Megan Lauber - Moo-ving youth/dairy industry forward in Wisconsin through outreach programming

2026 Dairy Symposium hosted by UW–Madison: "Moo-ving youth and the dairy industry forward in Wisconsin through outreach programming" – Megan Lauber, animal and dairy sciences, UW–Madison Lauber is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where her research focuses on improving reproductive efficiency in dairy cattle, with an emphasis on fertility using sexed semen and the economic impacts of reproductive management. She holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Dairy Science from UW–Madison and brings extensive hands‑on and industry experience through work on her family’s dairy farm and internships with leading dairy organizations. Talk summary: Wisconsin is known as “America’s Dairyland” for its commitment to supporting and sustaining a robust dairy industry through research and outreach programs that serve stakeholders, including dairy farmers, dairy processors, and consumers. Agricultural jobs account for 9.5% of Wisconsin’s employment annually, and over the next five years, they are projected to increase. With fewer dairy farms and an older dairy workforce in Wisconsin, fewer students have an agricultural background that highlights educational and career opportunities within the dairy industry. Recruiting students from both agricultural and nonagricultural backgrounds is essential to sustain the dairy workforce and local communities in Wisconsin. This presentation will focus on the re-establishment of Badger Dairy Camp, a camp that educates youth about the breadth of areas contributing to Wisconsin's dairy industry to foster a positive experience and interest in pursuing higher education and a career in the dairy industry. 🌐 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: http://dairyinnovationhub.wisc.edu 👥 OUR SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter: https://x.com/dairy_hub Facebook:   / dairyinnovationhub   LinkedIn:   / dairy-innovation-hub