The Annual Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow Farm Tour Will Take Place in Berks County on Oct. 18
Registration for the Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow Farm Tour closes this Friday. The day-long experience is scheduled for Friday, October 18 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and includes visits to three Berks County dairy farms. High school students who are interested in learning about potential careers in the dairy industry are encouraged to attend.
“The stops included on this year’s tour showcase three different business models within the dairy industry, so students will walk away with a true understanding of the wide range of careers available in dairy,” said Brittany Haag, Dairy Education Program Manager at the Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania. “We’re also excited to showcase the different types of agricultural technologies used on today’s progressive dairy farms.”
Tour stops include Vista Grande Farms, Way-Har Farm and Farm Market, and Zahncroft Dairy. Hydrite Chemical Co., a company offering expertise in chemical distribution and food and dairy sanitation, is sponsoring lunch during the tour and serving as a guest career speaker.
“As a family farm in Berks County, engaging with our community and empowering future dairy leaders is important to us,” said Phoebe Bitler of Vista Grande Farms and Center for Dairy Excellence Board Member. “As one of three stops on this year’s farm tour, we are excited to open our doors to high school students who are interested in future dairy careers and give them a firsthand look at our operations.”
Learn more about the farms included in the tour:
- Vista Grande Farms is a family-run business with 240 milking cows. High school students will learn how the farm transformed its operations with an updated robotic milking system and the construction of a new facility.
- Way-Har Farm and Way-Har Farm Market is a wholesale business distributing to 40 restaurants, camps and small convenience stores and selling ice cream, baked goods, candy and milk. During the tour, students will get a behind-the-scenes look at the ice cream-making process and enjoy lunch at Way-Har Farm Market.
- Zahncroft Dairy is a multi-generational farm with 240 milking cows and 270 acres. Students will learn about the farm’s modern facilities, including a new sand bed system and milking parlor.
The farm tour is open to students and teachers from across Pennsylvania. Bus pick-up will be provided and finalized at the end of registration.
Registration closes on Friday, October 4. To register, email Brittany Haag at bhaag@centerfordairyexcellence.org or call 717-346-0849.
Visit dairyleadersoftomorrow.com to learn more about the educational, on-farm experience. The Farm Tour is funded by the Dairy Excellence Foundation.