Lillyah Snipes and Jillian Lujan, both students at the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, were chosen to be part of the 2025 Undergraduate Development and Internship Research Experience (U-DAIRE) cohort. The nine-week paid internship is designed for students from all over the Southeast who want to immerse themselves in the dairy industry. 

U-DAIRE students get leadership and team-building skills for the first two weeks at the University of Tennessee Institute for Agriculture. For the next seven weeks, they learn and assist with daily management responsibilities at a dairy farm located in Tennessee, North Carolina or Kentucky. 

Kentucky’s U-DAIRE internship 

At 5:30 a.m. on a humid summer morning, Snipes and Lujan arrived at Chaney’s Dairy Barn, a locally owned full dairy operation just south of Bowling Green. After a quick safety check of their gear and referencing the daily milk cow checklist, it’s time for a day of hard, yet meaningful work. 

“Every morning, we check the cows’ water, grain, how much they are eating and more — we are making sure they are okay,” Lujan said. “Every day, the cows are waiting for us to come out here. They are excited to see us, and it makes you feel that you have a sense of purpose and that you are supposed to be here. It makes it all worth it.” 

At Chaney’s, Snipes and Lujan fulfill some of the daily routines in managing a fully operational dairy farm, including prepping, feeding, cleaning, milking and caring for the cows.  

All their activities are documented in the Calf Book, which is a shared log that everyone uses to make sure that the cows are being tracked accordingly and getting the best possible care throughout the daily shifts.  

One special and unexpected activity that was logged on July 28 during Snipes and Lujan’s morning shift was the birth of two infant calves, which required recording the mothers’ information, applied vaccinations and more. 

Snipes and Lujan also labeled the Chaney’s Milk bottles inside the J.R. Chaney Bottling Co., which are then boxed and shipped to their next destination. When needed, they also help at the on-site store serving Chaney’s local homemade ice cream to customers.  

For Snipes, participating in U-DAIRE felt like more than just a typical internship. 

“As someone without an agricultural background, this experience was truly eye-opening,” Snipes said. “I learned so much about the dairy industry — from animal care to food processing and customer interaction. I'm especially grateful for the chance to work hands-on with the animals and gain insight into the hard work that goes into dairy farming.” 

Both animal sciences majors and pre-veterinary students at Martin-Gatton CAFE, Snipes and Lujan also operated some of the technology that helps run a successful dairy farm. Furthermore, the internship provided them with a deeper admiration for dairy and their future careers. 

“It was incredible to see the entire dairy cycle up close,” Snipes said. “We helped the cows be milked by a robotic system. We then saw the milk being transported to the processing plant, where it’s pasteurized and homogenized, then bottled and shipped to customers across Kentucky. Being part of that process gave me a whole new appreciation for where our food comes from. This experience gave me direction and confirmation that I do want to be a veterinarian.” 

At the conclusion of the U-DAIRE internship, Snipes and Lujan were able to attend and present what they learned at the 2025 Southeast Value-Added Dairy Conference (SEVAD). Their poster presentation, titled “Milk It for All It’s Worth: U-DAIRE Internship Experience at Chaney’s Farm,” represented a full-circle experience for Lujan. 

The SEVAD conference gave Snipes and Lujan the opportunity to participate in other educational opportunities and network with dairy business owners, researchers, extension professionals and important industry stakeholders. 

“This internship experience has really helped me see and have more of an appreciation for the work that goes into the dairy industry,” Lujan said. “It’s hard work and long hours, but the people are happy to do it because that’s their passion. I’m really inspired by that.”

Kendriana Price, U-DAIRE faculty cohort member and assistant dean for community relations and engagement at Martin-Gatton CAFE, said that this year was a historic moment for the students and UK.

“This year marked an important milestone for the University of Kentucky as we joined the U-DAIRE program for the first time,” Price said. “As the university contact, I introduce students to this unique opportunity, promoting awareness across our campus and working with my colleagues from North Carolina and Tennessee to select a strong cohort of participants. I’m so proud of Lillyah and Jillian for representing our college, the university and Kentucky in U-DAIRE.”

About U-DAIRE 

The U-DAIRE internship provides students with hands-on experience in various areas of the dairy industry, including production, processing, marketing and sustainability. Through this experience, students build practical skills, gain industry insight, and strengthen their resumes to become competitive candidates for careers in agriculture and food systems after graduation.

To learn more about the U-DAIRE program, administered by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, visit https://udaire.tennessee.edu.

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Writer: Christopher Carney, Christopher.Carney@uky.edu    

The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.