Through the Discovery Dairy Adopt a Cow program, Angela Howard, media specialist at Westwind, decided to metaphorically bring a cow into the library to provide a valuable learning opportunity for students to learn about the workings of dairy farms and the production of dairy products. 

Howard first came across the Adopt a Cow program on Chief Meteorologist Jacob Riley's Facebook page. Immediately she anticipated the students would enjoy engaging with the project through school news updates.  

“I also hoped this initiative would encourage them to explore factual information about cows in the nonfiction books available in the library,” said Howard.  

After adopting the cow, they were introduced to the calf through a video, photos, and presentations from the sponsoring farm. The program teaches the students about dairy farming and about the different kinds of cows and milk.  They send updates every few months with information and lesson plans on how to teach about dairy farms. 

Both staff and students have absolutely loved watching Dana grow, eagerly anticipate updates and are astonished by the cow's remarkable physical development. Dana started off as a scrawny 50-pound calf and has now reached an impressive weight of 375 pounds as of our latest update. 

“They delight in watching the update videos and find joy in her playful demeanor, because she acts like a big puppy,” said Howard. “The students ask questions about Dana each time they come into the library asking when we are getting the next update.” 

The students also love to engage with the measurement wall, they've compared their own heights to hers and take pleasure in witnessing her growth alongside theirs. 

In addition to the library, two first-grade classes decided to adopt a cow. With each new update, they feature the progress on the school news, highlighting the height, weight, and activity of the three cows. 

Through comparing the three cows, students have noticed the difference between Dana, the Jersey cow known for producing sweet milk, and the Holsteins, known for their milk's watery consistency. Additionally, students have discovered that brown cows, along with black and white ones, contribute to milk and dairy production. 

The students have also enjoyed observing Farmer Stacy's involvement and absorbing knowledge about dairy farming, making for a thoroughly enjoyable learning experience. The Westwind are eagerly awaiting more updates about Dana and are excited to continue watching her grow.