What's Happening at Iowa's Dairy Center Iowa’s Dairy Center Welcomes New Coordinator Hi! My name is Brenna Connelly, and I am the new Dairy Center Coordinator for the Northeast Iowa Dairy & Agriculture Foundation. I graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities this May with degrees in Agricultural Communication & Marketing and Animal Science. I started full-time at the Dairy Center in the beginning of June. I am originally from a small farm in Byron, Minnesota. Growing up, I was actively involved in 4-H and FFA and worked on my cousin’s Registered Holstein dairy farm. In 2020, I served as the 67th Princess Kay of the Milky Way, the goodwill ambassador for Minnesota dairy farmers. In my free time, I love spending time with family and friends, exploring new state and national parks, traveling, and reading. I look forward to meeting and connecting with you all! Successful Breakfast on the Farm Event We had a very successful Breakfast on the Farm this year! On June 24th, we served nearly 1,300 delicious waffle breakfasts to attendees who joined us for a fun morning on the farm. Our visitors enjoyed a variety of activities including guided farm tours, hand milking a cow, a petting zoo, inflatables, and educational booths from 4-H, Iowa Beef, County Conservation, and Midwest Dairy. By visiting the farm, visitors were able to learn about modern farming practices, the unique technology dairy farmers use, and the conservation practices our farm is using to become more sustainable. 43% of our visitors attended Breakfast on the Farm for the first time this year. Be sure to check out the photos from the day! After the guided tour, we asked attendees to fill out a survey. Based on our survey data, here's how visitors left the event feeling about agriculture:
- 97% of visitors left with a very positive/positive opinion on the way modern dairy farmers protect the environment.
- 100% of visitors left with a very positive/positive opinion on the way dairy farmers take care of dairy cattle.
- 99% of visitors left with a very positive/positive opinion of modern dairy farms.
- 100% of visitors rated Breakfast on the Farm as excellent or good.
And here are some of their comments:
- It was awesome!
- We love this event!!
- We love cows!
- Excellent food & tractor ride tour!
- Great looking farm!!
- We LOVE coming!
Be sure to save the date for next year! The 14th Annual Breakfast on the Farm will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Book Tours Online Are you or someone you know looking for a fun, summer activity? Iowa’s Dairy Center is the perfect family-fun attraction. Experience the sights, sounds, and smells of a real dairy farm. Step inside the barn to watch robots milk cows, see where cows live and more! This interactive tour is available for all ages and groups of any size. Encourage your friends and families to schedule a tour with us today! Tour availability and reservations can be found online on our website. Registration Open for Artificial Insemination Class Aug. 9-11, Nov. 28-30 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Iowa’s Dairy Center This is a three-day hands-on class for those who wish to artificially inseminate their own cattle or gain experience to work for others. The class will cover all aspects of bovine reproduction, from anatomy and hormones to heat detection. Students have actual insemination practice on cattle at Iowa's Dairy Center. The minimum age requirement for this class is 16. The class is taught by Select Sires. Register: https://iowadairycenter.com/farmers/artificial-insemination-courses.php |
