insightful presentations from industry leaders:
- Dr. Donald Beitz, past ADSA President, shared his experiences in ADSA.
- A young professionals panel—featuring Bonnie Anderson, Harrison Furlow, Nicole Gudenkauf, Kinsee Lettinga, and Julia Merten—discussed their transition from college to the dairy industry.
- Steve Bohr from Farm Financial Strategies led a session on farm transition planning.
Later in the evening, students participated in a career networking dinner, engaging with recent graduates and dairy industry professionals. This experience proved especially valuable as students prepared for their post-graduation job searches.
Competitions & Dairy Bowl
Students tested their knowledge of dairy production, quality assessment, and industry practices through a series of competitions in a Skill-A-Thon format. Participants from UW–Madison were able to connect their learning in the classroom to the events tested in the Skill-A-Thon.
“Through participating in the Skill-A-Thon at the Midwest Regional ADSA convention, I had the opportunity to test and improve skills that I had previously learned but also gain exposure to aspects of the dairy industry that I had never interacted with before. For example, I was able to practice the skill of artificially inseminating a dairy cow, which I had learned in my Animal Science 102 lab, and I also saw a genetic makeup for a dairy cow for the first time,” as reported by freshman Olivia Uttech, Dairy Science major.
Each university identified select teams, while all attendees participated in rotational contests. UW–Madison’s teams included:
- Dairy Products Evaluation: Grace Mansell, Maryann Gudenkauf, Brooke Meinholz, and Isaiah Hoffman
- Dairy Judging: Kylie Konyn, Isaiah Hoffman, Emma Vos, and Emma Dorshorst
The weekend concluded with Dairy Bowl competitions, where UW–Madison was well-represented:
- Junior Team: Kelsey Hardy, Brianna Meyer, Brooklyn Schwoerer, and Garrett Ulness
- Senior Team: Lauren Breunig, Clarissa Ulness, Kylie Konyn, and Emma Dorshorst
Congratulations to the Dairy Products Evaluation Team and the Junior Dairy Bowl team for being the High Overall team in their respective competitions! Also, congratulations to Kylie Konyn for earning 3rd overall individual in the Skill-A-Thon contest! We are very proud of our UW-Madison students and the representation of our university.
Exploring Iowa’s Dairy Industry
Saturday was dedicated to industry tours, allowing students to explore Iowa’s agricultural landscape. Badger Dairy Club members visited Iowa State University’s Dairy Research and Teaching Unit as well as Marshall Ridge Farms. Kelsey Hardy, sophomore Dairy Science student, reflects on the university farm, as “a very informative experience to learn about how they operate their farm and the research projects their university is involved in.”
In the afternoon, students then split into groups to tour either Lely North America or Grand View Beef Farm. These tours allowed students to connect with peers from other schools while exploring different agriculture outlets. The tour day concluded with a night of entertainment playing mini golf.
Lauren Breunig, junior Life Sciences Communication student writes, “During ADSA, I attended the tour of Grand View Beef, where we learned how the Severson family expanded their cow-calf operation to market grass-fed, grass-finished beef directly to businesses and consumers nationwide. Throughout the tour, they encouraged thinking outside the box, asking questions, and growing from mistakes. I enjoyed learning about their new farmer and regenerative agriculture loans and partnerships with local producers that make their business venture and growth possible.”
Midwest ADSA-USD Business Meeting & Officer Elections
On January 25, the Midwest ADSA-USD Business Meeting was held, providing feedback on the newly restructured conference and electing a new officer team.
Badger Dairy Club proudly congratulates Chloe Breunig, freshman Dairy Science student, who was elected Officer At-Large on the 2025 Midwest ADSA-USD Regional Officer Team! Chloe writes, “I had a great first year at ASDA learning and getting to know students from a variety of places across the country! I am excited to contribute to planning next year’s ADSA meeting and continue meeting students involved in the dairy industry as I serve on the officer team.” We look forward to supporting Chloe in this role and seeing her contribution at the 2026 ADSA Regional Meeting.
Looking Ahead
Reflecting on the experience, the Midwest ADSA-USD Regional Meeting proved to be an invaluable opportunity for professional growth, industry networking, and hands-on learning. UW –Madison students returned home motivated and inspired, ready to apply their experiences to their studies and future careers in the dairy industry.
Maya Wiltzius reflects on her time at Midwest ADSA: “I had a great time at ADSA, meeting many people from different schools. It was especially insightful coming from someone without a dairy background. I loved being able to connect with industry leaders and other people who are so passionate about the dairy industry.” Wiltzius is a sophomore studying Animal and Veterinary Biosciences and Life Sciences Communication.
With next year’s conference set to be hosted by UW–Platteville, Badger Dairy Club is excited to continue its strong presence in ADSA and help shape the future of dairy science!
*All photos from Midwest Regional ADSA – USD Facebook Page by MC Photography