SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Three local dairy farmers and American Dairy Association North East are preparing to host the Spring 2021 Virtual Farm Tours, May 11-13. Farmers are encouraged to share the information with their local schools to help teachers find engaging educational materials for students learning in school and remotely.
The tours use video chat technology to give students a real-time, live visit with a dairy farmer. In addition to being hosted via Zoom for those joining in the classroom, each tour will be available on ADA North East’s Facebook Live and YouTube Live, so students can tune in from home, as well.
Tour information is as follows:
- May 11 – Pre-K to Grade 3, at Talview Dairy led by Stacey Copenhaver, Lebanon, Pa., from 1-1:30 p.m.
- May 12 – Grades 8-12, at Mulligan Farm led by Emilie Mulligan, Avon, N.Y., from 1-2 p.m.
- May 13 – Grades 4-7, at Stauffer Farm led by Adam Bates, North Lawrence, N.Y., from Noon-1 p.m.
In the first 24 hours of airing, the Fall 2020 Virtual Farm Tours saw 40,000 students learning in-school or at home tune into the tours. The viewers also had nearly 4,000 direct, real-time comments, questions or engagements.
“While we were unable to welcome guests to our farm, we were thrilled to be able to offer our on-farm experience to students virtually,” said 2020 tour host Hannah Worden of Will-O-Crest Farm in Clifton Springs, N.Y. “During the tour, our virtual guests saw how we care for our cows and the environment, and how we contribute to our local communities.”
Since ADA North East started the Virtual Farm Tour program in 2018, the tours have been viewed more than 350,000 times. The majority of views came during the 2020 pandemic after the tours were re-promoted.
To register for the spring tours or to view previous tours, visit AmericanDairy.com and click on “Virtual Farm Tours.” For more information, contact Kelsey O’Shea at koshea@milk4u.org.
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About American Dairy Association North East
American Dairy Association North East (ADA North East) is the dairy farmer-funded organization funded by participating dairy farmer’s checkoff investment to build demand and sales for milk and dairy foods throughout the local region. Representing nearly 10,000 dairy farm families in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and northern Virginia, ADA North East develops and implements local programs to drive milk and dairy sales at retail outlets and in schools. The organization also conducts consumer education about dairy through events, traditional and social media, and in collaboration with health professionals through National Dairy Council®. ADA North East works closely with Dairy Management Inc.™, the national dairy checkoff organization, to support nutrition research, national partnerships and developing export markets for dairy to bring a fully integrated promotion program to the region. For more information, visit www.AmericanDairy.com.
