Upper Midwest Dairy Industry Association Scholarship
2026 Upper Midwest Dairy Industry Scholarship Application Now Open
Apply for the UMDIA scholarship by viewing the application below. Applications are due February 10, 2026.
Minimum eligibility for UMDIA Scholarship Applications:
- Pursuing a degree in Animal Science with emphasis in dairy, Dairy Science, Food Animal Veterinary Medicine, Dairy Manufacturing, Dairy Technology or Dairy Food Science. (Other degree programs may be considered if there is strong evidence of commitment and contribution to the dairy industry.).
- Applicants that have completed their freshman year or greater will be considered.
- Awarded for the 2026-2027 academic year and paid in October 2026 and paid directly to the school.
- Applicants will only be awarded the scholarship once during their academic career.
- Completed at least one semester with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Plans to complete their degree program with the intent to come back and serve the Upper Midwest dairy industry.
- Reference letter (from a faculty member or dairy industry leader, not a family member).
Congratulations to our 2025 Scholarship Winners
This year, there were nine scholarship recipients for 2025. The scholarships were set up to recognize individuals pursuing an education in a field that will enhance the safety of dairy and food products. These individuals were recognized at our fall conference in St. Cloud at our awards banquet.
Read more about the recipients below.
Maggie Cronk
Iowa State University
Veterinary Medicine
Maggie Cronk grew up in Ames, Iowa and attended North Dakota State University. Maggie is currently pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine at Iowa State University. Maggie has always had ties back to the dairy industry growing up on a dairy farm in west central Minnesota. Maggie plans to be a large animal veterinarian and understands how vital veterinarians are to the dairy community.
Hayley Daubert
South Dakota State University
Dairy Manufacturing
Hayley Daubert is attending South Dakota State University majoring in Dairy Manufacturing. Hayley chose to major in dairy manufacturing, in order to broaden her knowledge of the whole dairy industry. Hayley studies has included many aspects of the dairy industry but food safety has piqued her interest.
Sydney Haag
Purdue University
Animal Science
Sydney Haag is studying animal science at Purdue University. Sydney worked within several areas of the dairy industry including the Purdue University Large Animal Hospital, as a Milk Testing Technician for the Indiana State Dairy Association, as an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Boerman’s dairy nutrition and technology lab, and for Genex. She has learned about how to communicate to young people about animal health, biosecurity, animal handling, showmanship, and milking as well as working with different personalities.
Katelyn Ketchum
University of Wisconsin – River Falls
Agircultural Education
Katelyn Ketchum is from Altura, Minnesota and attending the University of Wisconsin – River Falls for Agricultural Education. Katelyn grew up on a dairy farm and chose to major of agricultural education because it plays a large role in supporting the agricultural community. Katelyn wants to make a meaningful impact on future generations and the way they view agriculture. Growing up on her family’s dairy farm ignited her passion in agriculture and has provided her with a unique perspective on both the consumer and producer sides of food production.
Claire Lutz
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, College of Veterinary Medicine
DVM Program
Claire Lutz is studying to be a veterinarian at the University of Minnesota. Growing up on a dairy farm has fueled Claire’s vision for dairy veterinary medicine and the desire to build a career in the field. Growing up with both dairy and beef cattle has given Claire valuable hands-on experience and a deep appreciation for agriculture and the dairy industry. Claire’s plan to continue working in the dairy industry as a future veterinarian, embracing new challenges and experiences by working and collaborating with farmers to increase revenue on their dairy farms.
Ting Mao
South Dakota State University
Dairy Science
Ting Mao is originally from China but is pursuing an advanced degree in dairy science at South Dakota State University. Ting grew up in a rural area surrounded by dairy farms, and developed a deep appreciation for dairy from an early age. During Ting’s undergraduate studies in food science, Ting became interested in sustainability and functional food research and furthered her studies in nutritional science and passion for dairy especially the nutritional composition of dairy products and their role in health. Ting is pursuing a PhD in dairy science, focusing on milk proteins as delivery systems for polyphenols to enhance their bioavailability and health benefits.
Luke McCullough
University of Wisconsin -Madison
Veterinary Medicine
Luke McCullough is a first year veterinary student at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Luke grew up on a small beef cattle farm and showed beef cattle at the county fair, while his grandparents and extended family had dairy cattle. Luke also worked on a 100-cow dairy farm throughout middle and high school to save money for college. Luke started working at the on campus Dairy Cattle Center as a student employee at the beginning of his freshman year. Luke was a member of Badger Dairy Club during undergrad, and spent a lot of time working at World Dairy Expo with set-up, working the show ring, helping in the grilled cheese stand, etc.
Tyler Ratka
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Animal Science
Tyler Ratka did not grow up on a farm but has been involved in the dairy industry for nearly his whole life. Tyler started leasing dairy cattle at the age of five and was involved in 4-H, FFA, and MN Junior Holstein Association. Tyler worked at Lahr farms and has grown Tyler’s desire to give back to the industry that given so much to him over the years. Tyler is currently studying Animal Science at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and is a sophomore.
Addison Wemark
University of Wisconsin – Platteville
Dairy Science
Addison Wemark has a deep connection to agriculture which is why Addison chosen to study Dairy Science at the University of Wisconsin Platteville. After earning a degree, Addison plans to return to the family’s dairy farm, and improve efficiency and sustainability for the future of the operation. Agriculture’s constant evolution excites Addison, and aims to contribute to this growth through innovative, sustainable practices. Addison plans to play a role in advancing the family’s dairy farm and ensure its success for generations to come.
Past Scholarship Award Recipients
The scholarship program is funded by members and supporters of the Upper Midwest Dairy Industry Association. In addition we received a generous donation from Nelson-Jameson and the Central Plains Dairy Foundation to expand the number of scholarships we were able to offer this year.
Nelson-Jameson is a trusted source of food processing supplies, that represents over 850 vendors and distributes over 55,000 products in the broad categories of: processing; maintenance/repair/operations, laboratory and QA/QC, ingredients, packaging, and chemicals.
Nelson-Jameson products are backed by an expert staff, with a vast amount of plant experience and technical expertise, creating a unique environment of personal service and commitment to your products. The products they offer strive to help lower transaction costs while providing the products and services needed to produce safe, quality food. The Central Plains Dairy Foundation, an independent 501(c)3 organization, is committed to investing in proactive programming supporting the dairy industry along the I-29 Corridor in South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota.
