Open Farm Day, held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., offers visitors an opportunity to see 26 working farms in Madison County, meet local farmers, enjoy tours and demonstrations, animals and products tastings.

SUNY Morrisville will offer tours of its dairy complex, located on the west side of Eaton Street, a state-of-the-art free-stall dairy facility which houses 185 milking cows, as well as an electronically enhanced milking parlor and a student-managed computer system.

The facility features two growing heifer barns, weaned heifer barn, calf barn, maternity barn and a livestock/show barn to provide students with a true hands-on experience. The college’s 500 acres of cropland ensure a supply of forages for the herd.

Visitors can see how SUNY Morrisville’s facility serves as a real-life learning laboratory for students in dairy and agriculture-related programs, providing them the opportunity to learn how to properly care for and manage animals on a dairy farm. It also offers a chance for community members to visit and learn more about how milk is produced on many commercial dairy operations in the United States.

Visitors to Open Farm Day can obtain a passport at Price Chopper stores or by downloading one at https://openfarmdaymadisoncounty.com.

SUNY Morrisville dairy news

Last year, the SUNY Morrisville dairy facility received a 2022 Progressive Genetics Herd Award by Holstein Association USA, Inc.

The college is in the process of using its milk to make its own cheese and milk products.

A new bachelor’s degree in animal science is launching this fall with specializations in dairy management, livestock management, agronomy, and agricultural outreach and education.

SUNY Morrisville’s curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.

The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2023 issue and earned additional recognition in other categories, including Top Public College (North) and Top Performer on Social Mobility. For more information about SUNY Morrisville, visit www.morrisville.edu.