Dairy Club at SDSU shines at regional meeting

Thirteen members of the Dairy Club at South Dakota State University recently traveled to Platteville, Wisconsin, to take part in the Midwest Regional American Dairy Science Association Undergraduate Student Division meeting, hosted by the Pioneer Dairy Club at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

The regional meeting brings together American Dairy Science Association student affiliate chapters from across the Midwest, uniting students with shared interests in dairy cattle production and dairy foods.

“The conference includes a young professionals panel where four young professionals in the industry talk about what they’ve done with ADSA when they were in college and what they do now,” Dairy Club President Dillion Sparrgrove said. “It’s a big networking opportunity. You meet people from across the country who have different ideas. A lot of animal science students who have little knowledge about dairy attend, but it’s that networking ability there that really puts ADSA above a lot of other conferences.”

Throughout the event, attendees participated in educational sessions, industry tours and networking activities that connected them with dairy professionals and fellow students pursuing careers in dairy production and manufacturing. Attendees could also compete in team, individual and club competitions, where SDSU students excelled.

Hayley Daubert won the Skill-A-Thon and competed on the high‑placing Dairy Products team with Ian Spoke, Allie Luedert and Vanessa Gonzalez. Logan Guilette placed second in Dairy Judging, and the club earned second place in the display competition.

In addition to the club’s strong performance, Sparrgrove was announced as the 2026 Midwest American Dairy Science Association Undergraduate Student Division president, a leadership role that will help guide the regional student division in the coming year.

“A huge congratulations and thanks to all our Dairy Club members and their advisers, Maristela Rovai and Prafulla Salunke,” said Londa Nwadike, David A. Thompson Endowed Department Head of the Department of Food and Dairy Science. “Thanks to all who have supported our Dairy Club members.”

Looking ahead, the Dairy Club at SDSU will host the 2027 Midwest Regional American Dairy Science Association Undergraduate Student Division meeting in Brookings.

“We have a lot of people, the dairy club executive team and club members, who are interested in heading up the planning committee for next year. Dairy Club has been my rock. We do activities all the time for the club and you learn a lot,” Sparrgrove noted.

Additional information can be found on the Department of Dairy and Food Science website.