This story is part of a series of “meet & greets” with individuals who use our Adopt a Cow program to inspire you with the endless ways you can incorporate the program in the classroom and beyond!

Paula Satterfield works in food services at a Tennessee elementary school cafeteria. We sat down with her for a quick Q&A about how the Adopt a Cow program fits into their school cafeteria.

How long have you participated in Adopt a Cow? What grades do you serve?

This is my first year adopting a cow. My central office group thought this would be a good idea for our students. We are an elementary group, so we serve Pre-K-5th grade.

Are there any exciting moments or creative ways you have included the program in the lunch room?

We have made up a small area and put a barn scene up as well as the picture of our cow and a stuffed cow. We’ve been using this for incentives for the kids to be good while in the cafeteria as well as encourage them to drink milk. 

I have enjoyed seeing the kids look at the pictures, ask questions, and just be happy. A lot of the children live on farms, so they are very interested in watching our little cow grow.

Why do you think it’s important for students to learn about dairy farming and where their food comes from? 

Farming is very important to our lives. The more we can explain it, the more it will increase their desire to help keep the farming business alive. Hard work is something most of our kids don’t understand and how much time is involved. 

The Adopt a Cow Program is now open for enrollment for the 2025 school year! Click here to learn more and adopt a cow for your classroom today. The program, which impacted more than 1.7 million students last school year, is free thanks to support from Discover Dairy partners and donors.

Discover Dairy is an educational series managed by the Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania in partnership with American Dairy Association Northeast, American Dairy Association Indiana, Midwest Dairy, The Dairy Alliance, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Dairy Management West, Dairy West, New England Dairy, Dairy Farmers of Washington, American Dairy Association Mideast, Dairy Council of Florida, United Dairy Industry of Michigan, Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council, and Oregon Dairy Council.