NMPF Names 2024 National Dairy Leadership Scholarship Recipients

The National Milk Producers Federation Board of Directors has selected five graduate students pursuing research in areas that benefit dairy cooperatives and producers to receive fellowships as part of the 2024 NMPF National Dairy Leadership Fellowship Program. Fellowship recipients include:

Agustín Olivo, a PhD candidate in animal science at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, Olivo’s research focuses on the evaluation and dissemination of systems analysis tools and performance indicators to improve environmental outcomes on New York dairies.

Ana Beatriz Montevecchio Bernardino, PhD candidate in veterinary clinical sciences at the University of Florida in Gainesville, is studying the effect of a new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory formulation on the welfare of Holstein cows infected with E. coli.

Grant Fincham, a master’s candidate in ruminant nutrition at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, examines whole-animal energy utilization and biogas production from manure when feeding dried distillers grains with solubles to lactating dairy cows.

Lynn Olthof, a PhD candidate in animal science and dairy farm management at Michigan State University, studies the economic implications of dairy farm management decisions.

Megan Lauber, a PhD candidate in dairy science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is investigating an integrated approach to optimizing sexed semen in dairy herds.

“Congratulations to each of this year’s NMPF scholarship recipients,” said Gregg Doud, NMPF president and CEO. “Supporting high-quality research in the dairy sector benefits our members and cooperatives, which is fundamentally what NMPF strives to do every day. We look forward to the contributions these scholars will make to the dairy community and are thrilled to help these students succeed.”

Recipients were confirmed as part of the NMPF Board of Directors meeting held in Arlington, Virginia, on June 5-6. To learn more about and contribute to the NMPF Dairy Leadership Scholarship Program, please visit: http://www.nmpf.org/programs/scholarship.

Bentley joins K-State as assistant professor of Sustainable Small Ruminant Production

Kelsey Bentley has been hired as an assistant professor of Sustainable Small Ruminant Production for the Department of Animal Sciences and Industries at Kansas State University. Her appointment will be 60 percent extension, 25 percent research, and 15 percent teaching.

Bentley will teach sheep and goat breeding sciences for meat, and his extension program will address issues facing the small ruminant industry in Kansas and across the U.S. His goal is to collaborate with producers and stakeholders to generate research results that provide practical solutions and innovations to improve their operations.

Bentley recently earned his PhD in animal physiology from West Virginia University. He earned his master’s degree from WVU and his bachelor’s degree in animal science from North Carolina State University.

“I am pleased to announce that Kelsey Bentley will be joining our team in early August,” said Mike Day, chair of K-State’s ASI department. “Her experience, background and training will provide important contributions to our extension, teaching and research programs in small ruminants. Kelsey’s fiancé, Cooper McAuley, will also be joining ASI as a PhD student on the Applied Swine Nutrition team. We are excited to welcome Kelsey and Cooper to our ASI family.”

During her graduate studies, Bentley had the opportunity to teach undergraduate students, coach the livestock evaluation team, design educational programs for livestock producers and industry researchers, and conduct research to assist small ruminant producers. Her graduate research focused on evaluating lipopolysaccharide-induced immune and behavioral response differences in various sheep breeds that are bred for parasite resistance.

During her graduate career, Bentley was recognized for her academic achievements, research accomplishments, and outreach efforts. She was awarded the WVU Ruby Doctoral Fellowship as well as the American Sheep Industry Association’s Sheep Heritage Memorial Scholarship. Additionally, she won the 2022 Davis College Student Research and Creation Fellowship, where she received first place in her PhD oral presentation.

“I look forward to working with students and colleagues to improve our understanding of animal physiology,” Bentley said. “I look forward to training the next generation of graduate students, providing them with the skills and knowledge they need to become leaders in the field, just as my mentors did for me.”

Additionally, through research and education, they aim to collectively advance K-State ASI’s mission of improving animal agriculture and food systems, benefiting both the academic community and the broader agricultural sector.

Originally from Micro, North Carolina, Bentley will be on campus on August 4.

“I am excited to join the K-State ASI faculty because of the department’s strong commitment to innovation and excellence in animal science. The collaborative environment here is unmatched, and I look forward to contributing to ongoing research and educational efforts,” Bentley said.