Day 9: South Dakota State University by: Andrew

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This morning, we had the opportunity to visit the Alfred Dairy Science Hall at South Dakota State University (SDSU), where we met with Dr. Nwadike and Dr. Hall. Dr. Nwadike shared her background with us, she originally grew up on a cow farm just northeast of SDSU and later earned her Bachelor's degree in Animal Science. She went on to specialize in food safety and now works as a Food Safety Specialist. It was interesting to learn how her early experiences on a farm inspired her to pursue a career that helps keep our food supply safe and healthy. 

Dr. Hall gave us a hands-on demonstration of how to use gluten test kits, which are used to determine whether a certain food contains gluten. These tests are especially helpful for people with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease, and they can be purchased from sites like Neogen.com. After that, we participated in a fun, interactive group activity where we learned how to make our own butter and whipped cream at home using just a few simple ingredients. It really helped connect science to everyday life. 

Later, we met with Mr. Steven Beckman, who took us on a detailed tour of the Dairy Plant. As we walked through the facility, he explained how milk is processed, how cheese is made, and how SDSU plays a key role in teaching students about modern dairy production. We found out that even though raw milk is legal to sell in South Dakota, it must come directly from the farm and pass rigorous inspections from state regulators to ensure it’s safe. Interestingly, there aren’t many raw milk dairies in the state, which makes those that do exist pretty unique. 

One of the most impressive things about the Dairy Science program at SDSU is how everything is so interconnected. The classrooms, laboratories, and the Davis Dairy Plant are all part of the same system, meaning students can seamlessly go from sitting in a lecture to doing real lab experiments or even working in a functioning dairy plant. It’s not just about theory, they're actually applying what they learn in real time. The classrooms are equipped with high tech tools like research microscopes, chemistry equipment, and more, giving students real world experience in food science and dairy production. 

To wrap up our visit, we stopped by the Cow to Cone Dairy Bar, which is located just outside the facility. This student run ice cream shop serves up a variety of frozen treats made right on campus. I tried the cookies and cream flavor, and it was delicious. Even cooler? SDSU is actually credited with inventing cookies and cream ice cream in 1979! It’s wild to think that students here are involved in every step of the process, making and selling ice cream all while getting a top notch education in dairy science. They used to have a campus run Dairy but unfortunately closed in June of last year. 

Overall, our visit to the Alfred Dairy Science Hall was great. It’s not just a place about milk, it's a hands-on learning environment where students are immersed in both science and real world applications. They’re making food, conducting research, learning about safety, and preparing for high demand careers in the dairy industry. If you’re interested in science, agriculture, or just love ice cream, SDSU’s dairy science program is definitely something worth exploring