Agriculturalists are often searching for ways to adapt and evolve with the ever-changing technologies of the world. Just like any other industry, agriculture is actively seeking ways to farm more efficiently while protecting the environment, meeting the needs of the consumer, and educating the public.
My family has always found it important to share our knowledge of the dairy industry and agriculture with others. We offer farm tours on our farm, we take calves to various community events, we share our story on social media, and we have open conversations about what takes place on our family farm. Only 2 percent of the population are farmers, which means there’s another 98 percent of the population that does not have direct contact with production agriculture. The general public may never have an opportunity to learn about agriculture if we don’t take the time to share it with them.
Last year with the impacts of the pandemic, many students couldn’t go on field trips to farms, or any field trips at all! Students had to learn virtually from the comforts of their homes or strategically placed, 6ft distanced desks. In 2020, learning did not look like it ever had before.
Farmers and their member groups had to reach students in a new way to share agriculture in the classroom. Last year, dairy farmers across the country worked together to reach classrooms across the country through the Adopt-A-Cow Program hosted by Discover Dairy and The Center for Dairy Excellence. This program really took off last year as teachers signed up to have a cow in their classroom!
Last year, my family had the honor of being a host farm and providing calves and updates for students across the states of Georgia and Florida. Sharing our farm in a whole new light and in a way that was technologically advanced was a great experience for us. I highly recommend this program to all teachers, families, and educators with young students who have an open mind and curiosity for agriculture.
