In 2024, Midwest Dairy partnered with the South Dakota Science Teaching Association (SDSTA) to develop a virtual professional development opportunity for local teachers, showcasing dairy-funded STEM resources aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). This partnership helped SDSTA increase membership and provide teacher leadership and continuing education opportunities.
The SDSTA leadership team expressed strong support for the partnership and the high quality of materials developed. As a result, they offered to host a breakout session at the South Dakota STEM Education Conference in February. The session showcased resources from the summer training and was led by the SDSTA president and a local science teacher with a background in agriculture. Additionally, Midwest Dairy staff and SDSTA’s past president supported the session, which included an interactive science lab. Approximately 20 teachers attended and will be able to implement these resources directly in their classrooms.
In June 2025, Midwest Dairy and SDSTA will strengthen the partnership by hosting an in-person professional development event for 25 local teachers at South Dakota State University. This experience will include a tour of a dairy farm, a visit to a Bel Brands plant, and hands-on learning activities focused on real-world agricultural phenomena related to the dairy industry and food production. Stay tuned for more details and outcomes from this exciting partnership.