Apr 09, 2025

Good Hope 4-H Club takes a trip to the dairy in Rexford

Posted Apr 09, 2025 9:45 AM
Good Hope 4-H Club members and parents tour the Judy McCarty Dairy Learning Center near Rexford. (L to R, front row): June Stremel, Emma Dickman, Cannon Vajnar, Brant Pfannenstiel, Kinley Pfannenstiel, Jill Pfannenstiel. (L to R, back row): Holly Dickman, Lily Dickman, Jacob Stremel, Mark Grabbe, John Stremel, Jennifer Grabbe. Good Hope 4-H
Good Hope 4-H Club members and parents tour the Judy McCarty Dairy Learning Center near Rexford. (L to R, front row): June Stremel, Emma Dickman, Cannon Vajnar, Brant Pfannenstiel, Kinley Pfannenstiel, Jill Pfannenstiel. (L to R, back row): Holly Dickman, Lily Dickman, Jacob Stremel, Mark Grabbe, John Stremel, Jennifer Grabbe. Good Hope 4-H

By EMMA DICKMAN
Good Hope 4-H Club reporter, age 11

On March 20 during spring break, the Good Hope 4-H club went to McCarty Dairy to explore the Judy McCarty Learning Center near Rexford.

A nice tour guide named Shelly showed us around and explained to us what McCarty’s did and how the learning center came to be.

4-Hers watch cows ride on a carousel as they get milked at McCarty Dairy, Rexford. Good Hope 4-H
4-Hers watch cows ride on a carousel as they get milked at McCarty Dairy, Rexford. Good Hope 4-H

Just imagine seeing cows ride a carousel! Well, that is what we saw, 125 cows going on and off as they please, getting milked.

We rode on a tour bus throughout one of the two barns at McCarty’s. We saw cows up close and learned that they like to lounge and rub their backs on pink spinning brushes.

We were told that there are 7,000 cows at this facility. We also saw where the cows sleep and how the workers clean out the stalls.

Good Hope 4-Her’s (L to R) June Stremel, Emma Dickman, Lily Dickman, Kinley Pfannenstiel, and Cannon Vajnar listen intently as they learn about how the dairy tries to recycle and reuse as much water as possible in their operations. Good Hope 4-H
Good Hope 4-Her’s (L to R) June Stremel, Emma Dickman, Lily Dickman, Kinley Pfannenstiel, and Cannon Vajnar listen intently as they learn about how the dairy tries to recycle and reuse as much water as possible in their operations. Good Hope 4-H
Cannon Vajnar takes a turn to practice his cow milking skills while Jacob Stremel watches.  Good Hope 4-H
Cannon Vajnar takes a turn to practice his cow milking skills while Jacob Stremel watches.  Good Hope 4-H

In the learning center there was one room dedicated to teaching about how the dairy reuses and recycles their water.

After the tour they gave us complimentary yogurt and even had a plastic cow we could practice milking after we were done with our snack.

Also, after the tour we got to look around that included interactive screens to learn more about dairy products.

In all, this was a great experience and if you get a chance, you should check it out.

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