In spite of inclement weather, the Van Buren County Breakfast on the Farm event went off without a hitch

Mary Dunckel<dunckelm@msu.edu> -

The day started with pouring rain, thunder and lightning, yet nearly 2,300 people came to the first 2018 Michigan State University Extension Breakfast on the Farm event of the season.

Two boys stepping on TMR to pet cows at Hood Farms Family Dairy.

Hood Farms Family Dairy was the place to be on Saturday, August 25. Tim and Debbie Hood and their family hosted the 39th Michigan Breakfast on the Farm event, the first of the year. It might have been wet and even a little soggy, yet spirits were not dampened on the Paw Paw, Michigan dairy farm. Hosting their first event in 2015, this fifth generation farm welcomed visitors for the second time by graciously opening their doors to 2,296 visitors and volunteers.

After arriving at the farm, attendees enjoyed breakfast before setting out on a self-guided tour of the farm. Modern dairy farms provide visitors with a first-hand look at how milk is produced on the farm. After getting protective shoe covers, visitors got to see and ask questions while cows were being milked in the milking parlor. They proceeded to learn about crops, cow housing, cow nutrition and veterinary care all before seeing the maternity barn where many were fortunate to see a calf born and stand for the first time.

Mid-way in the tour, visitors met the Hood family, before proceeding to learning about the calves and their care. Next, they saw the equipment that is necessary to provide food for the animals on the farm. The tour concluded with engaging activities for the young visitors, ice cream for all and a wagon ride back to the parking lot.

Now in its tenth year, Breakfast on the Farm is made possible thanks to generous state and local sponsors along with willing host families and volunteers who make the events run smoothly. The final event of the summer will be on Saturday, September 15 at the MSU Beef Center. Tickets are currently available at area businesses and online.

For more information, visit www.breakfastonthefarm.com, contact Ashley Kuschel, BOTF program coordinator at (586)469-7616 and kuschela@msu.edu, or reach out to Mary Dunckel, agriculture literacy educator at (989) 354-9875 and dunckelm@msu.edu. We hope to see you on the farm!

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