The Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences takes great pride in recognizing the outstanding students in our program, and we are excited to showcase some of our amazing freshmen. Throughout the rest of the school year, we will feature these remarkable individuals through our “Student Spotlights” articles and social media posts.
This week we are excited to feature Nicholas Needham, a freshman Dairy Science student from Fennimore, Wisconsin. Growing up on a dairy farm, Nick developed a deep passion for agriculture, making UW–Madison the perfect place to further his education. With one of the nation’s top Dairy Science programs, the university has provided him with hands-on learning experiences that connect academics to real-world applications. Already involved in Badger Dairy Club and Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, Nick is making the most of his time on campus. His ultimate goal is to become a veterinarian and bring his expertise back to his family farm, helping to strengthen the future of Wisconsin’s dairy industry.
Why did you choose to attend UW–Madison?
Growing up in Wisconsin, I always had felt a special connection to UW–Madison, and that pushed me every day to work toward my goal of attending. I also knew that they had one of the most exquisite dairy and animal programs. This was right up my alley since I grew up on a dairy farm. I also want to be a veterinarian, and vet school here at UW is, if not, the best one in the nation.
What clubs/organizations/activities are you involved with or plan to be involved with?
I am involved in Badger Dairy Club and Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. I plan to continue dairy judging here at UW by joining the collegiate team. I would like to get involved in other clubs dealing with animals, their anatomy, and much more. Anything in the agricultural field interests me, so I intend to join those clubs as well.
Do you have an exciting class that you are taking/have taken and why?
I loved taking Animal Science 101 due to the instructors, Jackson Gille and Eric Ronk, who pushed me to be one of the best students I could be. I learned so much from the class because I got to be hands-on with animals and dissections. The class that I am currently taking, Dairy Science 205, I love as well. This class includes learning about how to linear judge dairy cattle, which I enjoy and is similar to FFA dairy judging.
What are you looking forward to most about being a student at UW-Madison/the city of Madison/or college in general?
I am most excited for the opportunities that I will get to experience and the people that I will meet. There is no better feeling than making a new friend or learning something that helps me reach my end goal here at UW. Overall, the campus is great, and it is by far the best school in the nation.
What are your future career plans?
My future plans are to graduate from UW–Madison, both for my bachelor’s degree and vet school. I would like to take my knowledge back to Fennimore to work as a veterinarian and on my family’s dairy farm.
What is your favorite spot on campus?
My favorite spot on campus is definitely Memorial Union because of the view over the lake and the delicious food they have to offer. If not there, I would have to say the Dairy Cattle Center because of the beautiful animals I adore.
What is your favorite Babcock ice cream flavor?
My favorite Babcock Ice Cream flavor is definitely Mnookie Dough, and I think the chancellor would agree, too!
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
A fun fact about me is that I was part of a dairy judging team that won state, where I placed in the top ten individually. We went on to become national finalists, and I earned a gold ranking. We competed in Ireland and took home the international championship title!