Georgia Dairy Youth
Foundation

Read about the learning, friendship and fun of the 2026 Southeast Dairy Youth Retreat hosted by Georgia.

Meet Jessie - a dairy showing and judging enthusiast who serves as a Junior Board Member for the Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation.

A Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project is a hands-on learning experience that allows members of National FFA Organization to apply the agricultural skills and knowledge they learn in the classroom to real-world situations. SAE projects can involve entrepreneurship, placement, research, school-based enterprises, or service-learning activities in many areas of agriculture. Areas include animal science, plant science, agribusiness, environmental management, and more.

The University of Georgia hosted the Georgia 4-H Dairy Judging Contest in Mid-April at the UGA Livestock Instructional Arena in Athens, GA. Dairy Judging equips participants with critical thinking skills as they acquire a deeper understanding of dairy cattle and develop skills in identifying desirable physical traits while increasing knowledge in the animal sciences. Contestants prepare by learning the industry standards, and they gain knowledge through research, training ses

Maggie Hall, an 11th grader from Lee County, has been involved in the dairy industry for six years and currently serves as President of the Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation Junior Board. As an active member of National FFA Organization, Maggie has developed a strong passion for animal agriculture and dairy science through her experiences in the industry. Her favorite dairy activity is participating in the Commercial Dairy Heifer Show Program, which she says has strengthened bo

Every March, the Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation hosts its annual golf tournament fundraiser at a local course to support youth involved in Georgia’s dairy industry. GDYF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial support for Georgia dairy youth activities at the 4-H, FFA, and collegiate levels. These opportunities include the commercial dairy show heifer program, dairy judging and evaluation contests, showmanship clinics, the Southeast Dairy Youth Retreat, a

With over seventy teams competing in the Georgia FFA Dairy Evaluation CDE in March 2026, the competition was fierce. Congratulations to the winners below, and for all participants in learning more about ideal dairy cattle and the dairy industry. In this event, teams engaged in dairy cattle evaluation and management event cultivate essential herd management skills. Members assess pedigrees and herd records, conduct management exercises, evaluate live dairy cattle, and present

Anna Sneed has developed a passion for the dairy industry through her involvement in showing, dairy judging, quiz bowl, and leadership opportunities. A junior at Jones County High School, Anna currently serves as Vice President of the Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation Junior Board and has been actively showing dairy cattle for the past three years. Her favorite part of the dairy industry is showing, which she says has taught her valuable life lessons, helped her gain confidence,

Every year the day before the Georgia National Fair fall show and the Georgia State 4-H and FFA show in February, youth dress up themselves and their heifers in creative costumes. The voluntary class hosted by GDYF is a great way to destress and have fun before the big events. The event has been so popular that there are now three full age divisions for exhibitors to compete in. Below are some photos from February 2026 contest top placings. To view more photos of all entries,

On January 16th, Rock Eagle 4-H Center hosted the 2026 Georgia 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Contest. Dairy Quiz Bowl is a fast-paced team competition that utilizes buzzers as contestants answer questions related to the dairy industry. The contest includes topics related to dairy production and dairy foods, plus dairy industry statistics, breed information, and dairy organizations. Confidence, independence, and compassion are life skills that result from participating in 4-H Dairy Qui