The UW-Platteville Pioneer Dairy Farm has proven to be a hands-on educational tool for many of the university’s agricultural students. The farm offers job opportunities for students wanting to be involved in agricultural work. Student employees work an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, while some put in over 30 hours per week, working in the dairy, swine and beef centers.

“Their job responsibilities are quite varied,’ Alicia Prill-Adams, assistant farm director, said. “Students who work in dairy are mainly milking, feeding calves and cleaning up the barns. Those in the swine center work with breeding, processing piglets, weighing, cleaning and pressure washing.’

Students work hours during the school year and summer. Employees also help with harvesting and other odd jobs.

“Students also assist in the beef center enterprises and with research projects that are ongoing at the farm,’ Prill-Adams said.

Julie Retzlaff, a freshman animal science major, has been working at the farm both semesters this school year. Retzlaff grew up on a small 40-cow dairy farm. She milks cows, feed calves and does odd jobs mostly in the dairy center at the Pioneer farm.

“Working on the farm is a lot of fun,’ Retzlaff said. “It also gives me a lot of experience and will help me out in the future when I’m looking for a job.’

Students working at the farm have to be willing to work and sometimes miss out on campus activities because of their work schedule.

Renee Sternhagen, a junior animal science major, has been working at the Pioneer Dairy Farm since last August. Sternhagen originally hails from Milwaukee, but transferred to UW-P this year.

“I did not grow up in a farm,’ Sternhagen said. “I am from Milwaukee; I’m a city girl turned farm girl. I wanted to be involved in a career that is a lifestyle, and farming is something that I have become very passionate about.’

Sternhagen works in the dairy, beef and swine centers at the farm. Sternhagen and Retzlaff both enjoy working with people and the experiences they gain at the farm. The girls said that their least favorite thing about working at the farm is working during the cold winter conditions.

“I enjoy being involved with something that I can interact with: not only animals, but with people who share the same drive and passion about the lifestyle,’ Sternhagen said.

The Pioneer Dairy Farm is located at 29200 College Farm Road, Platteville, WI 53818.