RENO — Discover Dairy’s “Adopt a Cow” program will be open for enrollment for the 2024-25 school year until Sept. 15.
The free program, which impacted more than 1 million students worldwide last year, is a year-long, interactive learning opportunity that gives students an inside look at a dairy farm in the United States.
Students participate in exciting activities featuring the calves on the farm and the dairy farmers who manage the operation.
Each classroom that enrolls in the “Adopt a Cow” program is paired with a calf from a dairy farm. Teachers and students receive photos, video updates and activity sheets throughout the school year that allow them to watch their calf grow.
Through immersive, hands-on learning activities and a free curriculum provided by Discover Dairy, students gain a deeper understanding of the dairy industry and where their food comes from.
Several of the lessons in the curriculum follow Common CORE standards in Math, Reading and Science.
The program also offers live virtual chats and farm tours. These chats allow students to talk directly with a dairy farmer, meet their calves, tour the farm and ask questions about milk production.
“We want to continue participation from our Nevada communities in this program,” said Libby Lovig, general manager for the Nevada Dairy Farmers. “Students will learn where our food comes from and the dairy process. Teachers will have the virtual components and videos because they cannot always do field trips. It’s important education about our farming community and how our food gets from the truck drivers to the processors, and ultimately, to the grocery stores.”
Last year, more than 39,000 classrooms, home school families, library groups and other organizations participated in the program.
Classrooms from all 50 states participated in the program. Schools from both rural and urban areas can enroll, bringing dairy farming to life for students of all ages and demographics.
Teachers who enroll in the Adopt a Cow program will receive an introductory update in the fall with details about their calf.
Classrooms will receive bi-monthly updates, including suggestions on components of the Discover Dairy curriculum that teachers can incorporate into their virtual or in-person lesson plans.
To enroll in the “Adopt a Cow” program, visit the website or contact the Dairy Excellence Foundation at 717-346-0849 for more information.