MADISON, Wis. — Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and Discover Dairy are looking for classrooms across the state to adopt a 1,500-pound dairy cow for the school year.
The Adopt A Cow program allows classrooms to be paired with a calf from a Wisconsin dairy farm for free. The program offers virtual chats and farm tours, sends photos of the calf throughout the year, provides video updates and activity sheets so students can gain a deeper understanding of the dairy industry and where their food comes from. Several of the lessons follow common CORE standards in math, reading and science.
Karen Doster, Director of Youth and School Programs with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, said last year, the program started with 1,600 classrooms participating. This year, she hopes even more sign up.
“For our dairy farmers, this really gives them a platform to tell their story and show what they do on the farm,” Doster said. “We want this to help build trust and appreciation for dairy and dairy farming in our state and this really seems to accomplish that.”
Doster said the program targets students grades K-12 but is also offered to extra-curricular groups such a girl scouts, homeschool or after school groups too.
Three farms are participating as hosts this year including Brey Cycle Farm LLC in Sturgeon Bay, Orthridge Jerseys in Lancaster and Selz-Pralle Dairy in Humbird. Each of their calves are expected to be born in September and October. Each classroom will be paired with a calf and will follow that calf through their life.
To sign up for the Adopt A Cow program, go to discoverdairy.com/adopt-a-cow/.
Deadline to register ends September 15.
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