Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship, housed within Wisconsin-based Dairy Grazing Alliance (DGA), today announced its 2025 “Apprentice of the Year” is Ursula Reid, an Apprentice with Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship at Grassway Organics in East Troy, Wis.
Nominations for Reid noted her work ethic, passion and care for animals as a few of her outstanding qualities. She is in the second year of her Apprenticeship.
“Ursula is a leader and demonstrates compassion not only for animals, but for everyone she surrounds herself with,” said Reid’s Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Mentor Chaz Self, owner of Grassway Organics.
Reid looks forward to someday practicing managed grazing on her own farm, but in the meantime, plans to continue her work with Grassway.
“My Apprenticeship with Grassway Organics — through the Dairy Grazing Alliance — is helping me build a great foundation that will take me in any direction I choose,” said Reid.
Reid is in discussions with Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship about leading various heifer grazing projects that could potentially be funded by DGA’s Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG). She would also like to pursue programs with ecosystem service benefits — providing payments to farmers for measurable environmental benefits — through Wisconsin’s new Water Quality Trading Clearinghouse.
“It has been a pleasure getting to know Ursula through her interest in our CIG project,” said Ashley Hughes, producer services manager for DGA who also manages the CIG project. “She has a strong understanding of grazing’s benefits and a great entrepreneurial mindset.”
“It’s apprentices like Ursula that make my job the best,” said Kelsey Vance, an educational coordinator for Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship. “She’s so easy to connect with — open, honest and always making us smile. She has grown into a strong independent female farmer, ready to take on the next challenge.”
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