Tab Release
Contact: Amber Dixson
Phone: 505-356-8541 or 800-635-8036

Dairy Education Featured at Ag Expo

Portales, N.M. -- The Mobile Dairy Classroom, sponsored by the Southwest Dairy Museum, Inc., of Sulphur Springs, TX, will be giving educational demonstrations for Roosevelt County third graders on Tuesday, Feb. 26 in Roosevelt County as part of the New Mexico Ag Expo, sponsored by Plateau Wireless and New Mexico Bank & Trust, Feb. 26 - 27 at the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds.

In the 45-minute presentation, children will learn interesting facts about the dairy industry such as vanilla is the most popular ice cream, cows have four stomachs, all children need two or three servings of milk per day and there are 2,000 kinds of cheese.

The Mobile Dairy Classroom is 26 feet long and contains a fully operational milking parlor. The Classroom carries a live cow and calf. The demonstrations are enjoyed by all ages, however, the material targets pre-kindergarten through sixth grade children.

The instructors teach audiences the milking process, the characteristics and anatomy of dairy cows, the importance of dairy foods in a healthy diet, and modern environmental and food safety practices. Children will get to watch a milking demonstration and pet the cow.
Printed educational material will be provided for both the children and their teachers.

The Mobile Dairy Classroom has been in operation since the late 80's, however, the actual Southwest Dairy Museum opened in 1991. The states of Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Texas are covered by six mobile classroom units.

Educational seminars will also be offered for dairymen. Miguel Morales of Monsanto Dairy Business will be giving a Dairy Employee Management lecture on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m. in the Armory’s Cacahuate Room. Dr. Michael Looper, New Mexico State University Extension Dairy Specialist, will follow at 2 p.m. with a Bio Security for Dairy and Beef Operations seminar in the same location.