Dairy Management

  • Starting Cost:$17,380*
  • Apply By:August 20, 2026
  • Classes Start:August 24, 2026
Apply Now

Dairy operations are at the heart of producing milk, cheese, ice cream, and butter for consumers. At Ridgewater, students gain the skills to manage all aspects of a dairy operation, including chores, documentation and strategies to maximize quality milk production.

Students choose from three primary areas:

  • Owner-operator
  • Employed manager
  • Agri-business/retail
* Tuition/fees and additional costs are approximate and based on 2025-26 school year.

Program Delivery

  • Willmar campus
  • In-person labs
  • M–F (8 am–3 pm)
  • Paid internships required
  • Fall and spring start

Program Cost*

Tuition/Fees

  • AAS Degree – $16,080
  • Diploma – $16,080

Additional costs

  • Book costs vary
  • Special fees: $1,300
  • A Microsoft® Windows 11 laptop computer is required for all students enrolled in Ag programs.  Tablets, Chromebooks, and Mac/Apple devices are not supported by D2L Brightspace, the system-wide online learning management system.

Careers & Jobs

  • Dairy Farmer
  • Dairy Assistant Herd Hand
  • Dairy Farm Manager
  • Dairy Sales and Service
  • Consultant
  • Equipment Repair

Faculty

Jon Barka

Jon Barka

Agriculture Instructor

Wade Gustafson

Wade Gustafson

Agriculture Instructor

Erik Hoff

Erik Hoff

Agriculture Instructor

Thomas Lorang

Thomas Lorang

Agriculture Instructor

Nate Lungren

Nate Lungren

Agriculture Instructor

Russ Peterson

Russ Peterson

Agriculture Instructor

Kari Slinden

Kari Slinden

Agriculture Instructor

Curt Yoose

Curt Yoose

Agriculture Instructor

Kim Tensen

Kim Tensen

Faculty Administrative Assistant

Sophia Berg

Sophia Berg

Meat Cutting Instructor

Grace Zeidler

Grace Zeidler

Lab Assistant

Nicole Luhr

Nicole Luhr

Agriculture Faculty

Wade Kallevig

Wade Kallevig

Agriculture Faculty

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