A Total of 90 Grants Were Awarded to Classrooms Who Planned Field Trips to Dairy Farms
A group of 90 elementary, middle, and high school teachers from a total of 11 states, including Pennsylvania, provided their students with hands-on learning experiences at local dairy farms this spring. The teachers, who are enrolled in the Dairy Excellence Foundation’s Discover Dairy program, received dairy farm field trip grants with funding provided by Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and other Foundation donors. The grants, which amounted to more than $42,500, allowed more than 3,800 students to tour dairy farms in their community and talk firsthand with dairy farmers and their families.
During the farm tours, students discovered how farmers care for their cows, conserve their natural resources, and produce nutritious dairy products. Teachers also used the farm tour field trip as an opportunity to build connections to their educational curriculum and local community.
“The dairy farm field trips that happened this spring gave students the opportunity to get on the farm and expand on what they’ve learned through their Discover Dairy lessons and activities. Nothing is more memorable than receiving an up-close look at a dairy operation, especially for those students who have never seen one before,” said Brittany Snyder, Dairy Education Program Manager at the Dairy Excellence Foundation. “We look forward to supporting more hands-on learning experiences on local farms this school year.”
Funds from the dairy farm field trip grants assisted teachers in paying for busing, farm tours, lunch, or dairy treats. The farm tour field trip grants allowed classrooms to make meaningful connections within their communities. Several teachers who received grants shared what these hands-on learning experiences meant to their students:
- “We visited a dairy farm in Pennsylvania. While there, we visited the calves, cows, milking station, and the processing station. The students could be up close with the cows and truly had such a great experience. It was such a great day, and we are very thankful.” –Jaden C., Discover Dairy teacher
- “There were many of my students who had never seen a cow before and were completely amazed. The new technology for milking cows was very interesting. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity you have given my class.” –Pam Y., Discover Dairy teacher
- “Thank you so much for giving my class the opportunity to visit a dairy farm. My pre-k students enjoyed themselves so much! Our students are typically left out of experiences like this due to funding, but thanks to this grant, we could meet our adopted cow.” –Brittany S., Discover Dairy pre-school teacher
Discover Dairy, managed by the Dairy Excellence Foundation, is an engaging, interactive, multi-level educational series that shows upper elementary and middle school students where milk comes from and how dairy farmers contribute to our communities. Learn more about the free program at www.discoverdairy.com. For more information, contact Brittany Snyder at bsnyder@centerfordairyexcellence.org or call 717-346-0849.
The Discover Dairy program also includes the popular Adopt a Cow program, which impacts more than one million students each school year and connects classrooms directly to a calf from a progressive dairy operation. Teachers who enroll in the Adopt a Cow program will receive an introductory update this fall with details about their calf. Classrooms will receive monthly updates, including suggestions on components of the Discover Dairy curriculum that teachers can incorporate into their virtual or in-person lesson plans. The sign-up period closes on September 15, 2025. To enroll in the Adopt a Cow program, visit www.discoverdairy.com/adopt or contact the Dairy Excellence Foundation at 717-346-0849 for more information.
Discover Dairy is an educational series managed by the Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania in partnership with American Dairy Association Northeast, American Dairy Association Indiana, Midwest Dairy, The Dairy Alliance, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Dairy Management West, Dairy West, New England Dairy, Dairy Farmers of Washington, American Dairy Association Mideast, Dairy Council of Florida, United Dairy Industry of Michigan, Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council, and Oregon Dairy Council.
The Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax deductible organization that is Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) approved. Established in 2010, the foundation’s mission is to build and invest in programs that cultivate and empower the next generation of producers, consumers, and advocates for the Pennsylvania dairy industry. Learn more at centerfordairyexcellence.org/our-foundation/.
