MADISON, Wis. — Alaina Dinderman said she’s proud of what’s she’s accomplished so far in the dairy industry.

The 15-year-old Orangeville, Ill., girl showed her Guernsey cow, America, at the World Dairy Expo in Madison this year.

“I showed my first calf in pee-wee showmanship when I was two years old but I live on a farm so I’ve been around dairy my whole life, and I really enjoy it,” Dinderman said.

She placed 8th in the World Dairy Expo this year.

Lisa Oellerich is an agriculture educator in Illinois. She said teens like Dinderman represent dairy’s future. Each year, Oellerich said she sees more and more teens who are excited about careers in dairy.

“They’re starting to see that opportunities abound in they can do things in communication, they can do things with animals, they can do things with the materials we use to support animals, and I think to them that is exciting,” Oellerich said.

However, she said the industry could do more to attract young people to the field.

“I think one of the things that would help us as teachers or help individuals who are recruiting into the Ag industry is for companies to get more one-on-one and come into locations where more of those students are,” Oellerich said.

She said teens often don’t know how to get started in the industry. That creates a barrier, preventing interested youth from getting into the industry.

But if companies recruit in new locations, she said that could break down that barrier.

As for Dinderman, she said she’s already sold on a career in dairy. She plans to become a livestock veterinarian and work with dairy cows.

“I’ve grown up around it my whole life and I’m just kinda used to it and it’s a good thing to get used to, I guess,” Dinderman said. “I really enjoy it.”