Farm to Fridge: NCWHS Students Explore Dairy

At Kilgus Farmstead near Fairbury, sixty Normal West High School students had the chance to experience dairy from farm to fridge.

Kilgus Farmstead operates an on-farm creamery to bottle their own milk, allowing the students to see the entire process from dairy cows to gallons of milk.

“The field trip ties directly into our dairy unit,” says Family and Consumer Science teacher, Traci Verdery. “In class, the students made their own whipped cream, butter and mozzarella cheese.”

The farm tour gives them the chance to see where milk comes from, Verdery says.

The group of ninth through twelfth graders toured the barns, milking parlor and creamery plus enjoyed some ice cream from the on-farm store.

For the majority of the students, the field trip was the first time they visited a farm and had the chance to see dairy cows up close. Students learned about animal care, nutrition and food safety.

Funding for the dairy field trip was provided by an Ag Science Grant from McLean County Farm Bureau Foundation.