Onondaga County 5th Grade Dairy Field Trip to Barbland Dairy

In celebration of Dairy Month, Onondaga County 5th Graders had a field trip to Barbland Dairy in Pompey, New York on June 11, 2024.  Students and teachers from Fabius-Pompey, Marcellus, Mckinley-Brighton, & Roberts schools learned about dairy farming, dairy cow milk production, sustainable farming practices, and even pet calves! 

Many children and families in Onondaga County have never been on a farm and do not understand where their food comes from. Cornell Cooperative Extension and Barbland Dairy, with the generous support of the Onondaga County Agriculture Council and volunteers from the agricultural community, offered a farm-based learning experience to 280 students. Students toured Barbland Dairy to learn about milk production and all the foods they eat that are made with milk.

Barbland Dairy Farm milks over 2,300 cows and grows over 4,800 acres in crops to feed the cows . Three families own and manage Barbland. Multiple family farms allow farms to grow. “Growth of a farm is what works to make a farm sustainable for the next generation,” says Bret Bossard, part owner at Barbland.

In addition to a wagon ride tour around the Dairy Farm, students walked through tents with educational presentations on the topics of nutrient cycling, farm equipment, life stages of dairy cows, milking parlor activities, and nutrition from milk.  Experienced dairy farm volunteers answered student's questions all day.

Highlights of the lunch menu included donations of Chobani yogurt and chocolate milk from Trinity Valley.

Last updated August 9, 2024