Meet the I-29 Moo University Faculty
Jennifer Bentley
Iowa State University Extension
Dairy Field Specialist
Jennifer Bentley is a Dairy Field Specialist for ISU Extension and Outreach in NE Iowa. Her base office is in Decorah, Iowa and she currently works and develops educational programming with producers in 10 surrounding counties. Jennifer grew up on a dairy farm in North Central Iowa, where the 3rd and 4th generation family is operating the dairy farm today. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Dairy Science and Masters of Agriculture Degree both from Iowa State University. She works closely with dairy producers, providing them with information regarding facility design, calf management, and overall dairy herd management. She enjoys educating the public about modern dairy practices and plays an integral role in telling the Iowa Dairy Story, a program to educate consumers about the importance of the dairy industry in Iowa. Jennifer is married and has 2 children Owen (12) and Addison (10).
Phone: 563-382-2949
Email: jbentley@iastate.edu
Fred Hall
Northwest Iowa Extension Dairy Specialist
Hall joined Iowa State University Extension in January 2017 as the dairy specialist for Northwest Iowa. He served as the Chickasaw County Extension Director for Iowa State University Extension from 2005 to July of 2009. Hall was the county lead on the Iowa Emergency Management Agency agricultural disaster team and served on the Iowa Extension Dairy Team. Hall is married to Sharon Lee and has two sons. Conor is a graduate of Iowa State University, served in the U.S. Marine Corps and is currently in law school at the University of Iowa. Cameron is a graduate of Iowa State University in Global Resource Systems and is currently the manager of the Poultry Research Center at Iowa State University. The family lives south of Orange City and are active Milking Shorthorn breeders and beekeepers.
Phone: 712-737-4230
Email: fredhall@iastate.edu
Maristela Rovai
South Dakota State University
Assistant Professor/Extension Dairy Specialist
Dr. Rovai is a Veterinarian from Brazil with a MSc & PhD degree in Veterinary with emphasis in Animal Science (UAB-Spain). She had postdoc positions in USA (UW-Madison and E. (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research-Langston University) and Europe (TUM in Germany and UAB-Spain) working in animal science with emphasis in mammary gland physiology and ruminant management. Dr. Rovai’s research activity has involved studies on the area of milk ability in dairy ruminants (goat, sheep, camels and cows), with a strong focus on milking technology, milk quality improvement, mastitis impact on technological properties of milk and cheese. Dr. Rovai has published more than 45 scientific and extension papers and has mentored graduate students in pursuing either their Master or PhD degree in Animal Science. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor / Extension Dairy Specialist at the Department of Dairy and Food Science at the South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD. Dr. Rovai’s main responsibilities are to develop Extension programs for improvement of milk quality and assist dairy producers and industry personnel on workforce development and best production practices. She is also coordinating a program called “Semillas” – the Spanish word for seeds - designed to help Latino youth of dairy workers within the region to embrace their heritage and gain a sense of community while understanding the Dairy Industry. Dr. Rovai has the ability to assist dairy producers on developing farm protocols, educational trainings, which include hands on and assisting with farm employee meetings.
Expertise:
Lactation Physiology and Milk Quality; Employee Educational Training; Speaks fluent Spanish, English and Portuguese.
Phone: 605-688-5488
Email: maristela.rovai@sdstate.edu
Patricia Villamediana
South Dakota State University
Extension Dairy Field Specialist
Dr. Villamediana is a veterinarian with a MSc degree in Cellular Biology and a PhD degree in Veterinary Medicine with emphasis in Animal Reproduction (UAB-Spain). She was a Professor in Venezuela working on in vitro embryo production in goats, cattle, and buffaloes. Dr. Villamediana’s research focuses on the physiological fundaments of in vitro embryo production. Dr. Villamediana has published more than 30 scientific papers and has mentored graduate students pursuing their Master or/and PhD degrees in Animal Production, Animal Reproduction, Veterinary Science and Basic Immunology.
Currently, she is an Extension Dairy Field Specialist in the Department of Dairy
and Food Science at South Dakota State University officed in Watertown, SD.
Dr. Villamediana’s main responsibilities are to enhance agricultural profitability and grow the South Dakota dairy industry, focus on improving the reproductive efficiency of dairy cattle by applying knowledge gained through scientific research to develop practical management strategies and disseminate that information throughout South Dakota.
Expertise:
Animal Reproduction, Animal Biotechnology, in vitro Embryo Production.
Speaks fluent Spanish and English.
Phone: 605-882-5140
Jim Salfer
University of Minnesota Extension Educator-Dairy
Jim Salfer is a Regional Extension Educator – with University of Minnesota Extension. Jim has served in his present position for 22 years. Before that he managed a feed department, was a dairy nutritionist, a district sales manager for an AI company and managed a dairy farm. Jim has been involved on farm research projects studying robotic milking systems and automatic calf feeders. The focus of his education program has been to help farmers and other industry professionals understand the major factors driving dairy farm profitability and develop management strategies to improve profitability.
Phone: 320-203-6093
Email: salfe001@umn.edu
Gail Carpenter
Iowa State University Extension Dairy Specialist
Gail Carpenter is the state dairy extension specialist for Iowa State University, beginning in July 2022. Gail joined the faculty at ISU as a teaching professor and coach of the Dairy Challenge team in 2021. A Michigan native, Gail received a Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in Animal Science. In graduate school, she completed her Master’s at the University of Minnesota in ruminant nutrition and her PhD at Kansas State University in transition cow nutritional physiology. Gail was a faculty member at the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus from 2016-2019, where she held an appointment in teaching, service, and research, focusing on applied dairy nutrition management and alternative forages in dairy rations. From 2019-2021, Gail worked as a dairy nutritionist for CSA Animal Nutrition in Dayton, OH. Her current position is split between statewide extension, research, and teaching, and she is heavily involved with the Dairy Challenge organization as a national board member and member of the Midwest Regional Planning Committee in addition to serving as ISU’s team coach.
Expertise: nutrition, management, feed management, records analysis, beef on dairy
Phone: (515) 294-9085
Email: ajcarpen@iastate.edu