April 28, 2025
By Alfred State Spokesperson Paul Welker
Twenty high school students participating in the New York State Animal and Agricultural Leadership (AAL) Program visited Alfred State recently. The students also visited Alfred University and Lent Hill Dairy during their immersive, hands-on experience focused on preparing youth for future careers in agriculture and animal science.
This experience is part of the AAL program’s mission to promote positive youth development and align with the Beyond Ready initiative, a nationwide effort to ensure youth are both prepared and empowered to thrive in a changing world. By engaging directly with college faculty, industry professionals, and working farms, participants gain the confidence, skills, and knowledge needed to explore a variety of pathways into the agricultural workforce.
At Alfred State, the group received a full campus tour, including a visit to a student dormitory hosted by admissions staff. Youth enjoyed lunch in one of the dining halls and later participated in a hands-on lab at the college’s working dairy farm. Students had the unique opportunity to palpate cows and perform health checks on calves, gaining real-life experience in animal health, husbandry, and reproduction.
“Agriculture is an uncelebrated foundation to the functioning of a nation” Professor Patricia Eshelman, stated. “Alfred State was excited to have these students visit, knowing that they may have a future in production agriculture and that they know more about their role in their community.”
The group explored the equestrian center at Alfred University and learned more about Lent Hill Dairy’s dairy digester project.
The Animal and Agricultural Leadership (AAL) Program, coordinated by the NYS 4-H Animal Science Team at Cornell University, continues throughout the year with additional in-person events designed to expand youth understanding of agriculture, leadership, and post-secondary opportunities.
This work is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors—Farm Credit East AgEnhancement, the NYS 4-H Foundation, the New York State Farm Bureau, and the New York Agriculture Horse Breeding Development Fund.
Also, coming up on Monday, May 5, Alfred State will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the Truck and Diesel Expansion. The ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. on the Wellsville campus at 2530 River Road.
“We are excited to celebrate not only the start of construction of the added space but what the new space will mean to the educational opportunities for our current and future students,” commented Vice President of Institutional Advancement Danielle White. “This event will also allow us the opportunity to recognize the donors who made this building possible.”
Added opportunities for Heavy Equipment, Truck & Diesel Technician students include:
- Adding 20 more students each year, starting immediately with a fall 2025 start.
- Adding faculty and staff to accommodate a 50 percent increase in students
- Adding a second full classroom for technical training and instruction.
- Installing a new overhead crane for heavy lifting in the Truck & Diesel labs.
- Use of a drive-on towing dynamometer (Dyno) machine to simulate drivability problems.
Alfred State President Dr. Steve Mauro is also excited for the celebration. “This new space will allow us to continue our growth trajectory at Alfred State, and in this case, literally place them in the driver’s seat to become a pro. This is all part of our continued investment in our students to give them the latest technology that makes them so in demand upon graduation.”
National interest is on the rise for US manufacturing and careers in the skilled trades. Mark Andol, founder of the Made In America Store in Elma, was recently interviewed on CNN where he gave a shout out to Alfred State College for training more and more US workers with skills that pay off quickly by providing them great-paying careers.
The Wellsville groundbreaking is open to the public. Tours of the campus will be available as well.
