What do Hokie football, 15,000 milkshakes, and a windswept Scottish pasture have in common?
Each year, the Dairy Club turns sweet treats into opportunity by selling milkshakes at Hokie football and basketball games — a beloved tradition nearly 25 years in the making. This past season, students sold more than 10,000 shakes at Lane Stadium and 5,000 more at Cassell Coliseum. With the proceeds, they were able to help fund a spring-break journey across the British Isles that offered firsthand insight into global agriculture.
“The Dairy Club can offer this opportunity to students because of the success of our milkshake sales,” said Gage Kelly ’25, a dairy science major and club president. “Our hard work enables members to not only see other parts of the world, but also gives us a chance to understand how the agriculture industry operates outside of the United States.”
The trip began on the small islands of Guernsey and Jersey — the original homes of two world-famous dairy breeds. From there, students explored farms across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England. At Dublin’s Guinness Storehouse, they saw how barley grown on nearby farms becomes a key ingredient in one of Ireland’s most iconic exports.
In Northern Ireland, they watched whistle-trained sheepdogs in action and cradled newborn lambs. In the Scottish Highlands, they encountered shaggy Highland cows, toured dairy and beef farms, and compared international production systems — from direct-to-packer beef sales to year-round grazing.
“Traveling abroad to Ireland and Scotland was an unforgettable experience,” said Abby Johnson, a first-generation student majoring in agricultural and applied economics. “Touring dairy and beef farms abroad gave me a global perspective on agriculture and helped me see firsthand how other countries approach the industry differently.”
She added, “I’m excited to bring what I learned back to my family's beef operation at home. It was both humbling and inspiring, and reminded me why I am so passionate about this industry.”