ADSA 2024!

Katy W. Kesler

In June, I had the opportunity to attend the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) conference and present my research on the mitochondrial function of lymphocytes in dairy calves. It was exciting to see so much cutting-edge dairy research in one place. While sharing my research and learning about others' work was incredible, my favorite part of ADSA is the people. Building new connections and rekindling old ones is immensely rewarding. These relationships often evolve into future mentorships, collaborations, and lifelong friendships, enriching both personal and professional growth. 

This year, Michigan State University was selected as a regional location for The Sciencing Challenge hosted by Evonik and RP Nutrients. I had the privilege of working with two colleagues from the Animal Science department to develop a proposal for using tart cherry pit extracts as a topical analgesic, which we named "Cherr-ease." Our team was honored to represent MSU at the ADSA final competition, where we won first place. This event was not only fun but also gave us the chance to consider all aspects of product development. I highly recommend that students participate in future events if they have the opportunity!