Elementary students learn how to process dairy milk

By PAMELA GRANT

Cove Leader-Press

Martin Walker Elementary students recently learned that knowing where milk comes from and actually seeing it are two entirely different things. Kayler Campbell, a representative from Southwest Dairy Farmers, brought a Holstein named Katy Bell to Martin Walker Elementary to teach students all about cows. The lesson plan included elements of math, science, health/nutrition, and agriculture some of which meet some TEKS requirements. Students learned a lot of different things about cattle to include information about different kinds of cows, how cows chew their food, how milk is produced and how the milk then gets to the consumer. “I liked seeing the cow,” said Thomas Duerstine (10). “This was very interesting. I was surprised to learn that they were very social.” “I never knew that a farmer would give a cow a magnet. I just…I didn’t know that. At all!” said Anthony Gill (9). During her question and answer segment about the cows, Campbell explained that because cows will sometimes eat bits of metal like nails, farmers will feed their cows a magnet so that the metal will stick to the magnet and be less likely to injure the inside of the cow’s stomach. The highlight of the lesson for many was when Campbell went through the process of milking Katy Bell to both the cries of disgust and delight of the elementary students. “I think they’re amazed because most of them don’t see farm animals so they are just amazed at where the milk comes from and how we get the milk,” said 4th grade teacher, Deanna Stoneroad. “They don’t think about where their food comes from…this is how we get it.” The Southwest Dairy Farmers’ mobile dairy classroom provides its services free to schools for students of all ages from elementary school through high school. Those looking to schedule a lesson of their own can do so via the Southwest Dairy Farmers’ website.