Dairy by morning,
classroom by afternoon
classroom by afternoon
Dual role, unique learning opportunity made possible by grant
For the past several months, Raela Hines served as a breeding manager herdsman at a local dairy by morning and an animal science teacher at a local high school by afternoon.
Hines, who works as a breeding manager herdsman for Chain-O-Lakes Dairy near Blue Earth, doubled as the lead instructor of a new introduction to animal science class offered at Martin Luther High School in Northrop during the second semester of the 2025-2026 school year. The class was made possible by a $4,000 grant to the school from Compeer Financial.
A Fairmont native now living in Granada, Hines holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science with a pre-veterinary medicine emphasis and a minor in biology and animal health from South Dakota State University in Brookings.
A lifelong lover of animals, Hines is a member of the Gopher Saddle Club and also serves as a 4-H adult leader in Martin County.
Located in rural Freeborn County, Chain-O-Lakes Dairy milks around 270 head of cows.
Martin Luther High School serves students from Amboy, Blue Earth, Ceylon, Fairmont, Granada, Hanska, Lakefield, Lewisville, Madelia, Northrop, Ormsby, St. James, Sherburn, Trimont, Truman, Vernon Center, Welcome and Winnebago in Minnesota, as well as the Milford, Iowa, area.
Compeer Financial is a member-owned, Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities throughout 144 counties in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois.
For the past several months, Raela Hines served as a breeding manager herdsman at a local dairy by morning and an animal science teacher at a local high school by afternoon.
Hines, who works as a breeding manager herdsman for Chain-O-Lakes Dairy near Blue Earth, doubled as the lead instructor of a new introduction to animal science class offered at Martin Luther High School in Northrop during the second semester of the 2025-2026 school year. The class was made possible by a $4,000 grant to the school from Compeer Financial.
A Fairmont native now living in Granada, Hines holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science with a pre-veterinary medicine emphasis and a minor in biology and animal health from South Dakota State University in Brookings.
A lifelong lover of animals, Hines is a member of the Gopher Saddle Club and also serves as a 4-H adult leader in Martin County.
Located in rural Freeborn County, Chain-O-Lakes Dairy milks around 270 head of cows.
Martin Luther High School serves students from Amboy, Blue Earth, Ceylon, Fairmont, Granada, Hanska, Lakefield, Lewisville, Madelia, Northrop, Ormsby, St. James, Sherburn, Trimont, Truman, Vernon Center, Welcome and Winnebago in Minnesota, as well as the Milford, Iowa, area.
Compeer Financial is a member-owned, Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities throughout 144 counties in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois.
