PULASKI (NBC 26) — While farm visits weren't really possible for many schools this year, between COVID and budgeting, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin (DFW) had an idea.
To connect kids in the classroom to life on the farm, they brought a new program to schools called Adopt a Cow. It originated in Pennsylvania, and in its first year in Wisconsin they've seen a huge success.
"Our goal was about 75 classrooms trying to reach about 1,500 students," said Karen Doster, the DFW Director of Youth and School Programs. "By the end of the registration period in the middle of October, we had actually reached over 6,500 classrooms and over 28,000 students in 150 schools throughout the state; reaching almost every county."
The virtual program allowed three Wisconsin dairy farms to share their stories by allowing classrooms to 'adopt' a cow. This includes Synergy Dairy in Pulaski.
"The disconnect from the average person and the farm is getting wider and wider," said Heather Jaquet of Synergy Dairy. "At the same time we have increasing interest from consumers about where my food comes from and how it's produced."Adding, "we have the opportunity to bridge that gap and share what we do and why we do it."
So, near the beginning of the school year, classrooms 'adopted' a calf from one of the farms. Kassandra Beno's fourth graders in Neenah got to follow along Dorito's journey (one of Synergy Dairy's calves) as she grew up over the school year.
"They have really loved it," Beno said. "It made the kids feel, I guess, a sense of normalcy and I guess, a lot of pride. It was as if it truly was their pet."
The program wrapped up with a virtual tour of the farm in which kids could ask any questions that popped into their heads.
But throughout the tour, Jaquet said the main theme of all the questions, align right alongside her family's values.
"How is my calf doing? Is she happy? Is she healthy? Are you feeding her well? Does she like playing with her friends?" she said. "At the end of the day those are the same questions that are important to us."
The program will be brought back next year as it continues to help build trust in the industry in a fun way for our kids.
"Our students and kids are our future consumers," Doster said. "They really need to understand that dairy farmers take care of their calves and cows; they feed them well; they take lots of care. All that translates to enjoying and loving dairy products."
Kids and teachers who participated in the program will get to meet Dorito and Synergy Dairy's two other calves that were 'adopted' this year. They will be at Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center in Manitowoc Saturday. The classrooms that participated in the program will also get free admission.
For teachers interested in signing up for the program next year,registration opens August 1 and closes September 15.
You can also check out Pennsylvania's program Discovery Dairy here:
