CLASSROOMS: Adirondack Farms effort reached 26,000 students in New York, Philadelphia and Washington
BEEKMANTOWN — Beekmantown Elementary School students took a virtual tour of Adirondack Farms, a local dairy producer in Plattsburgh, last Thursday morning.
Adirondack Farms, partnered with the American Dairy Association North East, hosted the virtual tour for classrooms across New York, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. It reached approximately 26,000 children.
To kick things off, students taste tested various cheeses from Cabot Creamery, including cheddar, monterey jack, colby jack and gouda. Adirondack Farms is one of the dairy suppliers for Cabot.
Kerry Hynes, a teacher at Beekmantown Elementary, polled the class between each cheese and found cheddar had the lead until the students tried the mild gouda. They liked the name and made jokes about it.
Adirondack Farms dairy farmer Emily Starceski led the virtual experience with co-host Kelsey O’Shea from the American Dairy Association. They taught students about the local dairy farm.
Starceski and O’Shea provided live commentary over a pre-recorded video of the farm, discussing each process and area of the farm and quizzing the children on what they learned in each section.
Topics included how the farm uses radio frequency identification technology for cow identification and monitoring, the cows’ daily activities and diet, where the dairy cows come from, the milking process and where the milk goes once collected.
Starceski wants to educate students where their food comes from and the work done at farms.
“As a farmer, it’s important to me to help educate young people and show them where their food comes from,” Starceski said. “Welcoming students and teachers to our farm virtually helped them understand how milk is responsibly produced and how it gets from our farm to their fridge and school.”
She encourages anyone with questions to ask.
“If you have questions about a farm, ask a farmer — someone who can give you a real answer.”
Lewis Pierce, a kindergartner at Beekmantown Elementary, said the experience was cool because his family has cows at home.
“I have a couple cows at home, about five girl cows and six boy cows,” he said. “I know everything about cows. My dad bought me my first calf for my first birthday.”
Pierce said he remembers going outside at midnight to feed Bettina, named after the “PAW Patrol” character, with a bottle.
“I must have gone out 20 times a day,” he said. “It’s a lot of hard work.”
Hynes, a local, said she has watched Adirondack Farms grow from a small operation to an approximately 2,400 cow operation. The farm is less than five miles from the school.
“Farming life is tough, but it benefits everyone,” she said. “A lot of these students see it on their way (to school), but an in-depth look is something most don’t get to see.”
Melissa Barcomb, principal of Beekmantown Elementary, finds value in local farming and being able to share that with her students.
“This opportunity helps our young learners understand what farming is all about and why agriculture is important to our community, “she said. “I also find value in local farming, being able to share their knowledge, passion, and hard work with my students. We’re very grateful.”
Starceski said the farm is currently building a learning center, which will house a meeting area and kitchenette. It will offer education to the public for free.
“We are more accessible than you think, “she said. “A lot of people drive by and might think we are a farm that doesn’t want anyone here, but we want to let the public know we are working hard to be a member of the community.”
American Dairy Association North East also provided free lesson plans to participating schools to help the event meet curriculum standards. A Dairy Deep Dive was held for middle and high schoolers.
Emma Swarthout, from American Dairy Association North East, said the virtual setting provides schools a farm-tour experience in a more accessible way by avoiding budget constraints or travel logistics.
“Some of the schools in NYC are not close enough to make the trip,” she said, “so we are proud to show dairy farms in every corner of New York.”
For more information, to watch previous tours or to register for upcoming events, visit www.americandairy.com/dairy-farms/virtual-farm-tours/