A Seed’s Journey, a dairy farming educational program supported by funding from New York State Dairy Farmers, has reached over 1,000 youth in grades K-8 in Monroe County. Youth in grades K-3 have had the opportunity to create seed germination necklaces, and those in grades 4-8 have begun growing their own dairy farms in a glove. All students have learned about the journey that a seed goes through to become an essential part of a dairy cow’s diet.
As a way to connect youth to the dairy industry, the Monroe County 4-H program has gone into 57 classrooms at five different schools, both in-person and virtually, to teach about the journey of a seed. Youth in kindergarten through third grade learned about the parts of a seed and created their own seed germination necklaces. Within just a few days students were excited to see their seeds sprout. The 4-H program provided all teachers with an activity guide so that students could continue learning about the parts of the plant after the in-person program was completed. During the program, 4-H educator Jessica Reid taught youth about the different ingredients that go into a cow’s diet. One of those ingredients was the corn seed that they had begun growing in their necklaces.
Students in grades four through eight began growing multiple ingredients that go into a cow’s ration by planting Dairy Farms in a Glove. Students learned about alfalfa, soy, wheat, corn, and oats and how they play a role in keeping dairy cows well fed. Many classrooms hung their gloves in their classroom windows and observed as seeds sprouted. The students were provided an activity guide to continue recording observations about their dairy farms in a glove and learning about the parts of each plant.
With the first round of dairy activities being such a great success, the 4-H Youth Development Program is excited to go back into classrooms for more hands-on learning. Continuing education around the dairy industry, the next program offering, From Moo to You, will teach youth about the journey that milk takes from the dairy cow to the products we enjoy everyday, including ice cream.
Youth from kindergarten through third grade will learn about the history of dairy products and the journey milk takes from the cow to the ice cream dish. The book Tales of the Dairy Godmother Chuck’s Ice Cream Wish helps tell this story. Students in grades four through eight will learn about this journey while making their own ice cream and brainstorming a brand-new ice cream flavor.
The Monroe County 4-H Youth Development program looks forward to continued education and connection between Monroe County youth and the dairy industry. This Agriculture in the Classroom programming has been made possible through the support of New York State Dairy Farmers.
The Monroe County 4-H Program is offered through Cornell Cooperative Extension to the youth of Monroe County. 4-H is a worldwide youth development program open to all youth ages five to 19 who want to have fun, learn new skills, and explore the world. Learn more at http://monroe.cce.cornell.edu/4-h-youth-development.
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