Educational opportunities for Hispanic employees are consistently one of the top Idaho dairy industry-identified needs. Consequently, University of Idaho Extension Faculty developed a Spanish language Milker\u27s School. The Milker\u27s School provides Spanish-speaking dairy employees with an opportunity to improve their knowledge and understanding of the entire milking process, including the importance of their role in the process. The Milker\u27s School provides an educational opportunity for a traditionally underserved group, and narrows the language and culture gap that exists between English speaking dairy owners and Spanish speaking employees

Dalton, Joseph C

Jensen, K Scott

English

Clemson University: TigerPrints

A Spanish Language Milker\u27s School for Idaho Dairy Employees

The Journal of Extension Volume 44 Number 4 Article 17 8-1-2006 A Spanish Language Milker's School for Idaho Dairy Employees Joseph C. Dalton University of Idaho, jdalton@uidaho.edu K Scott Jensen University of Idaho, scottj@uidaho.edu This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License. Recommended Citation Dalton, J. C., & Jensen, K. (2006). A Spanish Language Milker's School for Idaho Dairy Employees. The Journal of Extension, 44(4), Article 17. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe/vol44/iss4/17 This Ideas at Work is brought to you for free and open access by the Conferences at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Journal of Extension by an authorized editor of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact kokeefe@clemson.edu. 	 JOEHOME JOURNAL GUIDELINES ABOUT	JOE CONTACT NATIONAL	JOB	BANKCurrent	Issues Back	IssuesAugust	2006	//	Volume	44	//	Number	4	//	Ideas	at	Work	//	4IAW10A	Spanish	Language	Milker's	School	for	Idaho	Dairy	EmployeesAbstractEducational	opportunities	for	Hispanic	employees	are	consistently	one	of	the	top	Idaho	dairyindustry-identified	needs.	Consequently,	University	of	Idaho	Extension	Faculty	developed	aSpanish	language	Milker's	School.	The	Milker's	School	provides	Spanish-speaking	dairyemployees	with	an	opportunity	to	improve	their	knowledge	and	understanding	of	the	entiremilking	process,	including	the	importance	of	their	role	in	the	process.	The	Milker's	Schoolprovides	an	educational	opportunity	for	a	traditionally	underserved	group,	and	narrows	thelanguage	and	culture	gap	that	exists	between	English	speaking	dairy	owners	and	Spanishspeaking	employees.	IntroductionIdaho	is	the	fourth	largest	milk	producing	state	in	the	nation	(Idaho	Agricultural	Statistics	Service,2005a).	Milk	has	been	the	number	one	agricultural	commodity	in	Idaho	(in	terms	of	incomereceived	by	farmers)	for	4	of	the	past	6	years	(Idaho	Agricultural	Statistics	Service,	2005b).	In2004,	Idaho	cash	milk	receipts	were	$1.36	billion,	up	35	%	from	the	previous	year	(IdahoAgricultural	Statistics	Service,	2005b).Annually,	University	of	Idaho	Extension	faculty	consult	a	dairy	advisory	board,	consisting	ofproducers,	allied	industry	personnel,	and	veterinarians,	to	identify	critical	issues	to	the	Idaho	dairyindustry.	Each	year	one	of	the	top	identified	needs	is	training	and	educational	opportunities	forHispanic	employees.	In	response	to	the	identified	need,	University	of	Idaho	Extension	Faculty,drawing	upon	their	own	previous	experience	as	dairy	farm	laborers,	developed	a	Spanish	languageMilker's	School	curriculum,	based	on	the	translation	of	an	existing	English	language	Milker's	Schoolcurriculum	and	commercially	available	videos.Purpose	and	ActivitiesThe	Milker's	School	provides	Spanish-speaking	dairy	employees	with	an	opportunity	to	improvetheir	knowledge	and	understanding	of	the	entire	milking	process,	including	the	importance	of	theirrole	in	the	process.	Milkers	often	receive	informal	on-farm	training	from	other	employees	regardinghow	to	attach	milking	machines;	however,	milkers	usually	lack	knowledge	of	the	effects	they	canhave	on	milk	letdown,	milk	quality,	and	food	safety.	The	Milker's	School	curriculum	was	designedfor	a	classroom	setting	and	consists	of	Spanish	language	PowerPoint	presentations	and	videos.	TheMilker's	School	provides	dairy	employees	with	a	better	understanding	of	how	each	step	in	themilking	process	can	affect	milk	production	and	food	safety.Joseph	C.	DaltonAssistant	Professor,	Extension	Dairy	SpecialistAnimal	and	Veterinary	Science	DepartmentCaldwell,	Idahojdalton@uidaho.eduK.	Scott	JensenExtension	Educator,	LivestockOwyhee	CountyMarsing,	Idahoscottj@uidaho.eduUniversity	of	IdahoThe	5-hour	Milker's	School	includes	sessions	on:Udder	anatomyCow	preparation	and	sanitationMilk	letdownMilk	removal	and	milking	unit	handlingMastitisPrevention	of	antibiotic	residues	in	milkMilking	equipmentRole	of	the	dairy	industry	in	Idaho's	economyThe	first	Spanish	language	Milker's	School	was	held	in	Caldwell,	Idaho	in	2001.	The	school	quicklyblossomed	into	a	statewide	program	and	has	been	held	in	Caldwell,	Twin	Falls,	Preston,	andBlackfoot,	Idaho	in	recent	years.	Schools	are	held	each	year	during	the	spring	or	summer.Each	year	announcements	(in	Spanish	and	English)	are	mailed	to	dairy	producers	andveterinarians.	Participants	in	the	Milker's	School	include	dairy	producers,	milking	supervisors,	andmilkers,	the	majority	of	whom	are	from	Mexico.	A	registration	fee	of	$15.00	includes	the	cost	ofhandouts,	refreshments,	and	lunch.	A	certificate	of	completion	(in	Spanish)	is	awarded	to	allparticipants	at	the	conclusion	of	the	program.Evidence	of	ImpactA	30-question	test	(true	or	false,	fill	in	the	blank,	and	multiple	choice)	focused	on	milkingmanagement	was	given	to	participants	at	the	beginning	and	conclusion	of	the	program.	Table	1shows	the	overall	mean	scores	for	participants	completing	the	pre-test	and	post-test.Table	1.Participants'	Overall	Mean	Scores	on	the	Pre-Test	and	Post-TestYear Number	ofstudentsPre-testscore,	%Post-testscore,	%Difference(Post-test/pre-test),%2002 56 57.3 80.6 23.32003 38 50.5 75.1 24.6Avg. 47 53.9 77.9 24	When	the	results	from	2002	and	2003	are	combined,	94	participants	completed	the	pre-	and	post-test.	The	overall	mean	test	score	for	the	pre-test	was	53.9	%,	while	the	mean	for	the	post-test	was77.9	%.	The	mean	difference	was	24%.	In	2004,	we	revised	the	pre-	and	post-test	to	betteraccommodate	participants	of	low	literacy.	Specifically,	we	1)	included	the	pre-	and	post-tests	in	thePowerPoint	presentation,	2)	verbally	stated	each	question,	and	3)	reduced	the	number	of	questionsto	15.	In	2004,	the	overall	mean	test	score	for	the	pre-test	was	70.8%,	while	the	mean	for	the	post-test	was	80.6	%.	The	mean	difference	was	9.8%.Meridian,	Idaho	dairy	producer	Gary	Johnson,	who	learned	to	speak	Spanish	as	an	adult,	describesthe	impact	of	the	Milker's	School:	"After	attending	the	Milker's	School	with	my	employees,	wereturned	to	the	dairy	and	discussed	the	procedures	we	would	use.	Just	getting	us	all	on	the	samepage	and	using	the	proper	procedures	caused	an	increase	in	milk	production	of	almost	3	lbs	percow	per	day.	It	was	definitely	worth	it!"	On	a	dairy	with	500	cows,	with	milk	valued	at	$12.00	per100	lbs,	increased	milk	production	of	3	lbs	per	cow	per	day	translates	into	an	additional	$180.00	inincome	each	day,	or	$65,700	per	year.Obstacles	Overcome,	Cultural	Sensitivity,	and	Evidence	ofAppreciation	for	DiversityThe	most	significant	obstacles	that	have	been	overcome	include	1)	the	development	and	deliveryof	educational	materials	exclusively	in	Spanish	and	2)	the	fear	that	many	non-English	speakingmembers	of	the	community	have	when	attending	a	formal	class.	In	our	opinion,	this	fear	stemsfrom	the	relatively	low	literacy	level	of	the	participants	and	their	concerns	about	whether	they	willbe	able	to	understand	the	materials,	especially	with	limited	formal	schooling.Regarding	the	first	obstacle,	we	expended	considerable	effort	to	prepare	appropriate	educationalmaterials	so	that	the	entire	course	(including	videos,	PowerPoint	presentations,	and	pre-	and	post-tests)	would	be	delivered	exclusively	in	Spanish.Overcoming	the	second	obstacle	was	accomplished	by	minimizing	the	participant's	need	to	read,through	the	oral	delivery	of	the	program.	Furthermore,	out	of	respect	for	the	culture	of	theparticipants,	authentic	Mexican	food	(including	chile	verde,	chile	colorado,	rice,	beans,	and	hand-made	tortillas)	has	become	a	tradition	for	lunch.Several	of	the	participants	in	each	session	have	asked	what	other	Spanish	language	educationalopportunities	will	be	offered	in	the	future.	At	the	conclusion	of	one	of	the	Milker's	Schools,	anattendee	(a	milker)	said,	"This	class	is	very	important.	If	I	had	to,	I	would	pay	for	the	class	myself.When	are	you	going	to	return?"	As	a	result	of	the	success	of	the	Milker's	School,	we	received	the2004	University	of	Idaho	Extension	Diversity	Award.ConclusionsThe	Idaho	dairy	industry	relies	on	a	Spanish-speaking	workforce.	The	development	and	delivery	ofa	Spanish	language	Milker's	School	prepares	Spanish-speaking	employees	to	become	successfulpartners	in	the	growing	Idaho	dairy	industry.	Furthermore,	the	delivery	of	Spanish	languageprograms	1)	provides	an	educational	opportunity	for	a	traditionally	underserved	group	throughoutthe	state	of	Idaho	and	2)	narrows	the	language	and	culture	gap	that	exists	between	Englishspeaking	dairy	owners	and	Spanish	speaking	employees.	Additional	Spanish	language	educationalopportunities	are	planned	due	to	the	high	level	of	interest	among	dairy	producers	and	theiremployees.ReferencesIdaho	Agricultural	Statistics	Service.	2005a.	Agriculture	in	Idaho.	Available	at:http://www.nass.usda.gov/id/publications/ag%20in%20idaho/2005/agid22-05pg1.pdfIdaho	Agricultural	Statistics	Service.	2005b.	Annual	Bulletin.	Available	at:http://www.nass.usda.gov/id/publications/annual%20bulletin/annbulltoc.htmCopyright	©	by	Extension	Journal,	Inc.	ISSN	1077-5315.	Articles	appearing	in	the	Journal	become	the	property	of	theJournal.	 Single	 copies	 of	 articles	may	 be	 reproduced	 in	 electronic	 or	 print	 form	 for	 use	 in	 educational	 or	 trainingactivities.	Inclusion	of	articles	in	other	publications,	electronic	sources,	or	systematic	large-scale	distribution	may	bedone	only	with	prior	electronic	or	written	permission	of	the	Journal	Editorial	Office,	joe-ed@joe.org.If	you	have	difficulties	viewing	or	printing	this	page,	please	contact	JOE	Technical	Support©	Copyright	by	Extension	Journal,	Inc.	ISSN	1077-5315.	Copyright	Policy

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A Spanish Language Milker\u27s School for Idaho Dairy Employees

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