Gopher Dairy Camp marks 20 years

ST. PAUL, Minn. — When Gopher Dairy Camp takes place on the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota June 11-13, organizers can celebrate its 20th group of dairy-enthused youth.

The camp, now organized by the UMN Gopher Dairy Club after having started with leadership from some of the club’s alumni, is taking registrations through May 15. Campers who have completed grades 6-9 are eligible to attend the event sponsored by Gopher Dairy Club, 4-H and the Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association.

The camp began in 2003 and missed several years as it approached its 20th year. The 2026 activities remain much the same as those during the first one, focusing on campers fitting and showing the UMN dairy heifers and including workshops or tours and a recreational outing.

When Gopher Dairy Camp began, Brad Rugg was coordinating the state’s 4-H animal science programming. A need for something like a camp surfaced in the program development committee.

“We came across several comments that there were too many adults involved in fitting and grooming of 4-H cattle, and we thought about how to overcome that,” Rugg said. “From there, the idea was born that more training opportunities were needed statewide for the kids.”

Thus, Gopher Dairy Camp was created through outreach to various dairy enthusiasts that included Gopher Dairy Club alumni, including Scott Ellinghuysen of Altura.

“We tried to put something together that would be helpful for the kids for showing and clipping,” Ellinghuysen said. “Somebody had the idea of a little fun virtual auction where they could bid on the heifer they wanted to work with (during camp). … It’s pretty cool that it’s made it 20 years.”

The camp’s longevity means some of the initial camp organizers’ children eventually attended the camp. That included one of Ellinghuysen’s children, and Alex Schroeder, of Courtland, whose mother, Michele, was the original camp cook. Though at 17, Schroeder is past the camp’s age limit, he still values both what he learned and who he met.

“I learned a lot of showmanship things; I was pretty good at body clipping, but (camp) really helped me with top lines,” he said. “I also got to meet new people that I’m good friends with now.”

Michele said she saw the camp’s impact on those attending.

“It was so rewarding to see what they were able to take in and learn,” she said. “They felt more confident about their projects.”

After the initial years, Gopher Dairy Club’s current students became the driving force in organizing the camp. Shelby Swanson, of Hutchinson is the co-chair of the 2026 camp, working with Dan Frericks, of Melrose. She said 8-10 Gopher Dairy Club members will serve as camp counselors, with alumni providing workshops.

“It’s right on campus, so kids get the opportunity to experience that, plus the hands-on learning and making connections with kids their own age,” Swanson said.

The camp begins with pairing up the campers and having them use virtual money to lay claim to a heifer from the UMN’s herd.

“These are animals that have been worked with in an animal science class,” Swanson said.

Swanson pointed out that handling heifers that are not well trained is also a good lesson in showmanship.

Each pair of campers fits their animal and competes with that animal in a showmanship contest on the final day of camp.

Workshops focused on judging, genetics and dairy foods are on the 2026 camp schedule, and it will also feature a trip to Sky Zone Trampoline Park.

Swanson said Gopher Dairy Club offsets much of the camp expenses through sponsorships, with all funds spent on the camp to cover activities, lodging and food. Campers each pay $100 as well.

Long after that first camp, this year’s camp has an expected attendance of roughly 40 campers. Swanson also projects that Gopher Dairy Camp will have many more years to come, based on the Gopher Dairy Club’s enthusiasm for it.

“We definitely have the motivation and drive to continue,” she said.

Registration for Gopher Dairy Camp can be found by visiting gopherdairyclub.com.