Teaching at Waterman Dairy
The Waterman Dairy Center is primarily a teaching facility. As a fully functioning dairy, students have the opportunity to gain invaluable hands-on experience at a dairy to complement their classroom instruction. Actively enrolled OSU students are able to experience the benefits of Waterman through interaction with the cattle associated with a class activity or by becoming a part-time employee of the farm.
Waterman farms serve as an extension of the classroom for faculty of OSU. This living laboratory serves many different departments (in no particular order), such as:
- Animal Sciences
- Crop Science
- Food Science
- Agriculture education
- Soil science
- Agricultural Systems management
- Entomology
- Veterinary Medical
- Forestry
- Plant Pathology
- Agronomy
Waterman dairy is a student-run farm. The daily operations of milking, feeding, and care of the cattle are completed exclusively by OSU student interns/employees. Previous cattle experience is not required to participate in this hands-on learning opportunity. Requirements of the position include a love for animals, ability to learn, willingness to work hard ,and a keen sense of responsibility. Students learn everyday aspects of dairy operation and management. The hours of operation are based on the animals’ schedule, however managers are careful to work out schedules to accommodate the students’ classes. The work is rewarding, and most alumni of the facility will attest that the program offered at Waterman was one of the best and most useful aspects of their education.
Undergraduate internships are available throughout the year. Please contact Reagan Bluel bluel.1@osu.edu for additional information.