Normal Year
Many hosts and trainees ask what a normal year is like.. so we have provided you a sample outline. We recognize that each farm is a unique enterprise, and each trainee is a unique individual with specific training goals, abilities and expectations. Each host/trainee experience will also be different--but typically, everyone goes through something similar to this:
I. General Orientation: First four weeks:
Trainee and host will have determined which parts of the farming operation the trainee has the most interest. The host will have assessed his current level of skills, and will know which areas he needs to improve in. They have completed the training plan, and have agreed to a general outline for the training.
II. Learning of basic skills: Months 2, 3, 4:
Trainee should be able to carry out basic chores. However, he probably doesn't understand the reasons behind what he is doing, and is not fully responsible for any one area.
*Nutrition: Starts off with baby calves, young stock and then the feeding of lactating and dry cows.
*Agronomy: Assists with crops as needed. Management: Begins with basic milking techniques, may be milking one or more times per day. Meets staff and begins working relationship with them.
*Marketing/Showing: (if show season) Involved in fitting animals for the show ring and learning clipping, brushing and general grooming techniques. Also, trainees may be responsible for rations and care at the show. If farm sells cattle, and the trainee shows interest in this, meets exporters and the clients who come to the farm.
*Genetics: Begin to understand genetic information (like ads and the Red Book), desirable traits.
*Cultural: Feels very comfortable with host family. Establishes relationships with others, including employees, other trainees, host family members, consultants, vets and others.
III. Building upon basic skills: Months 5-9:
Trainee develops deeper understanding of rationales behind daily operation.
*Nutrition: Learns quality of feeds, how to judge animal's healthiness on different rations. Understands minerals and feed additives. Starts to learn about costs and how ration changes with cost fluctuations.
*Agronomy: Continues to assist, and learns about agronomy and its relationship to feed costs and quality.
*Management: Learns why his hosts hire specific people, what relationships they have with dairy professionals, and their record keeping systems. Trainee also likely spend time with a vet, discussing herd health preventive practices.
*Marketing/showing: Expound on areas of interest.
*Genetics: Learn how to mate individual cows, and will probably see classification being done. Understands herd's mating goals and program.
*Cultural: Makes friends in the community, and understand more how his community works. Many trainees will have joined community groups.
IV. Taking on of responsibility: Months 9-12:
Trainees begin to take on responsibility for specific items, with minimal supervision. 
*Nutrition: Potentially in charge of decisions like weaning of specific calves, or coming up with a ration on his own. Hosts consult and confirm, but trainees lead.
*Management: (Probably the most important to the majority of trainees.) Some hosts turn over (with supervision) the general management of a specific area to their trainee, such as managing herd health, or supervising milking or feeding.
*Marketing/showing: May also be in charge of a show string, or sale animals, or working with specific buyers. Or, may be responsible for preparation of certain animals for specific sales or shows.
*Genetics: May be responsible for heat detection, or mating decisions; some do all the breeding on certain days. Other trainees may be responsible for readying the herd for classification by a breed association.
*Cultural: Usually spends time visiting areas somewhat close, and specifically, any areas near Cal Poly University in California. May travel briefly around the Cal Poly course. Trainees may also be contacting specific individuals about furthering their relationships when they return home (as an importer for them, or as a sales person, etc.) Friendships are well established, and trainees typically have a hard time leaving the friends that they have made here in the United States.