Caring for Calves and Kids

After speaking with over 1,000 third graders over the last few days, there are just a list of simple things I’d like the world to know. So here they are:

1. Brown cows do not produce chocolate milk.
2. We have machines and even robots that milk the cows. We no longer use our hands and a bucket.
3. Milk is one of the most nutritious drinks in the world. It’s not only rich in high-quality protein but also an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, vitamin B12, and riboflavin. For this reason, it may cut your risk of osteoporosis and reduce blood pressure.
4. When you pour and drink the milk, you are the first human to touch it since it left the cow.
5. Farmers use a nutritionist to make balanced diets or rations for their cows.
6. Consuming dairy is easy because we have so many options from yogurt to milk and sour cream to cheese. There are even some new innovative ones like Good Sport a drink to help athletes refuel after a workout.
7. Milk from a sick cow is always dumped down the drain. No questions. Because milk is tested multiple times before it gets to the store for safety. If there is ever a question, the farmer must pay for what has been spoiled.
8. Many times, a farm’s goal, like my family’s is, is to get it to the next generation. That means taking care of the land and the animals. Without them, there will be no farm.
9. On our farm, we start our day at 3:30 a.m. and go until at least 7 p.m.
10.  96% of all farms are family owned.

I encourage each and everyone of you, if you have questions talk to a farmer. If you have a health question you go to the doctor, you like a certain beer you want to talk to the brewer. It’s the same situation with farmers, we make the products and are the experts in your field. And honestly, we’d love to talk to you about our farm!