BROOKLYN STUDENTS DISCOVER STEM IN Action on the Dairy Farm
BY ANIA STILWELL Content Marketing Specialist American Dairy Association North East
More than 50 students and staff from New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn traded city streets for open fields when they visited Wil-Roc Farms in Kinderhook, New York. The trip took place during National Farm-to-School Month in October, giving students a firsthand look at how science, technology, engineering, and math are used every day on modern dairy farms to produce the milk that nourishes their schools.
“This is our school’s second year visiting Wil-Roc Farms, and it’s always a unique experience,” said New York City public school teacher Leovie Diaz, who leads environmental studies classes at the high school. For many students, including juniors Safa and Nazira, it was their first time stepping onto a working dairy farm. “For city kids, learning about agriculture from a book is one
Students from New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn visited Wil-Roc Farms in Kinderhook during National Farm-to-School Month to explore how science and technology are part of modern dairy farming.
thing, but seeing it firsthand helps them understand the hard work, technology, and intelligence that go into producing their food. Farming is not simple—it’s complex, and it’s science in action.” Students toured the freestall barn, milking parlor, feed area, and calf station to see how technology plays a role in every part of dairy farming. They learned how cow pedometers and health collars monitor activity and wellbeing, how computer software tracks feed and milk production data, and how GPS-guided, auto-steering tractors help farmers manage crops efficiently. The experience connected their During their on-farm visit, students toured the freestall barn, milking parlor, feed area, and a calf station.
classroom studies in environmental science and technology with real-world applications. “It was an amazing experience, a perfect first impression,” said Safa, one of the juniors in the AP Environmental Science class. “We didn’t just see cows—we learned so much about technology, nutrition, and how farms use energy and resources.” Her classmate Nazira added, “I’m interested in computer science, and I was surprised to see how much technology is used on the farm. It made me think about how my skills could apply to agriculture someday.” For many students, meeting the calves was the
highlight of the visit. “They were so cute and friendly,” Safa said with a smile. “Everyone swarmed around them to pet them, and it was definitely the best part of the day.” The experience left a lasting impression, showing students that caring for animals combines hands-on care with science and technology.
A visit to the cow barn showed how dairy farmers use innovation and data to care for their cows.
Dairy farmer Kaitlin Handy guided the group through each stop, showing how innovation and data help farmers care for their cows. “The cows wear a herd health collar that’s like a Fitbit,” Handy explained. “It tracks data about their activity and health so we can care for them efficiently.” She added that hosting students during National Farm-to-School Month made the experience even more meaningful by helping them see the connection between farms, classrooms, and the milk served in their schools.
Inside the cow barn, students discovered how dairy farmers monitor herd health and use technology to keep cows comfortable and well cared for.
For classrooms interested in exploring more about how milk gets from farm to school, milkvids.com offers short, engaging videos designed for New York Thursdays and other school nutrition programs. The site provides educators with ready-to-use resources that highlight the science and care behind every glass of milk, and every serving of cheese and yogurt offered in school cafeterias. ■
Learning what cows eat helped students understand how balanced nutrition supports a healthy, productive herd.
For many, meeting and gently petting a calf was their first hands-on experience on a dairy farm.
Students learned how proper care and nutrition helps calves get a healthy start.
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