Application Window Opens September 1 for Tenth Jersey Youth Academy

Applications for the tenth class of Jersey Youth Academy will be available on the USJersey website beginning September 1, 2026. The application submission window is open until Tuesday, December 1. The tenth Jersey Youth Academy is scheduled for July 11-16, 2027, in Columbus, Ohio.

Jersey youth who are currently juniors and seniors in high school or enrolled in an accredited two-year or four-year vocational school, college or university; and also those under the age of 22 who have completed a high school degree or equivalent and are currently employed in dairy herd management are eligible to apply. Applicants must be legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia. A youth can participate in Jersey Youth Academy only one time.

Jersey Youth Academy is an intensive educational program sponsored by the American Jersey Cattle Association and is focused on the Jersey cow and the various elements of the Jersey dairy business. Academy challenges participants to understand the long history and recent growth of the Jersey breed and shows them the many opportunities and challenges of the dairy business in the future.

The 2027 Academy class will meet leaders from the Jersey community and the support industry and gain their unique insights into the dairy business, with a specific focus on the Jersey cow. They will also tour Jersey operations and milk-processing facilities and participate in hands-on workshops ranging from linear-type evaluation to marketing and promotion.

A maximum of 36 youth will be selected based on merit, motivation and preparation for the program as reflected in the written application and goal statement. Applications will be posted on the USJersey web site on September 1, 2026, and must be received not later Tuesday, December 1, 2026.

All program, housing and transportation costs are paid by the Academy’s 501(c)(3) educational foundation. Contributors to the foundation represent a broad spectrum of Jersey breeder and dairy industry support, with the largest contribution to date coming from the all-donation National Heifer Sale in 2011. More support was added from a benefit auction held in 2025 during the AJCA-NAJ Annual Meetings.

For more information, contact the American Jersey Cattle Association by emailing info@usjersey.com or visiting its website at USJersey.com.