By Katie Spring, Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center
Nationally, the dairy sector supports over 3.3 million jobs and an estimated $41.6B in direct wages. Despite its strength and scale, the Northeast region’s dairy industry faces barriers to growth and to meeting existing market demand. To counteract these barriers, the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) invested in a pilot program called the Dairy Workforce Impact Fund. The four priorities of this fund are: 1) To strengthen and expand the pipeline of new entrants to the dairy industry. 2) To build skills and career opportunities through training and programs that grow career pathways. 3) To increase worker retention through investment in workplace culture and management. 4) To decrease barriers to participation in dairy industry jobs and training programs.
The first phase investment of the Dairy Workforce Impact Fund focuses on piloting, strengthening, and increasing the reach and impact of existing regional workforce initiatives. One of those initiatives is the Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund (ASLF). With funding from the Dairy Workforce Impact Fund, ASLF is developing and running a pilot model of a longer-term, immersive apprenticeship program for four graduates of their flagship month-long apprenticeship program.
Called the Legacy Apprenticeship, this extended 8-week experience will give apprentices practical training at their host site, mentorship from industry professionals, and community engagement opportunities within the local and regional food system. While traditional apprenticeship models exchange time for education, this program supports participants through an hourly wage of $20/hour, a travel stipend to cover relocation, commuting, and accommodation costs, and a living stipend. The goal is to make apprenticeships more accessible to those interested in entering the dairy industry.
In 2025, ASLF will launch the Legacy Apprenticeships at three dairy-based businesses: Jasper Hill Farm of Vermont, Blackeyed Susan Sheep Dairy of New Hampshire, and Talbott & Arding of New York. Both Jasper Hill Farm and Blackeyed Susan Sheep Dairy are previous NE-DBIC grantees. At Jasper Hill, an apprentice will receive training in livestock management, milking, cheesemaking and affinage. They will then have the opportunity to choose a particular area to focus on for the bulk of their apprenticeship. At Blackeyed Susan Sheep Dairy, an apprentice will focus on making soft and Alpine-style cheeses, yogurt, and gelato, along with training on sheep husbandry, including herd management and basic veterinary activities.
ASLF apprenticeships help those who are new to the dairy industry build skills and career opportunities. Along with Jasper Hill and Blackeyed Susan Sheep Dairy, many farms across the Northeast participate as hosts in the apprenticeship program. To learn more about the ASLF Apprenticeship and Legacy Apprenticeship programs, visit annesaxelbylegacyfund.org.
To learn more about the Dairy Workforce Impact Fund, visit nedairyinnovation.com/resources/dairy-workforce-program
