In late November, Gloucester County’s Community Engagement & Public Information Department facilitated a Mobile Dairy Classroom for over 1,000 students and staff from Gloucester County Public Schools. Megan Day from Southwest/Southland Dairy Farmers, along with her Jersey cow named Penny, visited all eight schools in the district. The initiative aimed to educate students about the dairy industry, including how milk is transported from farms to tables, its nutritional benefits, and potential careers in the field.
Debra Falkenberg, the Community Engagement Supervisor for Gloucester County, discovered this outreach opportunity last June when Day was in the Hampton Roads area. Although it was too late to organize the event at that time, Falkenberg ensured it took place in the fall. “As soon as I heard we could bring a cow to visit our schools, I knew this was a one-of-a-kind unique opportunity to share with our students,” she said. She emphasized that despite living in a rural area, many students might not have firsthand farm experiences or understand the dairy industry’s significance.
Falkenberg collaborated with school leadership and her team to coordinate visits across all schools. The program targeted specific grade levels aligned with Standards of Learning (SOLs). During her presentations, Day discussed various topics such as cow breeds and life on farms. She also introduced robotic milking machines equipped with smart collars akin to smartwatches and highlighted career paths ranging from animal science to technology.
“Our students and staff were able to ask their questions and enjoyed their visit with Megan – and Penny quickly became the star of the week,” Falkenberg added.
Gloucester County Public Schools District enrolled 5,016 students during the 2023-24 school year according to data from Virginia’s Department of Education (https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home). Gloucester High School had the highest enrollment among these schools with 1,549 students (https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home).
For more information about outreach opportunities through Gloucester County’s Community Engagement & Public Information Department, interested parties can contact them at 804-693-5730 or mail.CEPI@gloucesterva.info.
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