Oak Grove School's third-grade class, led by teacher Logan Snow, recently visited Miller Farm, an organic dairy farm in Vernon, VT. The field trip was the culmination of the class's participation in Shelburne Farms' Dairy in the Classroom program.

Dairy in the Classroom (DITC) connects VT schools with local dairy farms to teach students about cows and milk production. Before the field trip, Food Connects Farm to School coach Katie Morrison and DITC educator Kelly Knudsen visited the class for two dairy-focused lessons. Students learned about cows, dairy products, and dairy farming through interactive activities that included dressing up as a cow, singing "The Hay Song," making butter and dairy dips, and playing a "from a cow or not from a cow" game.

Upon arriving at the farm, students were excited to see cows but a bit unsure about the new smells, as many had not spent time on a farm before. The group toured the facility where Miller Farm bottles their own milk, sampled some chocolate milk, visited the newest calves, sat on a tractor, and interacted with cows in the pasture. The trip was a resounding success, even for initially hesitant students. They left with a deeper understanding of the work involved in raising cows and producing milk for their cafeteria.

Dairy in the Classroom, sponsored by Shelburne Farms, is an engaging educational program that explores dairy farming and dairy foods. The program consists of two in-class lessons followed by a field trip to a local dairy farm. Lessons are led by a DITC educator and feature hands-on cooking activities like making butter, ice cream, dairy dips, and cheese.

To learn more about Dairy in the Classroom, which offers in-person and virtual lessons, visit their website.