Everyone is invited to attend Breakfast on the Farm on June 19, 7 to 11 a.m. at The Dairy Center in Calmar, Iowa.
The menu includes pancakes, sausage, eggs, coffee and milk. The family-oriented event includes a tour of the 250-cow dairy farm at The Dairy Center and a farm animal petting zoo.
“The majority of Iowans have never been on an operating dairy farm,” says Dairy Foundation Director Kelli Boylen. “We thought a Breakfast on the Farm was the perfect answer to bring people to our facility to see modern dairy practices. We think it is very important that the public understand where the dairy products they eat originate, and why dairy producers do what they do.”
Event organizers are planning attendance of about 1,000, with a focus on area families who don’t usually have access to farms. “We hope people come with an interest in learning, and a good appetite,” says Boylen.
Dairy Breakfasts in Wisconsin and Minnesota have been held for decades, and often draw in up to 5,000 people. It is hoped that if this first Breakfast on the Farm is a huge success and become an annual event.
Boylen adds that the admission price of $5 for adults and $3 for children 10 and under are reasonable. “We are not holding this event as a fundraiser, but rather we are simply covering our costs.”
Two large tents will be put up for serving and eating, and the event will be held rain or shine.
Everyone (with the exception of those with handicapped parking permits) will be required to park at the main NICC campus parking lot at 1625 Hwy 150. Free shuttle buses will be available from the main campus to The Dairy Center, which is located about a half mile south of NICC at 1527 Highway 150.
Many local and regional organizations are working together to make this event a reality, including The Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation, the Midwest Dairy Association, area dairy promotional groups, the Iowa Egg Council, Northeast Iowa Community College, Iowa Pork Producers, Winneshiek County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Iowa State University, Iowa dairy processors, local 4-H clubs and FFA chapters and others.
The Dairy Center opened 10 years ago, and was created by the Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation in partnership with Iowa State University and Northeast Iowa Community College. The purpose of the Dairy Foundation and The Dairy Center is to enhance the dairy industry by providing education, demonstration and research.
About 120 students use The Dairy Center while attending NICC classes for dairy science and other agriculture majors. “But another very important part of our ‘education’ mission is to teach the public about dairy farming as well,” says Boylen. “That is a big part of why we started planning for the June 19 Breakfast on The Farm.”
She added many people don’t understand the very important economic impact of the industry. “Every dairy cow is worth $16,000 each year in economic activity. Iowa’s 215,000 cows contribute about $3.4 billion industry to the state’s economy annually. That is something everyone should care about.”
Anyone who is interested in learning more about the event can call (563) 534-9957 ext. 107 or e-mail info@iowadairycenter.com.
—From Dairy Center news release
