About Me
Melissa Kamperin-Arhart
I grew up in Pennsylvania where I was introduced to agriculture through our small hobby farm and 4-H. I attended The Ohio State University’s Agricultural Technical Institute for Dairy Science where I was immersed in ag. With OSU-ATI’s unique program, I learned through hands on experience, including the 4am milkings, feedings, AI-ing and the various other responsibilities I had while working beside my classmates. During this time, I also worked at the Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center assisting with cattle and sheep reproductive physiology research. The professors at OSU-ATI and the mentors I had at the OARDC played a major role in developing my passion for the cattle industry. I then finished my degree in Animal Science at main campus Ohio State. But, before I graduated I had an internship experience that would change my life forever. I spent the summer interning at SDSU in the Dairy Science Dept. The wide open spaces amazed me as well as the abundance of agriculture. The next summer my graduation cake read “South Dakota or Bust”. Shortly after, Hand Co. took me in as their own when I was hired as their livestock extension educator. Several months later a fellow extension educator set me up with one of his county producers who I now have been married to since 2006. I work with Andrew and his family here on their hog, cattle and grain operation, along with offering feedlot ultrasounding, however, much of my time lately has been focused on promoting low stress cattle handling and stockmanship skills.
