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Our Accomplishments
The Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers opened its doors in 1995. Over the last seven years the school has helped over ninety students earn their certificate in grass-based dairying. Recently, we completed a survey of seventy-four of those graduates and learned just how big an effect our program has had on their lives.
Helping New Farmers
Our results show the School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers has helped our students establish or start to establish fifty-three new farm businesses in less than a single decade. Even those students who haven't started their own businesses overwhelmingly told us they've gone on to have highly successful careers in dairying, managed grazing, and other farm-related industries.
| Participation | Started Their Own Business | Continuing To Plan Their Own Business |
|---|---|---|
| Classroom and Internship (30 Graduates) |
36% | 46% |
| Classroom Only (26 Graduates) |
23% | 36% |
| Distance Education (18 Graduates) |
50% | 33% |
| Totals | 34% | 38% |
| Totals out of 74 total responses | ||
It just goes to show that if you have the drive to be a grass-based dairy farmer the WSBDF can help get you on the right track.
"I don't know that the class could have been any better for me"
Joe Sattler, Class of 1996