Virtual Farm Tour
Take your students on a virtual field trip to a Michigan dairy farm! Students will see how the dairy farmers care for their calves and cows, their community and the environment while producing nutritious and delicious milk.
Upcoming Tours:
| Oct. 15, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. | Nov. 9, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. |
Grades K – 2nd
Oct. 15, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.
This 30-minute tour of Walnutdale Farms in western Michigan will showcase the care of calves, the milking process and discuss the journey of milk from farm to table. If you have questions during the tour, you will have an opportunity to ask Farmer Aubrey. The tour is open to all ages and will target students in K-2nd grades. Grades K-2 Academic Standards
TEACHER REGISTRATION for Oct. 15
Processing Plant – all ages
Nov. 9, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.
- Registration will open soon for a live tour of Guernsey Farms Dairy
From Michigan Dairy Farmers to You – video series for students in grades 6-12
Series of virtual dairy farm tours for students in 6th-12th grades that brings the farm to the students. Each episode focuses on a different topic and runs 7 – 10 minutes. Throughout the video series, students will learn about caring for calves, keeping cows comfortable and well-nourished, collecting milk from cows and using technology on the farm. Students will also meet professionals that work directly with dairy farm families. With nearly 1,200 dairy farms in Michigan, this program provides an overview of how dairy farmers in our state care for their cows, the environment and provide nutritious milk.
Episodes:
- Calf Care and Meet a Dairy Veterinarian
- What Cows Eat and Meet a Dairy Nutritionist
- Milkhouse and Meet a Milk Truck Driver
- How Dairy Farmers Care for Their Cows
- Milking Cows
Resources:
Farm to School Resources built on Google Slides. Includes links to curriculum, handouts, videos and more.
Questions & Answers: Refer to this document to help answer some questions frequently asked during a tour.
Scavenger Hunt: Click here to download a Scavenger Hunt to keep students looking for fun facts on the dairy farm.
Michigan Academic Standards:
Previous Live Tours:
Kindergarten – 2nd Grades
3rd – 5th Grades
This 45-minute tour of Ritter Farms in central Michigan takes students through the life cycle of a dairy cow and how dairy farmers work hard to care for the land. Students will see the milking process, how milk is collected from the cow, the steps taken to keep it cold and safe, and where it waits for the milk truck driver to pick it up.