Thousands of students from Pennsylvania and beyond will have the opportunity to visit a Berks County dairy farm — without ever leaving their classroom.
American Dairy Association North East is teaming up with Fantasyland Farms in North Heidelberg Township for two virtual farm tours on Oct. 29. A tour geared toward students in kindergarten through fifth grades will take place at 10 a.m. and students in grades six through 12 can tune in at 11:15 a.m.
Hosted by fifth-generation dairy farmer Caitlyn Gibbel, the interactive experiences will take students inside the cow barn, calf barn and milking parlor for a firsthand look at life on a modern dairy farm.
Along the way, Gibbel will answer students’ questions in real time and share how her family cares for their cows, produces milk and uses sustainable farming practices.
“I’m excited to partner with American Dairy Association North East to host a virtual farm tour this fall,” Gibbel said. “As a farmer, it’s important to me to help educate young people and show them where their food comes from.
“Welcoming students and teachers to our farm virtually will help them understand how milk is responsibly produced and how it gets from our farm to their fridge and school.”
Participating schools will also receive lesson plans aligned with curriculum standards, giving educators an opportunity to extend the learning experience beyond the live tour.
Fantasyland Farms will be the 12th Pennsylvania dairy farm to host virtual farm tours, and the third from Berks County. American Dairy Association North East has partnered with local farmers since 2018.
To register for an upcoming virtual farm tour or view previously recorded tours, visit AmericanDairy.com/Tour.