McCarty Family Farms
REXFXORD — Cheylin Public Schools and Golden Plains USD 316 joined forces to launch the inaugural Battle of the Dairies, a new tradition created to highlight the shared agricultural roots, community spirit, and economic impact both school districts have through their connection with McCarty Family Farms.
As one of the region’s largest employers and a long-standing supporter of local schools, McCarty Family Farms has played a central role in shaping educational opportunities across northwest Kansas.
The Battle of the Dairies was designed as a weeklong celebration blending dairy education, student engagement, and a friendly athletic rivalry. The event will rotate annually between the two districts, with Golden Plains High School in Rexford hosting next year’s competition.
Throughout the week, McCarty Family Farms team members Shelly Macumber and Jessica Bugbee visited kindergarten through 6th grade classrooms at Cheylin, bringing hands-on agricultural learning directly to students.
On Tuesday, they introduced students to Total Mixed Ration, or TMR, the carefully balanced blend of ingredients dairy cows eats each day. Students explored how proper nutrition helps cows stay healthy and produce high-quality milk, then created their own TMR snack mix that mirrored the idea of mixing different ingredients together for a complete diet.
Cheylin Superintendent Jim Reece noted the value of these activities for students. “The students enjoyed the hands-on activities that McCarty Family Farms’ Shelly and Jess facilitated. Perhaps the best part was the opportunity for Cheylin Public Schools to develop a positive relationship with McCarty Family Farms and to recognize the dairy’s positive impact on the area economy.”
Later in the week, students took part in Dairy Detective Day, learning about the important nutrients found in milk and how dairy supports strong bones, muscles, and overall health. The lesson ended with students making homemade ice cream using cream from McCarty Family Farms, an activity that quickly became a highlight of the entire celebration. Teachers shared that many students had never made ice cream from scratch before, making the experience both educational and memorable.
To build excitement leading up to game day, Cheylin students participated in themed dress-up days all week long. Classrooms and hallways were filled with kids dressed as farmers, sporting milk mustaches, celebrating ice cream, and showing off black-and-white cow patterns. The spirit week created a fun, high-energy atmosphere that brought students and staff together in anticipation of Friday’s event.
Game day marked the official Battle of the Dairies showdown. Before tipoff, a coin flip was held to determine whether the boys’ or girls’ basketball teams would compete for the newly created Battle of the Dairies traveling championship belt. The girls won the toss, setting up the matchup between Cheylin and Golden Plains. Cheylin went on to win the game and claim the honor of being the first-ever Battle of the Dairies champions.
Adding to the excitement inside the gym, McCarty Family Farms brought three inflatable cow mascots that greeted fans and entertained the crowd. Elvin Bobadilla, repro manager at McCarty Family Farms, presented the game ball during the opening ceremony, setting the tone for a night of school pride and community celebration.
Golden Plains Principal Ashley Arnberger shared her appreciation for the collaboration between districts. “The first annual ‘Battle of the Dairies’ was a fun evening for both communities. We appreciate the efforts of Cheylin to initiate this event. We will look forward to continuing this tradition in the years to come.”
Mike McCarty from McCarty Family Farms shared his pride in seeing students from both districts come together. “Our family has always believed that strong communities start with strong schools. Seeing students so engaged in learning about agriculture—and having fun doing it—made this week incredibly special. We’re proud to support both districts and excited to see the Battle of the Dairies grow each year.”
Cheylin Principal Adam Wiginton echoed the importance of the event for local students. “This event brought our students together in a fun and memorable way. They learned, they laughed, and they celebrated what makes our communities unique. We appreciate our partnership with McCarty Family Farms and look forward to building on this tradition.”
With strong participation from both schools, enthusiastic community support, and a foundation rooted in shared agricultural pride, the Battle of the Dairies is poised to become a cherished annual event.
Both districts and McCarty Family Farms look forward to expanding educational activities, strengthening partnerships, and continuing to celebrate the region’s dairy heritage in the years ahead.