POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — The College of the Ozarks dairy farm was recently featured on the television program, “Holstein America,” on RFD-TV. The full program is now available online.
Watch today at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvtL3cXbaH4
The video feature was created in December 2023. Eric Grant, of Grant Company and in association with Holstein USA, visited the campus and spent time in the dairy operation for a 24-hour immersive experience. Grant interviewed many of the dairy students and staff members on campus.
A new podcast was released last week on the Branson Podcast Network featuring dairy staff and student workers as well. One of those students was Madison Calton, senior agricultural business major from Tishomingo, Oklahoma. She has worked in the dairy for three years, with no experience in dairy farming growing up. She grew up on a hog farm.
“It has been fun to see our work showcased in this way,” Calton said. “We don’t expect that, but it’s great to see others on our campus and beyond get a fuller glimpse of what we do and how rewarding it truly is. We are a family here in our workstation, and the animals are definitely a part of that.”
Devoted to hard work and the success of the dairy industry on campus, the dairy staff and students work together in a special and unique place on campus. They love what they do and are committed to their workplace. This becomes evident as guests visit and watch the cows being milked, walk through the barns with newborn calves, and interact with student workers.
“Through this experience of working at the dairy over the last few years, I found a special love for the dairy industry,” Calton said.
Approximately 30 students work in the dairy, and they put in between 12-20 hours per week. Ryan Bilyeu, dairy manager and alum of the College, loves educating students in his workstation.
“They are like sponges, all just wanting to learn,” Bilyeu said. “This is an important time to have with the students, to really mentor them and teach them. We want them to be successful when they leave the College.”
“It’s always like that saying, ‘If you find a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life,’ and that’s what the dairy industry here is for me especially,” said Niki South, senior agriculture major.
The majors and minors of students that work in the dairy include agribusiness, agricultural development, agriculture education, agronomy, animal science, and horticulture.
To listen to the podcast about the College of the Ozarks dairy, visit the following website: https://soundcloud.com/ozarksdynacom/college-of-the-ozarks-our-story-episode-2-a-visit-with-the-college-dairy.
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