SDSU graduate receives National Dairy Shrine Award

BROOKINGS – South Dakota State University Dairy Production graduate, April Johnson is the recipient of the 2013 National Dairy Shrine Student Recognition Award.

“The Dairy Science Department is very proud of April Johnson’s accomplishments not just as a college student but also in the dairy industry as a whole. She certainly is most deserving of this recognition,” said Vikram Mistry, Professor and Head of the Dairy Science Department.

Johnson completed her bachelor’s of science in Dairy Production and Agriculture Education, Communication and Leadership with an Education Specialization in 2013 SDSU with an impressive scholastic record that included recognition on the dean’s list every semester. She is currently employed as the member services coordinator for Associated Milk Producers Inc., (AMPI) in New Ulm, Minn.

As an SDSU student, Johnson was a member of a first place team at the 2013 North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge. She also competed as a member of the dairy cattle judging team, earning All-American honors at the 2011 World Dairy Expo Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest and is a four-time recipient of the National Dairy Research and Promotion Scholarship.

She was awarded the National Dairy Shrine/Dairy Management Inc. Milk Marketing Scholarship in 2012. Johnson also served as the SDSU Dairy Club President, Historian and was co-chair of the club’s dairy camp.

“These roles in leadership positions within the club led her to being named senior of the year,” Mistry said.

Johnson was selected as a finalist for the Princess Kay of the Milky Way competition, Minnesota’s official goodwill ambassador of the dairy industry and nominated for the SDSU Woman of Distinction Award.

Before graduating in 2013, Johnson completed an internship at Alta Genetics and another as field representative with AMPI. She plans on combining her on-farm dairy knowledge and teaching skills to educate youth of all ages about the dairy industry.

The Award will be formally presented this September.