Located conveniently off I-65 between Chicago and Indianapolis, this dairy farm provides an educational stop for the entire family.

As we planned our trip from Atlanta to OshKosh for the annual Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture, one of the members of our group asked if would could plan to stop by a dairy farm outside of Chicago. Always up for good educational stops along the way, we eagerly added that stop into our plan. We studied the farm’s website and knew we would be enjoying an adventure center, a birthing facility, and a tour of the farm.

We first entered the Adventure Center which was like a mini-amusement park of the bovine variety. We were all captured by the large cow replicas hosting touch screens and flip cards. The large signage containing the process of how grass and feed become milk taught us all a thing or two. The simulated milking “carousel” was a definite hit with everyone in the group.

As we were walking through the Adventure Center, a staff member came to our group and told us that we should really go to the birthing facility. There was a mother cow about to give birth to twin calves. The birthing center is really a sight to behold. The seating is basically stadium style positioned around a large area where the cows give birth. We only were there a few moments when a staff veterinarian entered the area where the mother cow was and helped her to deliver the calves. We were all in such awe of the beauty of what we had just seen that we just sat there watching for a long while as the mother cow cleaned her new babies. At the farm, about 80 calves are born each day and 3 are visible each day at the birthing center.

Next, we took the tour bus to tour the farm. We saw where the feed was stored, the barns, and the milking buildings. The cows on this farm, and I am sure most dairy farms, were such creatures of habit. They simply walked right up to the building where they are milked and stepped onto the carousel for their turn to be milked.

Ending out our stop over was a visit to the food and gift building where we were able to see some of Fair Oaks’ award-winning cheese being made. Samples were excellent and definitely caused us to buy a few varieties. Our favorites were the hickory smoked Gouda and five-year aged cheddar. Of course, the children’s favorite by far was the ice cream and gift shops.

I have to admit, being a homeschooling mother; I asked the friendly staff for any educational materials they could provide to me for follow-up study at home. They were extremely helpful and provided me with excellent materials.

This was an excellent educational stop over on our trip and provided a thorough, well-done lesson on the process of how milk and dairy products make it into our homes. When I asked my son how he liked the stop, he asked if we could come back again sometime soon. That was a definite “thumbs up” for parents traveling with children or who are in the Chicago or Indianapolis areas.

Look for farms in your area or where you are traveling and arrange a tour. You will be amazed at how much your children learn in a short afternoon.

Fun Dairy Facts

* The average dairy cow will eat over 17 tons of feed per year.
* Dairy cows produce approximately 90% of the world’s milk supply.
* Good dairy cows produce over 25 gallons of milk each day.
* A cow chews her cud approximately 8 hours each day.
* A cow has 4 digestive compartments.

Tags: cows, dairy, educational, farm, homeschool, trip