Welcome to Dairy Discovery
Want to come see what happens behind the scenes at SwissLane Farms? Dairy Discovery does just that. We are the educational arm of SwissLane Farms. We provide a fun and educational experience on the farm for all ages.
In 2018, Dairy Discovery became a non-profit organization! Our amazing program depends greatly on the support of our local community. Your generosity will help us to continue educating our community about "The little miracle of milk" along with the everyday miracles that happen in agriculture as a whole.
TOURS & OUTINGS
Choose an option below to schedule a tour!
(Tours are by appointment only)
School Tours
Special Events
Group Tours
Birthday Parties
TOURS INCLUDE:
- Bottle feed newborn calves
- See where the cows eat and sleep
- Watch as cows are being milked
- Ride on the "Goin' Green" Hayride
- Perform chores in the calf barn
- See farm equipment and tractors
- Eat dairy snacks (options available)
- Learn farmers' preventative and safeguarding methods
- Discover the importance of dairy nutrition
- Relax in the picnic area
- Explore in the straw fort
- Get lost in the straw maze
- Play in the corn box
- Meet barnyard friends
- Receive Take-home bag (kids only)
(To view our calendar of available dates, click below)
Your help goes a long way…
As farms continue to disappear, the need for consumers to understand how their food is produced, is growing. Dairy Discovery is committed to educating the West Michigan community about the integrity of production practices and benefits of technology use in the dairy industry.
The story of dairy is told throughout exposure to daily life on a large and modern farm-engaging the tourists in interactive and enjoyable experiences at Swisslane farms. Your donations help to make this a successful endeavor for students, young and old, and for many years to come.
TESTIMONIALS
Nancy Stefano,
Godfrey Lee ECC
"We had such a nice time on our field trip to the farm. The children loved it and have been talking non-stop about it since. They don't want a dog or a cat anymore. They now want a cow for a pet. Thank you for making our trip fantastic."
Sincerely,
Mrs. Stefano's Class
Cyndi Pierce,
Kindergarten Teacher
Alto Elementary
"Our trip to the farm was both enjoyable and very educational. Our children were able to hear, see, smell, taste, and touch on the farm trip. I know we will be back next year!"
Cyndi Laird
National Heritage Academies, Inc.
"I've been to Swisslane Farms twice, and had a great time each visit. Most kids just think milk comes from a store. It's good for them to actually see the cows and how they're milked, and to learn what goes into getting the milk to the store (and the ice cream and cheese, too). My nieces love seeing the baby cows, and feeding them from giant 'cow-size' baby bottles. The highlight of the second visit was watching a calf being born."
Vikki Boersma
Breton Downs Elementary
"It was educational for young and old alike. The tour was filled with mindful facts that everyone grabbed onto. We have a new appreciation for our carton of milk:). It was a moooving experience!"
Emily Jo Heiler
Breton Downs Elementary
"I appreciate how appropriate the content covered by the tour was. Annie really did touch many of our science objectives as she explained how the farm works and why workers performed certain tasks. The visuals for the kids were at the perfect height (the milking parlor, the calf pens, etc.) and they could easily see everything Annie was talking about. What a fun experience, feeding the calves! Thank you for all you did to show our students dairy farming!"
Linda Sawade
Breton Downs Elementary
"Experiencing a working farm was the best way for our students to not only understand mammals but where their own food supply comes from and how important it is to take care of our world so we have places to grow and raise food sources."
Michele Zuidema
Homeschool Mom
"I wanted to thank you again for putting together such a terrific field trip. The kids had a blast and haven't stopped talking about it. From the conversations around my dinner table, I think they learned bunches too. Our trip to your farm was one of the best organized field trips we've attended so far. If you'd like to use me or my group as a reference, we'd be honored. I'd love to see more homeschoolers blessed by visiting your farm. Praying the Lord continues to pour out blessings on your farm and family."