24 Enright Dairy Farm in Canada

Team 39 Poster

Team Reflection

After meeting and listening to Jerry from Enright Dairy Farm, we realized how much more there is to the dairy industry, and how much progress there has been behind the scenes when it comes to improving both the quantity and quality of milk as well as in reducing the amount of methane emissions—an important factor in addressing climate change.  We especially felt connected when he spoke about the advancements that are being made with cattle selective breeding for the a2a2 gene that makes milk easier to digest, since some of our group members are lactose intolerant. Also hearing Jerry’s enthusiasm for these innovations furthered our understanding of how science and technology could be combined to create healthier products and promote sustainable practices in the dairy industry. Overall, this whole experience left a new perspective on how much can be done to improve the dairy industry as well as its impact on our diets and our environment.

Looking deeper after doing the interview and writing the story, we can really see how Enright’s take on modern farming shines. When we think of “farming” it is more common to think of manual labor and long hours under the sun, however, Enright showed us that nowadays, there is so much more to it. They can balance their profitability with their social and environmental goals in a way that enables them to thrive in their industry. For example, robotic milking and selective breeding reducing both costs and methane emissions, as well as maximizing efficiency within their business aligns perfectly with the triple bottom line.

We were really inspired by Enright’s commitment to technological innovation and animal welfare, which is often a big hurdle for smaller businesses. This approach can give way for other smaller businesses to emulate this business model. We were also particularly touched by the perseverance shown throughout the business’ history. From one of their first cows dying by their first winter in 1962, to recovering from a huge fire in 2008. Enright really showed how attainable success can be through passion and perseverance. The farm is also locally driven, hiring high school students in such a small workforce, emphasizing their solidarity with the locals, showing how family-owned farms can make an impact in the local community. Ultimately, this whole experience showed us that all businesses, regardless of size can innovate and create something meaningful, contributing to a sustainable future, while still being financially successful.

Our thoughts on resilience, creativity, and accountability in business have changed because of working on the AIM2Flourish project and learning about the history of Enright Dairy Farm. The farm’s story, from suffering a severe fire to applying sustainable technologies such as robotic milking, demonstrated the importance of resilience and responding to difficulties. We were inspired by their dedication to environmental sustainability and animal welfare, particularly by the way they use technology to lower methane emissions and promote healthier animals.

We all had a lot of the same opinions about the story’s impact. We were all impressed by the farm’s hard work and commitment to environmentally friendly methods, particularly their creative use of robotic milking to lower methane emissions and promote animal welfare. This experience has made us even more dedicated to moral, socially conscious corporate operations. In our future jobs, we want to use recyclable materials, put sustainability first, and give local communities employment chances. We intend to use Enright Dairy Farm’s example to demonstrate how companies can achieve a balance between social impact and profitability in our own career pathways. This cross-cultural collaboration taught us important concepts. One of the most important realizations was how important good communication is in a multicultural project. We witnessed the distinctive communication patterns of many cultures, which This project emphasized. We had to be patient and receptive to navigate these differences, which improved our collaboration.

We also discovered how important flexibility is when dealing with different time zones. Since there were people from all around the world on our team, we needed to modify our schedules to ensure everyone could participate. The event strengthened the idea that respect as well as comprehension are frequently necessary for productive collaboration.

In addition, we learned how effective technology is in overcoming distance. We were able to interact regardless of geographical distance thanks to tools like Zoom and WhatsApp, which enabled real-time conversations and brainstorming sessions. This strengthened our understanding of how to use digital tools to improve teamwork. This project not only gave us real-world experience working across cultural boundaries, but it also brought to light important ideas from our course material, like communication, adaptability, and the efficient use of technology in group contexts. Without a doubt, this experience will affect how we approach group initiatives in the future. Using insights from our academic backgrounds in Saudi Arabia, Spain, and Canada, our group combined a wide range of course learnings. Because of this diversity, we were able to contribute a wide range of viewpoints to the project, which enhanced our conversations and methods. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were one of the most important frameworks we employed. We ensured that our work addressed urgent worldwide issues like social responsibility and environmental sustainability by coordinating our efforts with these global goals.

We emphasized the importance of accountability in responsible management. This idea made it easier for us to see how crucial moral judgement and openness are to our teamwork. We communicated more effectively and responsibly by comprehending and putting accountability into practice, which improved the dynamic inside the group. These lessons enabled us to collaborate effectively, applying our diverse perspectives to address the tasks at hand in a coordinated manner. Combining these fundamental ideas allowed us to finish our project efficiently and under ethical management standards. The experience showed how important it is to combine management concepts with global viewpoints to accomplish our objectives. Our group successfully finished a group project in which we created a story and poster about a firm that aligns with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. We assigned tasks depending on individual abilities and interests: Ashley and Aisling performed the interview, Steffan and Joaquin wrote the story, and Refal and Ghaadna created the poster. Communication was consistent and successful, with all members keeping connected through WhatsApp to ensure questions were immediately answered and everyone was kept informed. Several components of our group dynamic were very effective. Every member accomplished their assigned work on time, attended all meetings, and actively participated in discussions. We were in a cheerful, supportive environment where team members explained any uncertainties without hesitation. Despite small scheduling conflicts, we worked together to find a solution that suited everyone. Time zone variations, which were first seen as a difficulty, were handled easily, with everyone adapting to the variations to meet deadlines.

In the end, our collaboration and communication contributed to the project’s success, and no major failures occurred. This experience demonstrated the value of clear communication and a collaborative environment, which enabled us to provide high-quality work that fulfilled project objectives.

Individual Reflections

Student Name: Ghadnaa Alotaibi

For me, getting involved with this project was an amazing experience. Working with people from other countries and learning how to deal with timing and communication problems excited me.

Our team’s ability to adjust to our different timetables was one of the highlights. I felt a positive atmosphere of being adaptable and considerate of one another’s time. Through the use of platforms like Zoom and WhatsApp, we successfully collaborated and generated ideas easily. Everyone brought ideas and insights to our discussions, which seemed incredibly collaborative.
I truly appreciated the support I received from my teammates. Everything went easily because of the strong sense of collaboration, and I think that everyone was on the same page, which prevented conflicts. For example, when we faced a scheduling conflict for a meeting, we quickly found a time that worked for everyone demonstrating our commitment to collaboration.

I learned a lot about effective collaboration and the use of technology through this experience. I could not resist the chance to collaborate with this team all over again if it were offered. This semester’s project has been my favorite, and I’m excited to use what I’ve learned in upcoming projects.

Student name: Joaquin Lorenzo Ledesma

When this project started, I think a good number of people and I were all very anxious. Working with people from different parts of the world is not something most people are used to. But at the same time there was also a sense of excitement. It was a chance for me to get comfortable with working in an unfamiliar environment. One of my biggest worries before this project was accountability and responsibility. I was scared that I would have to work with people who were not keen on their responsibilities. I don’t want to say I got lucky, but I am quite happy with the group I ended up with. All of us were respectful, cooperative, and adapted to each other’s needs. We were quick in choosing specific times for meetings, as well as quick to adjust whenever someone could not make it. Despite cross-continent cultural differences and time zones, I am happy to say everyone worked hard and was able to complete their tasks diligently and on time. Through this project, I learned a lot about the work-dynamic of separate time zones. I am thankful for this experience as it could serve as a steppingstone for when I enter the professional world.

Student Name: Refal Alsakaker

Participating in this experiential exercise was a very enjoyable experience for me, and it helped me improve my knowledge and skills. I appreciated the opportunity to expand my knowledge. I was able to improve my communication abilities even further. I learned how important it is to communicate clearly and respectfully by working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Open communication and a willingness to listen and adjust to one another’s communication styles helped us get past some early communication obstacles.

The hardest part was dealing with the difficulties of several time zones, particularly when setting up meetings. But the team had great communication, and we tried to be understanding and flexible with one another’s schedules, which allowed for efficient coordination without unnecessary delays.

I found that the activities in this project were interesting, and I learned more about sustainability. Overall, I think this experience has been beneficial and has given me the ability to deal with cross-cultural situations in an efficient manner. I also think this experience will help me in my future projects.

Student Name: Ashley Ryan:

This experience was extremely enjoyable for me since it allowed me to work with new individuals from various countries. I was definitely excited when I learned about the idea. Working with an international team to achieve a common goal is a rare opportunity, and I was eager to jump on it. Connecting with team members from around the world was beneficial, and I loved the opportunity to form connections while also working on a meaningful project aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

My teammates were motivated and supportive from the start. We all had the same ultimate goal for the task, which made collaboration effortless. I was originally concerned about the interview process since it was intimidating, especially because I was struggling to find a company. But after I contacted the right one, which became our team’s decision, the interview seemed natural and much easier than imagined.

Managing time zones was difficult at first as we tried to determine the best times for everyone to meet. However, once we set a routine, it was much easier to keep organized and communicate effectively. In my opinion, we had no communication problems, our team was always well-informed, deadlines were routinely reached, and we worked great together. This was an enjoyable and fun experience, and I would enjoy the opportunity to work on another comparable international team project in the future.

Student name: Steffan Limon Barrera 

I found that this project was an incredible experience, as well as a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, as well as learn about new cultures. At first, I was a little bit anxious at the start of the whole project, but I felt that once I met my group those problems went away fast. I’m super thankful for our whole team who despite the big-time difference, were able to work together. I also felt that this whole project went by really fast and would’ve loved to keep adding to it. I’m also thankful for how supportive my teammates have been about our different schedules, since here in Spain we were in the middle of midterm exams, yet thanks to our teamwork and good organization we were still able to balance out our schedules and still meet deadlines. Finally, I’d like to give a special thanks to Jerry from Enright Dairy Farms Incorporated for allowing us to interview them about their company as well as taking the time to explain to us about the many changes going on inside of the dairy industry.

Also, as a Paraguayan, where the cattle and beef industries are both abundant as well as very important, I felt that this project helped me see a different world were an emerging country such as Paraguay could implement some of these technologies such as robotic milking, in their own farms.

Student name: Aisling McGrath 

Initially, I felt intimidated by the idea of finding a business to interview, collaborating with people from different parts of the world, and managing communication across various time zones. However, once we started the project, it quickly became one of the best experiences of my university journey so far. Working with and connecting with people from entirely different backgrounds was an incredible experience. I enjoyed how we could all relate to the similar course content and collectively find a business that aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. Our team was highly motivated and efficient. We met every Monday for our weekly check-ins, making sure each of us completed our assigned tasks to the best of our abilities. Initially, we struggled to secure a company for our project, as our initial outreach efforts did not yield any responses. However, we set a clear goal to resolve this by our next meeting, and three companies ended up responding, which showcased our team’s dedication and persistence. Using WhatsApp for communication and having a set meeting time each week allowed us to coordinate effectively. My experience with Enright Dairy Farms, my group, and the project in itself was exceptional, as I applied course concepts to a real-world business and learned how to navigate international teamwork.

Resources

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/onedrive/online-cloud-storage

(Enright Dairy Farm Incorporated does not have an email/social media, we only have the zoom link)