Adopt a Cow program returns for 2026–2027 after record participation

The Dairy Alliance is reopening Discover Dairy’s Adopt a Cow program for the 2026–2027 school year after it reached more than 555,000 students last year. The free classroom program gives students a yearlong look at dairy farming and is now accepting registrations for schools across the Southeast and beyond.

Why it matters: - The program reached 555,282 students in 9,904 classrooms last year, showing broad demand for farm-based classroom learning. - The free program connects students with working dairy farms and helps explain where milk comes from. - The return gives teachers another yearlong, standards-aligned agriculture resource with direct farmer interaction.

What happened: - The Dairy Alliance said Discover Dairy’s Adopt a Cow program is returning for the 2026–2027 school year. - Registration is now open for educators across the Southeast and beyond. - The program begins Sept. 22. - Early enrollment runs from May 1 through Sept. 1. - Rolling enrollment remains available through Jan. 31.

The details: - Classrooms are paired with a calf from a working dairy farm. - Students receive regular updates through the school year. - Participants learn the calf’s name, birthday and daily routine. - The program includes photos, progress updates, live virtual chats with farmers, interactive classroom activities and standards-aligned educational resources. - Students may also write letters to their calf and engage directly with the farming community. - Host farms for 2026–2027 include Triple H Dairy in Kentucky, Richlands Dairy in Virginia, Dusty Road Jersey Farm in North Carolina, Landsdowne Dairy in South Carolina, Circle J Dairy in Alabama, Big Sandy Creek Dairy in Georgia, Barham Jersey Farm in Tennessee and Mauthe Farms in Mississippi. - The program is managed by the Dairy Excellence Foundation in partnership with The Dairy Alliance, with participation from dairy farms across the Southeast. - More information is available in the program announcement.

Between the lines: - The program blends agricultural education with a social hook that can hold student attention over an entire school year. - The scale of last year’s participation suggests schools are looking for hands-on content tied to real-world food production. - Farmer feedback quoted in the release points to two-way value: classroom engagement on one side and public connection on the other.

What's next: - Classrooms that sign up will be matched with calves in the fall once the calves are born. - The program will run through the 2026–2027 school year with ongoing updates and activities. - The Dairy Alliance is likely to continue using the program to support dairy awareness and farmer outreach.