Midwest Dairy is bridging the gap between agriculture and education through partnerships, immersive training experiences, and curriculum development. This summer, Midwest Dairy supported three initiatives in Minnesota and Nebraska to equip science and agriculture teachers with real-world, dairy-focused tools that inspire learning, build trust in farming, and spark curiosity in the next generation of consumers.
Nourishing the Future Through Hands-On Learning
On July 10–11, Midwest Dairy sponsored the Nourish the Future workshop in Nebraska as part of a national initiative created by science teachers for science teachers. Traditionally supported by corn and soybean boards, this year marked a milestone with Midwest Dairy ensuring that dairy had a meaningful presence in the curriculum. Twenty-seven educators from across the region gathered to explore how agriculture, including dairy, can enrich science education.
Ashley Larson, Manager of Programs and Partnerships at Midwest Dairy, introduced attendees to classroom-ready resources, including the Adopt-A-Cow program and dairy-focused STEM tools. The workshop concluded with an industry supper that connected teachers with local dairy farmers, providing them with firsthand insights into modern dairy practices that they can bring back to their students.
A Deeper Dive in Minnesota: Immersive Training and Science Integration
Midwest Dairy, in collaboration with the Science Museum of Minnesota, hosted a two-day professional development workshop at South Central College in North Mankato. The event brought together high school science, food and consumer science, and ag education teachers, impacting over 700 students collectively.
Day one featured an immersive farm experience at Forest Lawn Holsteins in Nicollet, where participants explored robotic milking technology, on-farm nutrition tools, and genetic-driven breeding strategies. Ashley and David Swenson provided a deep dive into herd health and milk production practices, while a nutritionist demonstrated how feed is analyzed and optimized using tools like shaker boxes and digestive analyzers.
Back in the classroom, teachers engaged with the Media Mayhem curriculum, created by Vivayic trainers, which reinforced dairy science through hands-on modules. Day two shifted the focus to careers and food science, with Agropur experts demonstrating experiments related to protein quality, sensory science, and heat’s effects on whey products. The day concluded with the Postgame Analysis curriculum, an evidence-based look at chocolate milk as a recovery drink.
Teachers also received tools for classroom engagement, reflective thinking, and systems-based instruction. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with every teacher rating the experience as “very satisfied.” Many expressed excitement about integrating agriculture into their science teaching, and a few even asked for a third day of training to dive deeper.
Building Custom Resources for Nebraska Classrooms
Midwest Dairy also supported the Nebraska Agriculture & Science Education Leadership Institute (NASELI), a collaborative effort to tailor agriculture-based science curriculum for Nebraska classrooms. Two summer workshops brought together eight educators to develop classroom-ready materials and an online resource hub with state-specific content.
With Midwest Dairy’s support, the workshops incorporated dairy throughout the curriculum, including the hands-on “More Cheese, Please” activity, where teachers made cheese to better understand dairy processing and nutrition. This activity will be a featured lesson in the upcoming resource library, helping educators understand when and how to introduce dairy education effectively.
Across all three initiatives, pre- and post-survey results showed a positive shift in perceptions of dairy, particularly in areas like animal care and sustainability. From immersive farm tours to interactive classroom labs, these partnerships show that dairy has a powerful place in science education. By equipping teachers with accurate, engaging, and real-world content, Midwest Dairy is helping ensure the next generation understands where their food comes from and the science behind it.