High School Students Invited to Tour Two Berks County Dairy Farms on Oct. 19

The Farm Tour Will Take Place in Berks County With Both In-Person and Virtual Options

High school students are invited to learn about multiple career opportunities in the dairy industry during the annual Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow Farm Tour. Offered both in-person and virtually on Thursday, October 19, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the free, day-long event gives high school students a firsthand look at Pennsylvania dairy farms and exposure to different careers available within the dairy industry. Students will meet dairy farmers, nutritionists, agricultural engineers, and other industry professionals from two dairy farms in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Space is limited to 60 students on a first-come, first-served basis for the in-person tour.

“This year’s farm tour is a great way for high school students who enjoy agriculture and technology to learn more about relevant dairy careers in the dairy industry,” said Michelle Shearer, Workforce Development Manager at the Dairy Excellence Foundation. “This is an interactive way for students to see how these modern dairy farms in Berks County operate and speak directly with dairy professionals who have extensive experience.”

The first stop on the tour will be Corner View Farm, a robotic dairy operation in Berks County with approximately 150 cows and 475 acres. As a fourth-generation family business, the Biehl family constructed a new facility in 2011 with state-of-the-art robotic milking technology. In addition, they have an automatic calf feeder and a bedding robot that automatically places fresh, clean bedding into the cow stalls multiple times per day. With an eye on innovation, the Biehls also invested in a high-moisture corn feeding system. Students will be able to see this technology in action and talk with agricultural engineers, robotic technicians, crop specialists and more.

Kirbyville Holsteins and Jerseys, an 80-cow dairy operation in Berks County, is the second stop on the tour. Jim and Sue Younker established this dairy farm in 1995 and farm over 400 acres to be able to grow their own feed. They have an all-registered herd of Holsteins and Jerseys which they select from to show at the All-American Dairy Show and other contests. Jim will provide a tour of the dairy farm and give students the opportunity to explore careers in dairy herd management, dairy nutrition, ag business and more.

“It’s so important for our young learners and leaders to understand where their food and fiber comes from by getting out on a farm and talking to veterinarians, researchers, and scientists. This is a phenomenal tour for teachers to bring their students to. It could be great for a food science class or even a social studies course,” shared Diane Miller, a high school agricultural science teacher and FFA advisor who has attended previous farm tours. “Throughout the event, we talked all day about the variety of careers available. It can really spark interest in a student.”

Transportation will be provided, and students will also stop for lunch in between farms. Students and teachers must register for the in-person Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow Farm Tour by October 2. Locations for bus pick-up will be finalized at the end of registration.

The tour will also be live streamed on YouTube for teachers and students who cannot attend in person. To register for the tour, visit www.dairyleadersoftomorrow.com/farm-tour. The Farm Tour is funded by the Dairy Excellence Foundation. For more information, email Michelle Shearer at mshearer@centerfordairyexcellence.org or call 570-768-8316 with questions.

Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow is a curriculum designed specifically to prepare high school students to work in the dairy industry. Managed by the Dairy Excellence Foundation, the program provides dairy business and herd management courses to high school educators and students interested in a dairy production career.

The Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax deductible organization that is Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) approved. Established in 2010, the foundation’s mission is to build and invest in programs that cultivate and empower the next generation of producers, consumers, and advocates for the Pennsylvania dairy industry. Learn more at centerfordairyexcellence.org/our-foundation/.

Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow (DLT) is a program designed specifically to prepare high school students to work in the dairy industry. A three-part model program, Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow offers classroom instruction, on-farm experiences and scholarship opportunities. The DLT curriculum includes four main courses: Introduction to Dairy, Introduction to Dairy Herd Management, Introduction to Dairy Business Management, and Introduction to Dairy Technologies. The program is managed by the Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax deductible organization that is Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) approved. Learn more about the program at www.dairyleadersoftomorrow.com.