For over two decades, Ripp’s Dairy Valley has been inviting students to experience their farm. Last week, the farm spent 3 days hosting kindergarteners from local elementary schools.
Ripp’s Dairy Valley paused daily operations to host students, teachers, and parents. For owner Chuck Ripp, the effort is worth the time away from his typical duties to ensure the community understands the care that goes into their food.
While the farm has hosted FFA chapters and college dairy science programs, Ripp says there is a special importance to reaching kindergarteners who may have only seen agriculture through a screen.
“Actually being on a live farm, hearing the sounds of it, the smells of a farm, and just getting close up with the animals… it might be the first time they ever see a cow,” Ripp noted. “This is where our food is coming from. It’s from these cows and the animals that we have here, and just to show them that where it all really begins.”
The tour covers everything from tractors and cow nutrition to everything in between. Ripp makes a point to speak to the children in a manner they will understand.
Operating with 1,000 head, Ripp’s Dairy Valley is considered a large farm by Wisconsin standards. Ripp explains the operation has grown with their family. With the next generation already returning to the farm, Ripp views these tours as a way to build a transparent relationship with consumers.
“I feel I’m telling a good story,” Ripp said. “It’s real important that our consumer knows that it comes from a really good source, and we need to show them how much we care for the environment and our cows. That can’t be said enough how much we care about what we’re doing.”
By the time lunch was over, the consensus from the students was clear: they enjoyed their time on the farm.
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