Extension for Real Life

From the Field: Where Does Milk Come From?

On a rainy day in early autumn, hundreds of people packed into the Mississippi State University Joe Bearden Dairy Center to learn where their milk, butter, yogurt, and ice cream come from.

As Mississippians increasingly live in urban areas, it’s easy to lose touch with the knowledge our farming ancestors took for granted. Of course everyone knows milk comes from cows . . . right? Just as many kids mistakenly believe chocolate milk comes from brown cows, a lot of them think dairy products come from the grocery store.

Breakfast on the Farm is an annual event that opens the dairy farm to school groups, field trip groups, families, and the general public for educational activities, a tour, and the opportunity to milk a cow.

Of course, calves are one of the most popular attractions!

In addition to learning where milk comes from, visitors saw a variety of different careers available in the dairy industry. It’s hard work, but work that makes some of our favorite foods possible!

To learn more about dairy farming in Mississippi, visit the Extension website.

Did you know 4-H offers dairy-related opportunities that don’t require showing a cow? If you love dairy, you can learn how to judge dairy products, create a dairy poster for an annual contest, judge dairy cattle, or be part of a dairy quiz bowl team!

Even if you are lactose intolerant, you can still enjoy dairy products. Learn more from Extension agent Natasha Haynes on The Food Factor!