“It really is blowing,” exclaimed 8 year old Maxwell Lee as he pushed the button to turn on a fan showing how farmers keep cows comfortable. Maxwell was one of the young guests to celebrate the grand opening of Hilmar Cheese Company’s Visitor Center’s new dairy exhibits on June 10, 2010.

Unveiled during June Dairy Month, the new exhibit brings modern dairy farming to life for the thousands of people who visit the Central Valley cheese plant annually.

“As increasing numbers of people don’t know how food is produced, support for California agriculture is more difficult,” stated A.G. Kawamura, California State Secretary of Agriculture. “It is exhibits like this that help connect our consumers.”

Spanning 50-feet, the multi-sensory, interactive exhibit combines colorful illustrations, meaningful photographs and a multitude of hands-on activities for visitors of any age to learn about where milk comes from, cheese and whey processing, and the nutritional benefits of dairy in our diet.

Visitors experience how dairy farmers care for their animals through activities like the “cow-comfort” bench, which provides cushions made of the actual bedding used for cattle. Dairy farmers’ recycling efforts are highlighted in a “Healthy Planet” section. Video is used to illustrate dairy farmers’ contributions to the local economy. And guests love to “dress up” like a farmer, a veterinarian or a cheesemaker – a great photo opportunity.

A touch-screen interactive game allows users to try their hand at milking a cow, taking all of the same safety precautions dairy farmers do to ensure milk quality. The section about Hilmar Cheese Company features equipment used in cheese and whey processing. Guests can see and touch a 640-pound crate of cheese. A highlight of the exhibit is a 3’x5’ model of a modern dairy farm with back-lighting, on-farm photographs and descriptions of the activities involved with each of the farm’s ten key areas.

Dr. Lee Andersen, Superintendent of Merced County Schools applauded the new exhibit and Hilmar Cheese Company’s school tour program, “At a time when funding for science in schools is dwindling, this exhibit gives science a boost.”

Hilmar Cheese Company’s school tour program hosts more than 15,000 students each year.

“We are passionate about educating the general public about the hard work and great care our dairy farm families provide to their animals and our natural resources. Our farm families are dedicated to providing safe, wholesome and nutrient-rich dairy products every day,” said Richard Clauss, chairman of the board, Hilmar Cheese Company. “The exhibit also features information about Hilmar Cheese Company in a way that is fun and engaging for our visitors.”

Shelly Cook, Regional Representative for the California Tourism Commission said, “This is exactly what visitors want, they are getting away from San Francisco and Disneyland and they want to touch and feel the California experience. This exhibit shows them the richness of agriculture in the Central Valley.”

Hilmar Cheese Company’s Visitor Center is the first installation of the exhibit panels and interactive kiosks designed by Dairy Management, Inc. as part of their Dairy Farmer Image Program, which works to help narrow the information gap between dairy producers and the general public.

The digital Dairy Farmer Image Exhibit Kit educates families on the origin of milk, the care dairy farmers provide to the environment, their animals, and the quality and safety of the milk they produce. The Exhibit Kit also educates on the general health benefits of dairy. For more information on the digital Dairy Farmer Image Exhibit Kit, contact Jennifer Wing at (847) 627-3225 or jennifer.wing@rosedmi.com.

Hilmar Cheese Company’s Visitor Center is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.hilmarcheese.com/vc/ or call (209) 656-1196.

Information and photos provided by Denise Skidmore of Hilmar Cheese Company.