UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Forty members of the Dairy Science Club in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences traveled to the Netherlands during spring break to learn more about global agriculture and explore a new culture.
“Getting to broaden our horizons by experiencing a variety of agricultural practices in a different country was really something special,” said Jay Bratton, of Millerstown, who is the current club president and a junior majoring in agribusiness management and economics.
The Penn State Dairy Science Club serves the dairy industry and helps club members develop leadership qualities through industry and public service, campus dairy promotion events, youth education, member education and recognition, fundraising, and social activities.
Chad Dechow, associate professor of dairy cattle genetics, and Dale Olver, assistant teaching professor of dairy and animal science, co-advise the club.
“The opportunity to travel internationally helps our students realize the global nature of agricultural production and also allows them to learn about the histories and cultures of other nations,” Olver said. “Our club strives to build a strong sense of community, and these trips promote this camaraderie among members, too.”
The annual spring break trip is a highlight for students. Club members vote on a destination, alternating between traveling domestically and internationally. The selected destinations have strong agricultural industries, and students are heavily involved in planning the itinerary, which includes a mix of dairy-related stops, industry tours and cultural sites. Recent trips have taken students to Texas and Italy. Bratton noted that the club works hard to make the trip as cost-effective as possible.
Studying abroad can occur in many forms, and the Dairy Science Club is a great example of how students can combine their interest in dairy science with an international experience, noted Ketja Lingenfelter, assistant director for student global engagement in the college’s Ag Sciences Global unit.
“Thanks to the impressive leadership of Dale Olver and Chad Dechow, students can take ownership of their experience by fundraising, planning their destination and determining their itinerary,” she said. “This opportunity not only provided them with a memorable experience, but also developed skills and knowledge on a global level that can benefit them in their future careers.”
During the trip, the club members visited small family-owned farms and larger facilities. All the site visits highlighted the Dutch dairy industry’s commitment to cow comfort, profitability and environmental awareness.
One of the larger facilities the students visited was Coöperatie Rundvee Verbetering Dairy Breeding Center in Wirdum, Friesland. The students also visited the Dairy Campus in Leeuwarden, a leading research and training center, to learn about its goal to develop a sustainable dairy supply chain.
“Coming from a dairy background, I’d have to say my favorite part was touring the different farms,” Bratton said. “Getting to see the similarities and differences between practices in the United States and the Netherlands was truly fascinating.”
Next, the students visited Abmah Farm, which has a herd of nearly 400 cows milked by six M2erlin robots. These robots are manufactured nearby at Fullwood JOZ, a leading milking equipment manufacturer. The students got to see the assembly of a robotic milker from start to finish. The club members also learned more about the environmental regulations placed on the farms and the stricter protocols farmers must follow related to things such as manure management and milk production.
Madison Benfer, of Curryville, is a senior animal science major who will graduate this spring. She was the club’s president during the 2023-24 academic year and helped plan and coordinate the trip.
“In Amsterdam, we stayed in a hostel, which I have never done before,” she said. “Besides visiting industry sites, we got to explore the city with a walking tour and a canal tour. We also visited Zaanse Schans, a historic village, as well as the Royal Holland Flora Flower Auction and a daffodil farm. My favorite part was seeing the flower auction and learning how cut flowers get distributed around the world.”
Bratton added that understanding and respecting different cultures is important as students move through their lives and professional careers.
“The trip also helped us to grow closer as a club and enabled members to gain a new respect for international agriculture,” he said.
Deanna Behring, assistant dean for international programs and director of Ag Sciences Global, emphasized the importance of students exploring global perspectives on agricultural innovation through travel to destinations such as the Netherlands.
“Renowned for its cutting-edge advancements in technology and sustainability, the Netherlands — despite its modest geographic size — ranks among the world’s leading agricultural exporters,” she said. “Its global influence is particularly notable in sectors such as ornamental horticulture, dairy, eggs, meat and vegetable production.”
For more information about the Dairy Science Club, follow the club on Facebook or Instagram at @pennstatedairyscienceclub.