Texas A&M Dairy Challenge team claims more than just a national title
Competition provides career preparation for Department of Animal Science students judging dairy business
The Texas A&M University Dairy Challenge team claimed a national title at the 2026 North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge, held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. But it wasn’t just a title they walked away with.
Students earned top honors while competing against leading dairy programs from across the U.S. and Canada in a contest that requires students to evaluate commercial dairy operations, analyze records and defend recommendations before judges.
Team members included Dieter Ally, Friona; Rendyn Lamance, Bowie; Elizabeth Haugen, Princeton; and Estrella Farias, Tomball. The team is coached by Sushil Paudyal, Ph.D., associate professor of dairy science in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Animal Science and by student coach Abby Van Adrichem, Hereford.
“This national championship reflects the strength of our students, the dedication of our faculty and the value of experiential learning in preparing graduates to lead animal agriculture,” said Clay Mathis, Ph.D., head of the Department of Animal Science.
Dairy Challenge prepares students for careers
Unlike traditional judging contests, the dairy challenge asks students to assess an entire dairy business rather than individual animals.
Teams review herd health, reproduction, milk production, feed management and financial records, then visit the dairy to evaluate operations firsthand. From there, they identify key challenges and present practical, data-backed recommendations to a panel of industry professionals.
“This competition is like training students to become consultants for a dairy,” Paudyal said. “They apply what they learn in the classroom to a real operation and make recommendations that are backed by science and make economic sense.”
Teamwork and preparation fueled title run
Throughout the academic year, students trained through weekly practices, dairy tours and mock scenarios while working closely with faculty mentors, industry professionals and Adrichem, who helped guide the team’s preparation throughout the season.
Ally, a sophomore animal science major, said each student on the team came from different backgrounds and brought a unique strength to the group
“I came in from the dairy farmer’s perspective,” Ally said. “Rendyn brought business, efficiency and economics. Elizabeth was amazing with data, and Estrella was the best at noticing things nobody else saw. We all covered each other’s weaknesses.”
Paudyal said that balance helped separate the team from its competition.
“You need different skill sets, but students also have to work together,” he said. “This team had the drive, determination and teamwork it takes to win.”
National contest tests strategy under pressure
The national contest lasts two days, with students analyzing detailed farm records, touring the dairy and building a full presentation with their analysis and recommendations.
Students supported each recommendation with research and financial analysis before presenting it to a panel of judges, including dairy producers, veterinarians, nutritionists and lenders.
“You can’t just identify a problem,” Ally said. “You have to explain how to fix it, what it will cost and why it makes sense.”
Ally said the title carried extra meaning because Texas A&M competed against universities with larger dairy programs and on-campus dairy facilities.
“We went up against some pretty good competition,” Ally said. “For us to be able to do that and win, it was very rewarding.”
Win highlights dairy opportunities in Texas
The competition helps prepare students for careers in dairy production, consulting, veterinary medicine and agribusiness. It also serves as a high-impact learning experience for students in the department, allowing them to gain real-world experience in fields of interest.
Paudyal said the national title underscores the Department of Animal Science’s ability to compete at the highest level and highlights the strengths of its hands-on, industry-driven approach to student training. The competition also shines a spotlight on the growing dairy industry in Texas and the need for future industry leaders.
“There is so much opportunity in the dairy industry,” Ally said. “It is high-tech, but it still comes back to management and working with people.”
For Ally, the experience ultimately came down to the impact of the work and the team behind it.
“It’s one of the few experiences where what you do significantly matters,” Ally said. “You’re working through real operations decisions, and you have to make calls that could work in that setting. Doing that with a team, you build trust, and by the end of it, you’re walking away with more than a national title.”
