Virtual Farm Tour

Earth Day Virtual Farm Tour:

Join Milk Means More for a live virtual tour of Weber Family Dairy in the thumb region of Michigan on April 20, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. to learn how dairy farmers focus on Earth Day every day. Farmer James Weber will discuss how he works each day on regenerative practices including responsibly composting and applying nutrients to the soil and keeping surrounding water clean. You will see how James cares for the calves, cows, land, and community. If you have questions during the tour, you will have an opportunity to ask Farmer James. The tour is open to all ages and will target students in 3^{rd –}5^th grades.

Date: April 20, 2021

Time: 10:00 a.m. Eastern

How to watch this tour:

Teachers: Register here to receive a unique Zoom link to watch from your classroom, updates and reminders for the tour. Students learning remotely can join through the live stream on YouTube or Facebook.

Students and parents: There is NO NEED to register for this tour. The tour will be live streamed in two ways.

Facebook Live – a scheduled live stream for this tour will be posted on the Milk Means More Facebook page a few days prior of the scheduled tour. You can click to be notified when the stream goes live through Facebook from this post. You can also visit the Milk Means More Facebook Event page created for this tour, where you may mark that you are “Going” or “Interested” to receive notifications/updates if they are posted.
YouTube Live – a scheduled live stream for this tour will be posted on the Milk Means More YouTube channel. Visit now to “Set Reminder” to join at 10:00 a.m. Eastern on April 20, 2021.

FAQ’s: Farmer James will answer questions from Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube. Refer to this document to see a list of frequently asked questions and answers.

Scavenger Hunt: Click here to download a Scavenger Hunt to keep students looking for fun facts on the dairy farm.

Grades 3-5 Academic Standards

Looking for more resources? Check out our Nutrition Education Resources, including Farm to School resources. The Elementary Farm to School resources features YMI Lesson Plans: From Farm to Table on Sustainable Nutrition.

Mootilda’s Winter Virtual Farm Tour on National Milk Day:

Mootilda returned to celebrate National Milk Day with Farmer Ashley at Sheridan Dairy Farm in Eastern Michigan to see how the calves and cows are cared for during the winter months. During the tour, Farmer Ashley showed how she uses technology to help care for the cows who make the delicious and nutritious milk we all love.

Fall 2020 Virtual Farm Tours:

Grades K – 2nd

Watch the 30-minute tour of Horning Farms in southeast Michigan to get a sneak peek inside the barns and milking parlor. Students will see how the dairy farmers care for their calves and cows, their community and the environment while producing nutritious and delicious milk.

Meet the Farmers

Katelyn (Horning) Packard and Mason Horning, Horning Farms

- Katelyn and Mason, are the fifth generation in a family of dairy farmers. They both work full time on their family farm, caring for 400 cows and raising 800 acres of crops. The Horning family is proud to be part of Michigan’s dairy industry, providing jobs for the community and their state.
- More information on the Horning Family
Academic Standards

Grades 3rd – 5th

Watch as Frank Ragnow, Detroit Lions Center, virtually toured Reid Dairy Farm in Eastern Michigan. During this fun, interactive experience students learn how the farm family cares for their calves and cows, where milk comes from, how it is produced and the many different foods that are made from milk. Along with learning about dairy farming, Frank Ragnow shares how he stays healthy and strong.

Meet the Farmer

Meet the farmer: Jim Reid, Reid Dairy Farm

- - Jim Reid, along with his wife Pam and son Jeff, milk 220 cows on their dairy farm located just four miles from Lake Huron. The Reid family is dedicated to being environmentally responsible in their farming practices, caring for the land just like they care for their cows.
  - More information on the Reid Dairy Farm
Academic Standards

Grades 6th – 12th

Watch the 45-60 minute tour of Sand Creek Dairy on the west side of Michigan to learn about different careers in the dairy industry. Meet dairy farmer Ethan Haywood to see how the cows are cared for, learn how the milk is collected from the cows and meet the calves. You’ll also hear from special guests who work with dairy farmers across the state: a dairy nutritionist who creates cows’ menu, a dairy veterinarian who helps farmers care for cows and a milk truck driver who collects the milk and drives it to the processing plant. Along with the professionals who work directly with the farm, you’ll hear from a registered dietitian to learn about their career.

Meet the Farmer

Meet the farmer: Ethan Haywood, Sand Creek Dairy
- Sand Creek Dairy is a 6th generation dairy farm in Hastings, Michigan. Ethan Haywood, his family and their team of employees and dairy experts care for 1000 Holstein and Jersey cows each day.
Academic Standards

SCAVENGER HUNT: Download the worksheet to challenge your students to identify what they see and learn during the tour.

FAQ’s: As you watch the virtual dairy farm tour with your students, there may be many questions. Refer to this document to help answer some of the questions that were not addressed during the tour.

Additional Educational Resources Available: Milk Means More Educational Resources available to download.