Moooo-ve over Old McDonald… New York State has some mighty fine farms too.
Did you know there are over 33,000 farms in New York State and most of them are family-owned! In the North Country, our region has a deeply rooted history in farming, agricultural research, and a growing agritourism industry. In fact, 30% of the land in Clinton County alone is still active farmland. Many local farms are home to a variety of barnyard animals like ducks, chickens, pigs and cows. We have lots of dairies, farms, and agricultural organizations where you can learn all about livestock, how farmers care for their animals, and where our food comes from. And it’s not just locally where farming has a big impact. New York State is a major agricultural producer ranking fifth in the nation for milk sales. Yes, New York does GOT MILK!
It’s important to be connected to our food systems and understand farming’s impact on the environment. Learn more about farm animals, farming practices, and local stories and organizations with the videos and resources below!
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Learn About Farm Animals & Environments
What Do You Get From That? | Everyday Learning
Grades PreK-K
In this video, children learn about different animals on a farm and the everyday items we get from them. Cows give us the milk we drink every day. We use that milk to make lots of other things we enjoy like ice cream, cheese, butter and cream.
Field Trip: Heifer Ranch | Rise and Shine: Social Studies Time
Grades K-2
Follow Donna Kilpatrick, head farmer at the Heifer Ranch, as she explains the day-to-day operations of a farmer and the important role farmers play in society. Heifer Ranch is a unique farm because it is a teaching farm that allows people from all over to come and gain the skills and knowledge needed to operate a healthy farm.
Scientist Profile: Cow Vet
Grades 3-5
Who does a cow call when she’s sick? Large animal vet John Fetrow, otherwise known as Dr. Moo! John works at the University of Minnesota’s Cow Transition Management Facility, where he researches the birth cycle of cows. He is an expert on common cow diseases, what kinds of food and care cows need to remain healthy, and even the best kind of bedding for sleepy cattle.
Farm Solutions to Water Pollution
Grades 6-12
Farming has always meant more than cultivating crops and raising animals. In this KET video from Common Ground and Cleaner Water, learn from a third generation farmer what it means to protect the land for future generations by caring about water quality on his farm and on his neighbors’ farms down stream. See how building a containment pond helps prevent animal waste from polluting streams and helps fertilize crops.
The Trouble with Antibiotics | How Widespread Is Antibiotic Use on Farms?
Grades 9-12
Learn about the widespread use of antibiotics on farm animals and the challenge the FDA faces in collecting data about the drugs, in these videos excerpted from FRONTLINE: The Trouble with Antibiotics. Learn how antibiotics have been used to promote growth and why researchers suspect that their increased use on farms is contributing to the problem of antibiotic resistance in humans. Over 70 percent of antibiotics sold in the U.S. currently go to farms; however, efforts to obtain information and regulate antibiotic use has been opposed by interest groups.
Activities, Games & More
Scrub-A-Dub | Peg + Cat
Grades PreK-K
In this game, your child will learn to sort by size and capacity to get the farm animals nice and clean for a picture!
Barnyard Match | Daniel Tiger
Grades PreK-K
In this one or two player game, you and your child can play along with Daniel Tiger as he finds matching pairs of pictures.
Little Red Barn
Grades PreK-3
If your child loves barns and farm animals, he’ll love this easy cardboard barn.
Down on the Farm: Playful Pig and Delightful Duck | Cartoon Academy
Grades K-8
Joe Wos teaches students how to draw a playful piggy and a delightful duck using easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions. Students are familiarized with art terms such as “setting,” “symmetry,” and “profile.”
Stories From Across the North Country
Cheesemaker | Career Journey
Learn all about work at Asgaard, a goat dairy farm in Au Sable Forks, New York with cheesemaker and trained dairy scientist, Gail Huston.
Abandoned & Abused Horses in the Adirondacks
A farm in the Adirondacks devoted to abandoned and abused horses who need a special kind of care is taking care of area animals. Jack LaDuke reports on the Crane Mountain Valley Horse Rescue in Westport, New York.
Forgotten Farms: What needs to change?
We talk with filmmakers Sarah Gardner and Dave Simonds about their documentary, Forgotten Farms, which chronicles the plight of how low milk prices are hurting local dairy farmers. We also hear from local farmers who watched the film at the Miner Institute in Chazy, NY.
Local Agricultural Organizations
The William H. Miner Institute
Located on the Adirondack Coast in Northern NY, the William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute is the present-day manifestation of the philosophy and principles once embodied by William Miner on Heart’s Delight Farm. Since its creation in 1951, the principal function is the economic improvement of agricultural operations through research, education, and demonstration. Learn more about their outreach programs, including annual events like Farm Day, Dairy Day, and Equiday.
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Cornell Cooperative Extension is a dynamic education system connecting Cornell’s world-class research with regional and county-based educators and partners across the state. With a presence in every county and all five boroughs of New York City, CCE is uniquely positioned to tailor opportunities and resources to match the diverse and ever-evolving needs of individual communities across the state. Learn more about their involvement in NYS 4-H programs.