Two Junior Dairy Leaders, Natalie Chambers of Heuvelton and Paige Moulton of Madrid, are among the 29 Junior Dairy Leaders representing New York, Connecticut, and Vermont who will graduate at the 2016 Empire Farm Days event in Seneca Falls in August.

The statewide program for youth between the ages of 16 and 19 with an interest in learning more about career opportunities in the dairy industry also helps them gain hands-on experience in the field.

The Junior Dairy Leader Program begins each September with a seven-day trip to Madison, Wisc., to tour dairies and agribusinesses, followed by the annual National 4-H Dairy Conference. Throughout the year, hands-on workshops offer learning opportunities on specific facets of the dairy industry, including veterinary science, dairy nutrition, production management, and on-farm production analysis, plus interaction with dairy producers, industry professionals, and other dairy-interested young people.

This year’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, August 10 in Seneca Falls provides the young dairy farmers the opportunity to highlight their year of experiences, demonstrating the aspects of dairy education and career options.

The 300-acre Empire Farm Days is the Northeast’s largest outdoor farm show. The event features crop and equipment demonstrations; tractors, trucks, and implements of all sizes and uses; Dairy Profit and other educational seminars; test drives; live cattle and horse demonstrations; farm safety and family life displays; and information booths by hundreds of agriculture-related vendors, organizations, colleges and associations.