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!

Callie Bissonnette grew up in an area that was rich in agriculture. With her deep respect and appreciation for farmers, she decided to participate in Discover Dairy’s free Adopt A Cow program. As a second-grade teacher in suburban Washington, she hoped the program would expose her students to farming and food production.

“The school I work in has a high poverty rate, and students have limited experiences outside of their neighborhoods. I decided to sign up for Adopt A Cow because I wanted my kids in the city to better understand where their food comes from,” Callie shared.

Over the past four years, Callie has ‘adopted’ a calf for her classroom and watched it grow all year long. Using resources and lessons that the program provides, she has found creative ways to weave the calf information into her lessons and curriculum, including science and language arts. Several parents have also become curious after hearing their child’s excitement about the adopted calf, giving her an easy outlet for connecting parents to her students’ learning experiences.

“I love how flexible the program is. You can make it fit your schedule and style. I use it as an enrichment and as part of my science [unit]. My kids love the calf updates and the virtual farm tour. I also had a few families download and use the Discover Dairy app,” Callie added.

In addition to her science unit, the Adopt A Cow program has helped her students gain skills with journaling and writing.  

“I have a ‘cow caretaker’ each week. A student is assigned as the ‘cow caretaker’ and they get to have our stuffed cow at their desk. They are tasked with journaling things they do [with the stuffed cow] that week,” she explained. “At the end of the week, I check the journal and if they have made an entry, they get a cow pencil and a cow charm necklace.”  

Ultimately, the Adopt A Cow program has exposed Callie’s students to broader concepts such as the role agriculture has in their community and possible career opportunities in the future.

“I want my students to understand the care that goes into ensuring they have fresh and healthy foods. I want them to see that hard work produces tangible benefits for their community. I also want them to be exposed to a variety of ideas of what they can do with their future,” she said.

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The Adopt a Cow Program is now open for enrollment through January 31 for the 2026-27 school year! Click here to learn more and adopt a cow for your classroom today. Sign up by September 1 to receive a mailed welcome packet. The program, which impacted more than 2.1 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, American Dairy Association Mideast, Dairy Council of Florida, and Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council.