Milk took center stage during the recent 3i SHOW, where children and observers could learn about dairy production and nutrition.

Kari Hamilton, an instructor with the Mobile Dairy Classroom, a program offered by the Sulphur Springs, Texas-based Southwest Dairy Farmers, taught attendees about the quality of dairy products.

“Milk is for everyone of all ages,” she said.

In the above photograph, Instructor Kari Hamilton with Tempe, a 5-year-old Jersey, describes the importance of milk in a child’s diet. Hamilton and Tempe were at the recent 3i SHOW in Dodge City, Kansas, as an educational program. (Journal photo by Dave Bergmeier.)

Unmatched nutritional value

The nutritional value of milk products, she said, is unmatched. A glass of cow’s milk has 13 essential vitamins and minerals, and she tells children that helps build strong muscles, healthy bones and shiny teeth.

Teachers tell Hamilton that they are impressed with an 8-ounce glass of milk. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate recommends children have about 2 1/2 to 3 cups of milk a day, and one cup is equivalent to 8 ounces. The most prominent vitamins and minerals in milk are calcium, phosphorus, potassium, riboflavin and vitamins B-12, A and D.

“Dairy products are absolutely nutritious in milk and cheese,” she said.

Hamilton is an instructor who travels to schools and other settings. She is from Spring Hill, Kansas, which is near Kansas City.

Hamilton is a natural fit because she once taught school before accepting a position in 2019 with the Southwest Dairy Farms. Children are inquisitive, and she enjoys the interaction with them. The dairy story reaches beyond children.

“Even in Kansas City, people don’t know where milk comes from or how it gets to their kitchen table,” she said.

Drawing a connection helps to bridge the knowledge gap.

Hamilton’s ag background

Hamilton and her husband also have a hay and cattle operation, so transitioning from a traditional classroom to a mobile one is something she relishes. She also has several other dairy cows that are part of the mix.

“This is my career,” she said.

“My coworker is a cow,” Hamilton quips.

She easily handles the star of the show—Tempe, a 5-year-old Jersey that weighs 850 pounds—who is good-natured and comfortable before crowds. For safety reasons, Hamilton cannot let the children pet Tempe, but she can tell there is a positive connection.

“I love to take her out of her stall and see the reaction from the kids, and I hear so many good comments from teachers,” Hamilton said.

Tempe produces about 35 pounds of milk a day.

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