Champaign, IL (May 12, 2025)—The American Dairy Science Association® (ADSA®) is pleased to announce Douglas Waterman as the 2025 recipient of the Hoard’s Dairyman Youth Development Award. The award will be presented on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, during the awards ceremony at the ADSA Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Hoard’s Dairyman Youth Development Award was created to recognize a candidate who has had significant involvement in dairy-related youth activities in either a professional or a volunteer capacity for a minimum of 10 years. The recipient shall be highly regarded in the dairy industry for his or her role in personal development of dairy youths and for enhancing knowledge of and interest in the dairy industry. The winner need not be a member of ADSA and may have worked with youths of any age, up to and including college, in many possible capacities, such as coach, counselor, teacher, adviser, mentor, chaperone, or supervisor.
Douglas Waterman grew up on his grandfather’s registered Ayrshire farm, where he developed a lifelong passion for quality dairy cattle. He has channeled that passion into coaching dairy judging teams at the collegiate, postsecondary, and youth levels, combining his love for good cows with a strong commitment to mentoring young people. For over 30 years, Waterman has coached the New York State (NYS) 4-H Dairy Judging Teams, assisted in the NYS 4-H and Holstein Dairy Quiz Bowls, and served as the co-superintendent for the North American International Livestock Exposition Youth Dairy Judging Contest, in addition to being a dedicated member of the National 4-H Dairy Judging Committee.
It is with great pleasure that ADSA and Hoard’s Dairyman present Douglas Waterman with the 2025 Hoard’s Dairyman Youth Development Award.
About the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA)
The American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) is an international organization of educators, scientists, and industry representatives who are committed to advancing the dairy industry and keenly aware of the vital role the dairy sciences play in fulfilling the economic, nutritive, and health requirements of the world’s population. It provides leadership in scientific and technical support to sustain and grow the global dairy industry through generation, dissemination, and exchange of information and services. Together, ADSA members have discovered new methods and technologies that have revolutionized the dairy industry. www.adsa.org