Carolina Pinzón is a Dairy Outreach Specialist with the University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension, where she leads statewide programming focused on milk quality, udder health, and workforce training. She holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and a master’s degree in dairy science from UW–Madison. Carolina brings more than two decades of experience in the dairy industry, having served as a herd manager, milk quality research assistant, training specialist for both a milking equipment manufacturer and a milk processor, and an independent consultant providing bilingual training and communication support. Her work centers on translating research into practical education for dairy farms, with a strong emphasis on improving milking routines, mastitis prevention, and on‑farm communication.
Before joining UW–Madison Extension, Carolina worked as an Outreach Specialist at Michigan State University, where she helped develop an online antibiotic benchmarking tool and produced educational videos for the Antibiotic Stewardship Project. She has also coordinated global dairy training programs and built customized training systems for farm teams through her consulting work. Today, Carolina serves as a trusted connector between university research and the dairy workforce, developing high‑quality, bilingual outreach programs that enhance milk quality and support Wisconsin’s dairy industry.
Mastitis remains the most common and costly health challenge in U.S. dairy herds, even as milk quality has steadily improved. Because mastitis prevention depends heavily on daily milking routines and proper animal care, farms rely on a well‑trained workforce to maintain udder health. However, many dairy employees face obstacles such as limited literacy, language barriers, or little prior experience working with livestock, making effective training difficult. The Milk Quality from the Udder World (MQUW) train‑the‑trainer program was developed to fill this gap by equipping on‑farm trainers with research‑based mastitis prevention strategies. Through a bilingual online course paired with an in‑person workshop, the program prepares trainers to confidently teach and reinforce best practices within their own teams.
Based on feedback from pilot participants, this project will create two practical training tools to strengthen the program. First, Milk Quality Practice Kits—portable boxes containing hands‑on demonstration materials such as gloves, CMT tests, dip cups, and milk vials—will enhance learning during workshops. Second, a Milk Quality Training Handbook—a durable, bilingual guide featuring clear explanations and QR‑linked video demonstrations—will support real‑time training on the farm. Together, these resources will help standardize milking routines, reduce mastitis rates, and expand workforce skills. With a goal of certifying roughly 100 trainers per year, this six‑month, low cost initiative will extend high‑quality milk practices across Wisconsin and beyond, directly advancing Dairy Task Force 2.0 Recommendation #11 to strengthen education for diverse farm audiences.