Penn State Dairy Barns made animal science student 'feel at home'

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Three years of working in Penn State’s Dairy Barns have been impactful for Hannah Mansfield, a spring 2026 College of Agricultural Sciences graduate who is pursuing a master’s degree in animal science.

The Greenville, North Carolina, native did not grow up on a farm. But, she said, by living and working on the University dairy farm she was able to learn a wide range of skills, including how to care for cows and calves, run skid steers and manage milking equipment, work as a team, and interact with managers and the public.

Mansfield said she did show a Boer goat and a Jersey heifer while a member of the Farmville Central High School FFA, but moving up to a 200-plus dairy cow herd was a big step forward.

“It was definitely a big adjustment,” she said. “At first, I wasn’t used to the multitasking aspect of the dairy. When you’re doing one thing, whether it’s milking or scraping manure in the barns, you’re constantly thinking about the next task that needs to be done.”

Mansfield is one of 20 student employees who work alongside two managers and full-time farm staff, keeping the herd healthy and ensuring cows are milked twice daily.

“The goal is for students to learn the day-to-day happenings on a dairy farm and to take what they learn in the classroom and be able to apply it in a more hands-on way,” said Nadine Houck, who co-manages the barns with Travis Edwards. “The things that they learn in class, they can see and practice here on an actual farm.”

The farm requires 24-hour management, although most chores take place during the day, and students complete the work in scheduled shifts. The cows are milked at 5 a.m. and 5 p.m., and the time between is spent cleaning manure from the barns, feeding cows and calves, administering vaccines and moving cattle.

The student employees experience all aspects of dairy farming and make decisions that directly impact efficiency and animal well-being. Mansfield said making decisions can be a little daunting at first, but when in doubt, she relies on her managers’ expertise.

“You’re making a decision as a student that you hope is the right one, but thankfully we have the full-time team and managers so that we have their advice,” she said. “It’s definitely a student-centered place to work, and we learn so much while doing hands-on work.”

Mansfield said her favorite thing to do at the farm is to treat sick cows and to see them improve. She also enjoys operating heavy equipment, including the skid steer.

Students who work in the dairy barns have the option of living in the dairy barns’ own dormitory, which Mansfield did this past semester. It functions as regular student housing, while allowing employees easy access to the barns and the campus. The dairy barns are so close to campus that students can hear the roar of the crowds at Beaver Stadium, located across the street.

Her academic adviser, Dale Olver, said Mansfield has been very involved in the classroom. In addition to her work at the dairy barns, she has completed a summer 2025 internship at Kreider Farms based in Manheim.

“Hannah took almost every opportunity through her coursework, involvement in the Penn State Dairy Science Club, and employment at the Penn State Dairy Barns to develop considerable skills and to solidify her career interests,” said Olver, an assistant teaching professor in dairy and animal science.

After taking a course in dairy cattle production and management with Melissa Cantor, assistant professor of precision dairy science, Mansfield developed an interest in the field and subsequently presented on the topic at an American Dairy Science Association Undergraduate Student Division meeting.

She received first-place honors for her presentation and said the experience inspired her to pursue a master’s degree.

Mansfield is now part of a research trial at the dairy barns exploring how various diets impact calf nutrition. Led by Ingrid Fernandes, a graduate assistant, the research seeks to answer how different diets impact ruminant development and average daily weight gain.

When she completes her graduate degree, Mansfield said, she’d like to work for a university extension service or teach while continuing to conduct research.

Although some days on the farm go better than others, Mansfield said the experience is very rewarding, and she’s made friends and connections that will last into her career.

“This place feels like home to me,” she said. “We spend so much time together, working and socializing, and it’s really opened my eyes to all that the dairy industry involves.”