Real-Life Visits to Pennsylvania Dairy Farms

The Dairy Excellence Foundation hosts annual day-long farm tours to give high school students the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of modern working dairy farms. These dairy farm visits showcase careers within the dairy industry as well as modern agricultural technologies used to help improve today’s farming practices.

Offered both in-person and virtually, the day-long event will give high school students in grades 9 – 12 a firsthand look at Pennsylvania dairy farms and exposure to different careers available within the dairy industry. Students will meet dairy farmers and industry professionals from at least two dairy farms in Pennsylvania. Students and educators can ask questions about today’s dairy farming practices and career opportunities.


2025 DLT Farm Tours

Spring Farm Tour in Lebanon County with Date and Dairy Farms to be Determined

SAVE THE DATE!

Thursday, October 16, 2025, from 9 AM – 3 PM

Northeast PA – County and Farms to be Determined



2024 DLT Farm Tour

On Thursday, October 17, 2024, 68 students and 6 educators spent the day experiencing dairy farms and careers. Offered in-person, participants toured Penn England Farms and Ritchey’s Dairy in Blair County, PA. They learned about the careers of dairy producer, veterinarian, hoof trimmer, milking equipment sales, calf feeder, ag equipment technician, and dairy processor.

Photos from 2024 DLT Farm Tour:

2024 DLT Blair County Farm Tour Participants at Penn England Farms in Williamsburg
2024 DLT Blair County Farm Tour Participants with Andrew Ritchey at Ritchey’s Dairy in Martinsburg

2023 DLT Farm Tour

On Thursday, October 19, 2023, 58 students and 7 educators spent the day experiencing dairy farms and careers. Offered both in-person and virtually, participants toured Corner View Farm and Kirbyville Holsteins and Jerseys in Berks County, PA. They learned about the careers of dairy producer, engineer, agronomist, calf manager, robot technician, dairy extension educator, seed salesman, ag loan officer, and precision ag technician.

Photos from 2023 DLT Farm Tour:

2023 DLT Farm Tour In-Person Participants with Brad Biehl and Suzanne Meck from Corner View Farm in front of the original dairy barn in Fleetwood, PA
2023 DLT Farm Tour In-Person Participants with Jim and Sue Younker at Kirbyville Holsteins and Jerseys in Berks County, PA

2022 DLT Farm Tour

On Thursday, October 20, 2022, 60 students, 3 parents, and 6 educators spent the day experiencing dairy, veterinary science, and careers. Offered both in-person and virtually, participants toured Marshak Dairy and New Bolton Center which are part of University of Pennsylvania and Walmoore Holsteins all in Chester County, PA. They learned about the careers of dairy producer, veterinarian, nutritionist, dairy researcher, crop manager, service manager, hoof trimmer, and milk hauler. In between dairy farms, participants toured New Bolton Center being able to see their facilities, including a live surgery.

Photos from 2022 DLT Farm Tour:

2022 DLT Farm Tour In-Person Participants in front of the Free Stall Barn at Marshak Dairy in Kennett Square, PA
2022 DLT Farm Tour In-Person Participants in front of the milking facility at Walmoore Holsteins in Chester County, PA

2021 DLT Farm Tour

On Wednesday, October 20, 2021, 96 students and 8 educators spent the day experiencing dairy and careers. Offered both in-person and virtually, participants toured Four-Zag Hill Farm, Berwick and Whitenight Family Farm, Orangeville both in Columbia County, PA. They learned about careers such as dairy producer, veterinarian, crop insurance agent, ag engineer, nutritionist, extension agent, and financial consultant. In between dairy farms, participants traveled to Milkhouse Creamery, Drums in Luzerne County to tour the facility and learn about milk processing and ice cream making as careers.

Photos from 2021 DLT Farm Tour:

2021 DLT In-Person Tour Participants at Whitenight Family Farm in Orangeville, PA
2021 DLT In-Person Farm Tour participants were treated to lunch, ice cream, and a tour of the Milkhouse Creamery in Drums, Luzerne County, PA.

Questions and More Information

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Michelle Shearer at mshearer@centerfordairyexcellence.org or 570-768-8316.