NewsNationalTwo Americas

Actions

Efforts underway to bring students into Wisconsin's dairy industry, as state sees fewer farms

Screen Shot 2022-01-24 at 1.01.01 PM.png
Posted at 5:22 AM, Jan 28, 2022
and last updated 2022-01-28 18:45:38-05

KEWASKUM, Wis. — Wisconsin is America’s Dairyland, yet the crop of new farmers is growing smaller.

Our state’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection reports 1,499 dairy farms were lost in the last three years. It went down from 8,110 to 6,611 dairy farms. That’s a 19.5 percent drop.

Screen Shot 2022-01-24 at 12.59.31 PM.png

In our Two America’s report, we show you how one school transformed the way they are getting students interested in the Ag industry: By bringing the farm to them!

High schoolers Adrianna Cherubini and Sam Fischer feel right at home feeding a baby calf inside Kewaskum High School.

Screen Shot 2022-01-24 at 1.01.01 PM.png

“I want to be able to run cattle but also manage a herd,” said Cherubini.

Through the high school’s ‘Career Pathway Program,’ a paid internship allows 17-year-old Cherubini to get hands-on experience on this 100-cow dairy farm, just minutes from school.

“The Ag department has helped me see what I want to do, and I want to be able to get there and be the first generation of it," said Cherubini.

David Lettow is the third-generation farm owner.

Screen Shot 2022-01-24 at 1.00.18 PM.png

Lettow took a similar path as Adrianna when he went to Kewaskum High School. He believes it helps everyone build a strong work ethic, adding, “it helps us out because we need the help part time, because we're a smaller farm.”

Screen Shot 2022-01-24 at 12.59.01 PM.png

Nurturing our next generation is vital in creating more farms in America’s Dairyland.

Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip