Adopt a Cow reaches 1.7M students, now open for enrollment

With the school year coming to a close, Discover Dairy’s “Adopt a Cow” program continued to expand its reach this school year. Thanks to support from partners and donors, over 43,000 classrooms participated and more than 1.7 million students across the globe were impacted by the year-long dairy education program.

The program continues to be free for teachers and groups who use it and gives students an inside look at a dairy farm in the United States by “adopting” a cow to follow throughout the year.

“We had the highest number of students impacted by Adopt a Cow in program history this year, and we hope to continue building on this momentum as we start another school year this fall,” shared Brittany Snyder, Dairy Education Program Manager at the Dairy Excellence Foundation. “From elementary teachers who teach science, math and art to bus drivers and nutrition directors, this program is truly building connections between students and the dairy industry as a whole. After completing the program, over 99 percent of the teachers we surveyed say their students completely trust the care farmers provide to their cows, they trust the milk they drink is safe, and they trust that dairy farmers are taking great care of our environment and natural resources.”

In the Adopt a Cow pre-assessment that is completed at the start of the school year before the program begins, 60 percent of the teachers surveyed said they were from urban or suburban areas, with about 80 percent saying their students are not knowledgeable about the dairy industry. After completing a post-assessment at the conclusion of this year’s program, the Adopt a Cow program helped drive the following results:

• 38 percent of teachers surveyed say their students are eating more dairy foods with meals or choosing more dairy-friendly snacks because of what they learned through the program.
• 63 percent of teachers surveyed say their students talk more about dairy and are curious to learn more as a result of the AAC program.
• 97 percent of teachers surveyed say they and their students feel knowledgeable about the dairy industry after participating in the program.

Educators across a wide range of settings have used the “Adopt a Cow” program to enrich lessons and build student engagement. From STEM and science classrooms tracking calf growth and studying ecosystems, to art rooms celebrating rural life, to cafeterias connecting food to farms, the program has been integrated into diverse subjects. Even preschools, school buses, and senior living facilities have found creative ways to use the program to teach healthy habits, care for animals, and spark meaningful conversations.

Each classroom that enrolls in the Adopt a Cow program is paired with a calf from a dairy farm. Teachers and students receive photos, video updates, and activity sheets throughout the school year that allow them to watch their calf grow. Through immersive, hands-on learning activities and free curriculum provided by Discover Dairy, students gain a deeper understanding of the dairy industry and where their food comes from. Several of the lessons in the curriculum follow Common CORE standards in Math, Reading, and Science.

The Adopt a Cow program also offers live virtual chats and farm tours. These chats allow students to talk directly with a dairy farmer, meet their calves, tour the farm, and ask questions about milk production.

Classrooms from all 50 states participated in the program along with a total of 38 countries. Schools from both rural and urban areas can enroll, bringing dairy farming to life for students of all ages and demographics.

The Adopt a Cow program is now open for enrollment for the 2025-26 school year. The sign-up period opened on May 1 and closes on September 15, 2025.