Calves, confidence, and community abound for kids at Gopher Dairy Camp

By Allison Foss, Gopher Dairy Camp co-chair 

The Gopher Dairy Camp kicked off on June 12 at the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus. Forty-one students from grades 6 through 9 participated in the three-day camp. Campers had the opportunity to gain skills in dairy showmanship, fitting their animals, learning the importance of nutrition, and acquiring tips and tricks on how to judge dairy, as well as making new friends!

To kick off the camp, the kids started with icebreaker activities to meet their fellow campers. They participated in group games to earn “Gopher Gold,” which would be used during the annual Gopher Gold Auction later that day. Keenan Thygesen brought lots of excitement as the auctioneer when the kids bid on which calf they would use for the weekend. After the campers purchased their calves, they spent time working with them before heading back to 17th Residence Hall to get some rest.

Friday morning started early as the campers attended two workshops in Ruttan Hall, where Dr. Isaac Salfer led a session on dairy nutrition and Ben Styer, a CFANS ‘25 graduate, led a session on dairy judging. For some fun, the campers visited the Science Museum of Minnesota, where they explored interactive exhibits and competed in a foot race against dinosaurs. Afterward, the campers attended their fitting workshop, where counselor Keenan Thygesen and CFANS alumni, Chandler Kurth, did not disappoint. The kids then applied what they learned to their calves. After dinner, the camp counselors hosted a mock showmanship contest to give all the campers practice before the show!

Saturday was the day the kids had been waiting for. They woke up early and started preparing for the showmanship contest. The contest was held successfully in the Livestock Pavilion at the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus, with guest judge Ashley Hagenow (the 76th Alice in Dairyland) who graduated from CFANS with a degree in agricultural communication and marketing in 2023. Gopher Dairy Camp ended with lunch and an awards banquet to recognize the top showmen and other camp achievements. Nearly 150 youth and adults attended the luncheon.

Gopher Dairy Camp would not have been possible without the help of many volunteers, including counselors, alumni, co-chairs, food service staff, U of M faculty, and sponsors such as the MN Livestock Breeders’ Assoc., MN 4-H Dairy Project Committee, Midwest ET, Compeer Financial, MN Foundation for Agriculture, UdderTech, Neogen, MN Holstein Foundation, Kwik Trip, Nelson Milk Hauling, Leedstone, Midwest Dairy, MJHA, and Mirada Sales and Services. Thank you!

Learn more about the Gopher Dairy Camp that is held each June.