Delaware Valley University Dairy Society Exceeds Expectations at 24th Annual Dairy Sale
Students from Delaware Valley University’s Dairy Society hosted the 24th annual DVU Green & Gold Spectacular Dairy Sale on Saturday, March 22 and grossed over $210,000 on 96 lots sold, surpassing the previous record for the sale set in 2007.
The annual Dairy Sale takes place at DelVal’s equestrian center and is completely student-run. The club was led by chair members Raegan Braund ’25, Kallie Wolfe ’25 and Nellie Hankinson ’27.
As chairs of the dairy sale, the trio is responsible for oversight of the entire operation, including consignment of cattle, preparation and setup of event space, and day-of event operations.
Preparation for the sale began at the start of the academic year, with students contacting consigners from all over the U.S. to secure high-quality cattle for the sale. Students evaluated each animal to meet buyer demands. Proceeds from the sale, after paying consigning farms, fun club activities and cover event expenses.
Once the animals get to campus, the Dairy Society students get to work on caring for the cattle. “It’s a lot of work,” explained Braund. “We have to feed the cattle three times a day, make sure they always have fresh hay, milk them twice a day, and clip them. Our students will get to the barn at 4 a.m. for the first milking, and the second milking is at 4 p.m., so we work really hard and long days, but we love it.”
Of the 96 lots consigned this year, the students acquired 11 cows that required daily milking. The other lots included heifers, calves, and embryos.
“The market is really, really good right now so we were expecting to see success, but the final outcome was really exciting to see,” said Wolfe.
On the day of the sale, the prep team worked hard to get the animals clean and looking their best, and then students would walk the cows from the prep station to the sale location, where students were ready to show the cows in the ring.
The Dairy Society partnered with the Pennsylvania Holstein Association for the event, attracting both in-person and virtual bidders from across the country. The sale showcased Holsteins, Jerseys, Brown Swiss, Ayrshire, Guernsey, and Shorthorn breeds.
“The whole thing is very rewarding for us,” said Hankinson. “Seeing everything come together, having the animals on campus and in our barn, and being with the members down here is just such a cool thing and all the members share a love for the industry.”
Aside from the immediate fulfillment, the experience prepares DelVal students for life after college. “I can say personally, being a sale chair has provided me with many skills and opportunities that will be beneficial to my future endeavors,” said Braund. “I gained skills in being able to talk to a variety of industry professionals, problem solving, working with others, organization skills, knowledge in animal health, as well as how to evaluate herds and the market to ensure success. It has also provided me with many connections that will be beneficial when entering the workforce.”
The Dairy Society has approximately 50 active members.
