Virginia Dairy Farm Connects Students to Agriculture Through ‘Adopt a Cow’ Program

Richmond Petersburg, VA, October 1, 2026 —

Nottoway County, VA – Richlands Dairy Farm, located in Nottoway County, Virginia, has launched an initiative aimed at educating students about the agricultural industry. The program, titled ‘Adopt a Cow,’ provides a hands-on learning experience by allowing participating students to follow the development of a specific calf over the course of an entire school year.

The core of the ‘Adopt a Cow’ program involves students being paired with a young calf and tracking its progress through educational materials and activities designed to illustrate dairy production processes and the daily care routines involved in raising livestock. This approach seeks to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world agricultural practices, offering insight into the life cycle of dairy animals.

While the summary provided details the program’s intent and mechanics, specific information regarding the number of participating schools, the total number of students or calves involved, or the farm’s operational history was not included. The duration of the program’s implementation or its direct impact on student engagement or agricultural awareness was also not specified in the provided trend summary.

Richlands Dairy Farm’s ‘Adopt a Cow’ program aims to foster a greater understanding of where food comes from and the complexities of modern farming. By following a calf from its early stages, students are expected to gain a practical appreciation for animal welfare, nutritional science, and the overall management required in dairy farming. Further details about the curriculum or the specific educational outcomes being measured were not made available.

Story summarized from the original created by Caroline Coleburn on www.wtvr.com, see more information here.