Dairy Programs at the University of Tennessee

06/04/2026

We kicked off June Dairy Month in Tennessee with our June Dairy Month Poster Contest! 🌟

In total, 449 posters were submitted across the state from 4-H students to their perspective county offices! Of these, each county submitted their first-place poster to the state competition. The poster contests entries were judged on creativity, readability, use of theme, and educational content. This year's theme was Milk's Got Game, with an emphasis on the students' interpretation on what Milk's Got Game means to them. State poster winners were announced at this year's June Dairy Month Kick-Off on May 28, 2026.

🥇First place: Rusalina Biktimirova of Hamilton County; Agent: Nancy Rucker
🥈Second place: Jase Hare of Cannon County; Agent: Jaclyn Hare-Smith
🥉Third place: Beau Kelly of Hamblen County; Agent: Elizabeth Hobbs

Congratulations to our state and county winners! All submitted posters to the state competition will be available for viewing at this year's Tennessee State Fair!

UT & TSU Extension - Hamilton County | Cannon County Extension Office | UT Extension - Hamblen County

06/03/2026

So proud of all the students recognized last week at the June Dairy Month Kickoff! Thank you to Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation for photography and videography!

05/15/2026

Our UT team had a great time tasting product today during the 2026 Southeast and Tennessee State Fair Dairy Product Competitions! 🥛🧀🍦

Thanks to our region’s producers, we broke a record this year with a total of 95 entries! Stay tuned for award recipient announcements. Overall Southeast and individual state winners will be recognized during the Southeast Value-Added Dairy Conference on July 30th in Knoxville, Tennessee. 👀

Dairy Programs at the University of Tennessee

05/11/2026

Don't forget to submit your products for the Tennessee Dairy Products Competition this week!

🧀🥛🍦 2026 Tennessee and Southeast Dairy Products Competition information 🍦🥛🧀

This year, the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative is pooling resources with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture by simultaneously running the TN State Fair Dairy Products Competition and the Southeast Farmstead Dairy Products Competition. The judging dates will be May 15th. Judges will be available for scheduled online consultations on May 16th.

For more information on the competition, registration, product delivery, and award ceremony, visit our website at tiny.utk.edu/2026DPC

To register, visit tiny.utk.edu/2026DPCRegist

05/11/2026

Travel scholarship opportunity through SDBII!

Are YOU interested in attending this year's American Cheese Society Annual Conference in Louisville, KY from July 7th to the 10th? Well, do we have some news for you! 🧀

SDBII is pleased to provide travel scholarships to assist value-added dairy producers or key personnel in the Southeast region to participate and attend the 2026 ACS Conference. Selected individuals will be reimbursed up to $1,500 to help defray registration and selected travel expenses to attend.

🔗 For more information about the American Cheese Society Conference, visit https://www.cheesesociety.org/conference/2026-conference

🏆 For more information on SDBII Travel Scholarships and to apply, visit tiny.utk.edu/ACS2026

Applications for travel assistance are due by May 27, 2026, to allow selected participants to register for the event in a timely manner.

05/04/2026

Don't forget to submit your products next week for the Tennessee Dairy Products Competition!

🧀🥛🍦 2026 Tennessee and Southeast Dairy Products Competition information 🍦🥛🧀

This year, the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative is pooling resources with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture by simultaneously running the TN State Fair Dairy Products Competition and the Southeast Farmstead Dairy Products Competition. The judging dates will be May 15th. Judges will be available for scheduled online consultations on May 16th.

For more information on the competition, registration, product delivery, and award ceremony, visit our website at tiny.utk.edu/2026DPC

To register, visit tiny.utk.edu/2026DPCRegist

04/21/2026

Reminder: April's Webinar Wednesday is TOMORROW!

Join us Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET for April's Webinar Wednesday! Dr. Benjamin Wenner, Feedworks USA Ruminant Technical Services Manager, will be joining us to discuss all things byproducts!

Registration for the UT Dairy Webinar Wednesday series is FREE but required to attend. Register here: tiny.utk.edu/WW26Registration

This meeting will be eligible for Tennessee Master Dairy Producer credit if applicable. Feel free to share this with anyone who may be interested!

04/21/2026

Taking a minute to brag on one of our own! 🌟 Most of you probably know Dr. Liz Eckelkamp from her extension work with Tennessee dairy producers or her work as the Director of the UT Center for Dairy Advancement and Sustainability (CDAS) and the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative (SDBII), but what you don't see is her work with the undergraduates here at UTK.

Dr. Eckelkamp was recognized during last Friday's UT Herbert College of Agriculture's Award Reception as this year's recipient of the Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award! We are so proud of her! 🐄

04/09/2026

🧀🥛🍦 2026 Tennessee and Southeast Dairy Products Competition information 🍦🥛🧀

This year, the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative is pooling resources with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture by simultaneously running the TN State Fair Dairy Products Competition and the Southeast Farmstead Dairy Products Competition. The judging dates will be May 15th. Judges will be available for scheduled online consultations on May 16th.

For more information on the competition, registration, product delivery, and award ceremony, visit our website at tiny.utk.edu/2026DPC

To register, visit tiny.utk.edu/2026DPCRegist

04/07/2026

Join us Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET for April's Webinar Wednesday! Dr. Benjamin Wenner, Feedworks USA Ruminant Technical Services Manager, will be joining us to discuss all things byproducts!

Registration for the UT Dairy Webinar Wednesday series is FREE but required to attend. Register here: tiny.utk.edu/WW26Registration

This meeting will be eligible for Tennessee Master Dairy Producer credit if applicable. Feel free to share this with anyone who may be interested!