PROGRAM AND ORGANIZATION

DGA has provided more than 750,000 hours of on-farm training and related coursework in managed grazing dairy production to hundreds of aspiring farmers from across the nation. The program currently has 46 active Mentor Dairy Grazier-Apprentice pairs, 67 Journey Dairy Graziers, and 120 Apprentice Candidates seeking to be hired... Established as a state-level Apprenticeship program in Wisconsin in 2010, DGA became an independent nonprofit organization in 2013, and registered its program as a National Apprenticeship with the U.S. Department of Labor - Employment and Training Administration in 2015. Farmers continue to play essential roles for DGA, not only as trainers and employers but also in leadership of both the program and the organization... The development of DGA has been supported by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Competitive Grants Program..