Maine student recognized with national dairy award

TURNER – Katherine Briggs has been named as a recipient for highest honors as a National Dairy Shrine honoree. She was one of seven students across the nation recognized for outstanding leadership skills, high academic ability and achievement and an innate interest in dairy cattle.

The NDS Student Recognition Program is one of the most prestigious recognition programs in the dairy industry. Each year the program recognizes top graduating seniors who are planning careers related to dairy production.

Briggs will be presented a $1,500 cash award at the NDS awards banquet during World Dairy Expo.Briggs is a 2004 graduate of California Polytechnic State University with degrees in agribusiness and dairy science. While maintaining strong academics throughout her career, she has excelled on the cow judging circuit, most notably being named as the 2003 high individual at the All-American contest.

In addition to being named this year’s winner of the NDS Student Recognition Program, Briggs was the recipient of the 2003 Klussendorf Memorial Scholarship and was named the National Holstein Association Distinguished Junior Member in 2002.

Briggs’ future plans include working within the industry in a professional role while developing her own herd and eventually returning to the home operation in Turner.