Adopt-a-Calf program expands agricultural learning opportunities at Dordt

Fourteen calves are currently being raised at Dordt University’s Agriculture Stewardship Center (ASC) through a unique partnership between Dordt’s Animal Science program and local 4-H youth, providing hands-on agricultural education and mentorship opportunities for students of all ages.

Donated by Tri-Cross Dairy of Viborg, South Dakota, the calves arrived on March 11 as one-day-old animals. They are being housed and cared for in The Spronk Animal Science Education Center, where Animal Science students are gaining practical experience in calf management and care.

The calves will remain at the facility until the Sioux County Youth Fair in July, where participating 4-H members will exhibit them in the bottle-bucket calf show.

The initiative is part of an Adopt-a-Calf program, spearheaded by Mike Schouten, ASC steward at Dordt, who approached local 4-H Pulse leaders about creating an opportunity for youth who may not otherwise have access to livestock due to financial, geographic, or other barriers.

By housing and feeding the calves throughout the project, Dordt helps remove significant obstacles for participating families, allowing more young people to gain valuable livestock experience and participate in the county fair.

While Dordt’s Animal Science program has incorporated calf-raising projects into its curriculum for many years, the opening of The Spronk Animal Science Education Center last spring created new opportunities to expand the program and involve local youth.

“This opportunity is truly a win-win for everyone involved,” says Dr. Holly DeVries, chair of the agriculture department at Dordt. “Our agriculture students not only gain experience raising calves, but they also have the opportunity to mentor a younger 4-H student throughout the process.”

The partnership has fostered meaningful relationships among college students, 4-H participants, and their families. Animal Science students are learning what it means to teach and encourage the next generation of agricultural leaders while continuing to develop their own knowledge and skills.

“It has been exciting to watch the enthusiasm and connections that have developed in the barn over the past several months,” adds DeVries. “The bonding has occurred not only between students and calves, but also among the students themselves.”

About Dordt University

As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.