Pam Jahnke
The Mid-West Farm Report

FFA members visiting the Wisconsin FFA Convention Expo had the opportunity to speak with a variety of businesses, schools, and training programs. One apprenticeship program featured at the expo focuses on training the next generation of dairy farmers.

Joe Tomandl is the Executive Director of the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship. He details the program and shares why he decided to speak with students at the Wisconsin FFA Convention.

Tomandl shares that this program is the only one of its kind in the country. It began in Wisconsin, but now spans 15 states and a little over 200 host farms.

Students who undergo this apprenticeship have the opportunity to spend two years working on a dairy farm and learning how to raise crops to support the cattle. Over the course of the program, they will rack up 4,000 hours of work experience and 300 hours of virtual education.

More information about the program can be found at https://www.dga-national.org/