Staff Report / April 27, 2026
Students in the Penn Yan Central School District recently stepped outside the traditional classroom for an interactive look at modern farming, as the Mobile Dairy Experience made a stop in the community.
The traveling exhibit, operated by the New York Animal Agriculture Coalition, features a 53-foot, double-expandable trailer designed to provide a hands-on learning environment focused on today’s dairy industry.
Inside the mobile unit, students explored a realistic farm setting while learning about dairy cow care, milk production, sustainability practices, and the people behind New York’s agricultural sector. The experience included interactive displays and activities aimed at helping students better understand how dairy products move from farm to table.
The tour was led by the program’s “Moo Crew,” who introduced students to a week-old calf from a local Penn Yan farm, offering a real-world connection to the lessons being taught.
Throughout the exhibit, students participated in stations covering topics such as animal nutrition, environmental responsibility, and career opportunities in agriculture. Organizers say the hands-on approach is designed to spark curiosity and connect classroom subjects like science and environmental studies to real-life applications.
Eileen Jensen, executive director of the coalition and a Penn Yan Academy alumna, said the goal of the program is to provide accurate information about the dairy industry while highlighting the work of farmers across New York.
The visit also emphasized the importance of dairy farming to the Finger Lakes region and the state’s broader economy, while addressing common misconceptions about modern agricultural practices.
The Mobile Dairy Experience continues to travel across New York, bringing agricultural education directly to schools and communities and encouraging a deeper understanding of where food comes from.
