Wisconsin Ag Connection - Family of Dr. Dave Dickson Leaves Major Gift to UW Dairy Science Dept.

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Family of Dr. Dave Dickson Leaves Major Gift to UW Dairy Science Dept.
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 07/28/2014

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Dairy Science has announced the creation of a $775,000 fund to help dairy science students defray costs of attending events that are a key part of their education. The David P. Dickson Foundation is establishing the fund, named for late 'Dr. Dave' Dickson, to cover registration fees, travel and other expenses associated with participating in dairy judging and Dairy Challenge contests.

Dickson died in 2010. He was a UW-Madison dairy science professor from 1966 to 1996 and continued to serve the university and the industry after his retirement. His family is making the gift to ensure that his legacy survives in the communities that meant the most to him, says Tim Garnett, executor of Dickson's estate.

"If you knew Uncle Dave, there was never any doubt what he loved most--family, cows and the University of Wisconsin," Garnett said. "For me and the rest of the family, making a gift to the UW-Madison dairy judging team was the clear way to tie all of his passions together."

Dickson was especially proud of his role as a coach of UW dairy cattle judging teams, which is a role he continued well into his retirement. He led Badger teams to five national championships at the National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest. His teams also won 12 titles at the national contest for oral reasons, the part of the competition in which contestants explain the rationale for their judging decisions. Dickson emphasized oral reasons in his coaching as a way to help his students develop communication and critical thinking skills.

Dr. Dave also made lasting contributions to the Wisconsin 4-H program, the National Cooperative Dairy Herd Improvement program and was founding advisor to the UW-Madison's Badger Dairy Club.

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