CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (Chambana Today) — Students across Champaign County got a taste of life on the farm — without ever leaving school grounds — as the Mobile Dairy Classroom rolled through the area from October 6–10, 2025.
In a partnership between the St. Louis District Dairy Council and Southwest Dairy Museum Inc., the mobile classroom visited nine local schools, including Kenwood, Bottenfield, and Northview Elementary Schools, offering students a live, 45-minute presentation on dairy farming, nutrition, and the modern milking process.
The star of the show? A gentle Jersey cow named Louise, who wowed students during a live milking demonstration. The mobile unit serves as a full milking parlor on wheels, allowing kids to see up close how milk goes from cow to carton.
“Many kids think milk just comes from the grocery store,” said Monica Nyman, senior nutrition educator and registered dietitian with the Dairy Council. “There’s no substitute for seeing a cow being milked right in front of you.”
The mobile unit makes it easier for schools with budget or space constraints to offer agricultural education. Thanks to support from the Champaign County Farm Bureau Foundation and Ag in the Classroom, the presentations were free to participating schools.
The Mobile Dairy Classroom will continue its educational mission across Missouri and Illinois in 2026. Schools interested in scheduling a visit can contact info@stldairycouncil.org.