HARRISBURG, Pa. — To assist dairy farm families who work alongside Spanish-speaking team members and want to enhance their Spanish language skills, the Center for Dairy Excellence is offering $200 discounts to dairy producers who sign up for the “Spanish for Dairy” (Beginners or Intermediate) online course with Katie Dotterer of AgvoKate this winter. The nine-week, online language course teaches the vocabulary that matters to dairy farmers, including animal and equipment terms, safety protocols, and daily operations. The course is being held from February 3 through April 2, 2026. Individuals who sign up will have 24/7 access to all course content through May 14.
Dairy producers will receive $200 off the cost of registration and access to the online, interactive classes along with all the resources Dotterer, the instructor, provides. Producers will also receive regular check-ins from Dotterer and can take the course at their own pace. The $200 discount is available for both the Beginner and Intermediate course. Producers must sign up by January 30 to receive the discount.
“The language barrier is real, but so is the solution. Whether you’re milking, managing or maintaining herd health, you’ll learn practical Spanish that improves communication, increases workplace safety, and builds mutual respect. Students of all stripes in this industry – veterinarians, herdsmen, farm managers, employees and hoof trimmers – take this course and find it to be a gamechanger,” said Dotterer. “I teach these lessons the way I wish someone would have taught me: with simple explanations and fun ways to learn a second language quickly. Students get so excited when they’re putting applicable sentences together by week three. My goal is no fluff or endless grammar lessons—just targeted, real-world Spanish for your dairy operation.”
Led by Katie Dotterer of AgvoKate, a lifelong dairy farmer and former Spanish teacher, the online Spanish course will be held live on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from February 3 through April 2 at 7:45 p.m. EST for the Beginners course and 6 p.m. EST for the Intermediate course. For both levels, all classes are recorded for on-demand viewing with no mandatory live attendance required. Individuals can save and download all resources, with the exception of videos, to utilize after the conclusion of the course. Resources include digital flashcards, comprehensive vocabulary lists, and resource links.
“I would be lost without this class! This class put together a lot of material and concepts that I couldn’t have found easily on my own. Previously, I didn’t even know where to begin. I wouldn’t be where I am today in my journey without this class,” said Derik, a dairy farmer who completed the course.
The classes span over a total of nine weeks and include two, one-hour classes per week. The course includes interactive discussions and practical activities, one-on-one support from the instructor, ag-specific vocabulary, and a certificate of completion at the end. The course begins with Spanish basics and expands to include specific dairy vocabulary that will help farmers better communicate with employees. Homework includes real life phrases used daily on the farm.
“I really enjoyed the class and Katie’s style of teaching. I learned more than my whole year of Ag Spanish in college. I am so excited because [the course] is helping me bridge the gap and communicate to those I am working with in my milking parlor trainings,” shared Cassie, a dairy educator who completed the course.
Learn more about the course:
- When: The online course will be held February 3 – April 2, 2026. Live classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays each week:
- Beginners: The Beginners live class will be held at 7:45 p.m. EST on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They are 60-75 minute classes. Recordings will also be available.
- Intermediate: The Intermediate live class will be held at 6 p.m. EST on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They are 60-75 minute classes. Recordings will also be available.
- Cost: The course is $647 per person, which includes a $200 discount from the Center for Dairy Excellence for dairy producers. The course is designed to track individual progress, not a couple or family.
- How to Sign Up: Dairy producers should visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/spanish-discount to sign up by January 30 and receive the discount. You will receive details on how to access the course after registering.
Dotterer is a lifelong dairy farmer who received degrees in business management, and secondary education, Spanish. She worked as a Spanish teacher in middle and high school for 4+ years, and has worked to develop curriculum and instructed online courses for the dairy industry for eight years — serving 800+ students from the U.S., Canada and the UK. She has worked with native Spanish speakers for 21+ years. Dotterer also studied abroad in Panama, Mexico, Cuba and Honduras. She is certified in ESL-English as a Second Language. She teaches ESL to the Hispanic community and her mission is to “meet in the middle.” She received the 2008 Employer of the Year (Dotterer Dairy) from The PA Department of Education Migrant Education Program.
Visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/spanish-discount to learn more about the discount and the course, or call 717-346-0849 for more details. Sign up no later than January 30, 2026 to receive the discount.
Visit https://agvokate.com/course/beginner-spanish-for-dairy/ to learn more about the course.
—Center for Dairy Excellence
