College Farm Earns Award from Dairy Farmers of America
In recognition of outstanding achievement in the consistent production of high-quality milk, the Alfred State College Farm received a Special Gold Certificate Award from the Dairy Farmers of America (DFA).
According to the Dairy Farmers of America’s website, www.dfamilk.com, the DFA’s Gold Standard Dairy Program lays out a comprehensive set of standards to guide its farmers and “is one of the first on-farm evaluation programs of its kind, focused on employing best practices in the areas of animal care and wellness, environmental stewardship, employee training, and milk safety and quality.”
Farm Manager Virginia Chamberlain noted that the college’s organic herd has received either a bronze-, silver-, or gold-level milk quality award almost every year since the college started shipping milk in 2013. The award, she said, is a reflection of a team effort, crediting both the farm staff and, of course, the cows themselves.
“To us, the award means that we – and our cows – are doing a good job to produce a superior quality product,” she said. “We work hard to keep our milk quality standards high, so we hope that we keep receiving these awards.”
Each month, the Alfred State College Farm currently ships 115,000 pounds of milk that comes from 50 organic herd cows. The product is sold as fluid milk under the label of the farm’s co-op Organic Valley.
ASC Nursing Students Assist at Vaccination Clinics
Dozens of Alfred State College (ASC) nursing students rolled up some sleeves and got to work helping out at several Allegany County Department of Health COVID-19 vaccination clinics this past spring.
Two different sets of ASC nursing students assisted with the clinics, which were held at the old Kmart Plaza in Wellsville, and had various roles and responsibilities.
For example, Alfred State nursing 4 students (those who were set to graduate in May) were able to draw up the vaccines and administer them to patients. Meanwhile, Alfred State nursing 2 students (those who are scheduled to graduate in May 2022) were able to help screen people for health risks, sanitize work stations, educate the community members about the vaccine, and check on those who had been vaccinated and were waiting the required 15 minutes.
Anne McCormick, a lecturer in the Alfred State Nursing Department, said, “The Health Department team and the community were very welcoming and kind with the students. Our students were really glad to be able to participate and see how an event like this actually happens. It was such a great learning experience.”
Allegany County Deputy Public Health Director Jami D’Arcy said the Department of Health believes that the clinics were a huge success, noting that 2,700 first-dose vaccinations and nearly 500 second-dose vaccinations were administered.
“We are extremely thankful to Alfred State, particularly Professor Jess Lippa for helping to arrange the volunteers from the nursing program. We hope that the students got a taste of public health and some may choose to take their careers in that direction. They were a huge help and we extend our thanks and appreciation.”
In addition to the students, several Alfred State faculty and staff also assisted at the clinics.
