Hello Wisconsin Brown Swiss,

Greetings from Italy! Recently, I have begun my semester studying abroad in Bologna, Italy. I have been here for one month already and will be returning to The States at the end of June. Here I am studying at the University of Bologna, which is known as the oldest university in the western world! I am taking two science classes to support my veterinary school preparations, as well as an Italian language and culture class. Prior to my arrival, I was aware that I would not be able to study any agriculture or dairy science courses here; however, I still selected Bologna as my study abroad destination due to the fact that Bologna is located in northern Italy where there is a strong dairy community. I planned to visit dairies on the weekend and explore the Italian agriculture industry.

My first experience in the dairy community was this past week, February 5th-7th in Verona, Italy at the Dairy Show di Fieragricola Verona. This exhibition included a Brown Swiss, Holstein, and Jersey show along with a trade show and other species events. Angelo Pozzatti with Swissgenetics invited me to the show and introduced me to Team Italia, a group of farms and people who work together at shows to prepare the cattle. I was prepared just to help the string and take in the European show, and I was very surprised and excited when they asked me to lead some animals! I borrowed some white pants and a collared shirt and ended up leading eight animals for Ponte Vecchio, Scalvinoni Brothers, and Bodengo Farms! Since it was an Italian show, the judge gave his reasons in Italian, but by the end he must’ve figured out I was American because the last cow I showed he tried to speak to me in English. 

Being in the barn again with cattle was such a refreshing thing after a month in the big city. The people I worked with were so kind to me and I had an amazing time! Many of the crew members were very curious about Jenlar, farming in America, and especially Expo. They shared that it is their dream to come work for a string at Expo, so hopefully I can help line some things up for them to come! If anyone needs another crew member for 2026 and beyond, I know plenty of hard-working Italians who would love nothing more but to work for you!

Now that I am back in Bologna, I am back to school and looking forward to my next trips to the countryside. I am excited to visit Ponte Vecchio and some of the other farms. I will also be travelling to more shows in Switzerland and Italy with Ponte Vecchio. I look forward to the rest of my adventures in Europe this spring. I will miss you all at Spring Show and hope all goes well through planting season and into the summer!

Best wishes!

Brianna