Other Opportunities


U-DAIRE: Undergraduate Development and Internship Research Experience

Details

  • Paid Summer Internship
    • 9 Weeks: Summer 2025
      • June 2 -August 1
    • $5,400 Stipend
  • Leadership Development
    • Leadership Training Session on-campus at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
  • Dairy Industry Experience
    • Work experience at a Value-Added Dairy Enterprise or Research Lab in Tennessee, North Carolina, or, Kentucky

Applications due in March 2025! Click here for more information!

Assessing Value-Added Dairy Business Expansion Workshop Series

Session 1: Hal Pepper, Extension Specialist, Center for Profitable Agriculture

Topics: Questions to consider when expanding a value-added dairy business and how to apply for the USDA’s Value-Added Producer Grant.

Watch Here

Session 2: Matthew Wade, Director of Farm Laboratories, Middle Tennessee State University

Topics: Case study for growing a value-added dairy enterprise at MTSU.

Watch Here

Session 3: Sarah Cornelisse, Senior Extension Associate, Penn State

Topics: Tools for analyzing feasibility and profitability for value-added dairy businesses.

Watch Here.

2025 Value-Added Dairy Experiential Short Course

You asked, we listened! Many of the dairy producers and processors we serve have gotten to know each other very well throughout the years by participating in various SDBII events; however, due to the geographic locations and distance between their operations, few have been able to step foot on each other’s operations. This year, we are thrilled to announce that our Experiential Short Course will be merged with the Southeast Value-Added Dairy Conference, with visits to Southeastern operations leading up to and following the conference to allow bus trip participants a chance to truly visit their neighbors in the South and see the ideas they’ve heard for years with their own eyes.

For those accepted into the course, conference registration and lodging will be covered free of charge. Those accepted will also be eligible for up to $700 to defray the cost of travel to Knoxville. After the conference, participants will continue on with the group visiting small-scale processors in Western and Central North Carolina concluding on Monday August 4. 

Apply to participate in the course HERE.  

Course Itinerary

Wednesday, July 30

  • Visits to Sweetwater Valley Farm and The University of Tennessee Little River Dairy Unit

Thursday, July 31 and Friday, August 1

  • Southeast Value-Added Dairy Conference – University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Saturday, August 2

  • Visits to Looking Glass Creamery & Goat Lady Dairy

Sunday, August 3

  • Visits to Celebrity Dairy & Ran-Lew Dairy  

Monday, August 4 

  • Visit Homeland Creamery and return to Knoxville 

2025 American Cheese Society Travel Stipends

Through USDA Dairy Business Innovation Initiative resources, UT’s Center for Dairy Advancement and Sustainability is pleased to provide stipends to assist value-added dairy producers or key personnel in the Southeast Region (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia) to participate in the 2025 American Cheese Society (ACS) Conference. Selected individuals will be reimbursed up to $1,500 to help defray registration and selected travel expenses to attend the 2025 ACS Conference in Sacramento, CA between July 23-26.

Eligibility is open to owners, managers, or key personnel of the following operation types located in the Southeast Region. Eligible applicants must be affiliated with either an existing or prospective value-added dairy operation. Existing value-added dairy operations must be producing and marketing value-added dairy products (from cattle, sheep, goats, etc.) such as fluid milk, butter, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, soaps, lotions, or other cosmetics. Operations working toward becoming licensed dairy product manufacturers within the next 12 months are eligible to apply as well. Up to two applicants may apply per dairy operation.


Stipends will be issued as reimbursements once proof of expenses has been provided. Stipends may take 8-12 weeks to process after the conference is concluded. Applicants may be reimbursed up to $1,500. For those who demonstrate expenses less than $1,500, a lower reimbursement amount will be provided to cover expenses in full. 

For more information about the American Cheese Society Conference click HERE

To apply for a travel stipend, click HERE by July 15. 

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