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Dairy checkoff shows educators math and science on the farm

Dairy groups are showing educators ways to teach science, technology, engineering, and math with on-the-farm examples.  Dairy Management Inc, the dairy checkoff, has teamed up with the National Dairy Council and Midwest Dairy to bring leading science educators and curriculum directors to dairy farms so they can discover ideas that can fit into the high school curriculum.

The on-farm immersion experiences began in 2022 when Midwest Dairy arranged for educators from 15 states and Puerto Rico to visit dairy farms and related industries in Minnesota to see firsthand how farmers use many STEM-aligned aspects to care for the environment and their cows.  Since then, similar tours have been held in Florida, Oregon, and Michigan. 

American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Executive Director Daniel Meloy says a similar effort by the beef program has been successful and he says many of those students are now applying to colleges to pursue an agricultural career.