Explore How Milk Turns to Cheese
On May 8, the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation invites classrooms across the Commonwealth to experience agriculture like never before with a virtual tour of Jubilee Dairy, home of the Nissley family. This one-of-a-kind virtual fieldtrip will transport students directly to the farm where they will meet the family behind the dairy, explore daily life on a working Pennsylvania farm, and follow the fascinating journey of milk from cow to cheese. Students will discover how the Nissley’s care for their cows, manage their land responsibly, and combine tradition with innovation to produce high-quality dairy flavors their farm sells through their on-farm cheese shed, farmer’s markets, and restaurants.
As an anabaptist emigrant to America from the Swiss/ German region of Europe, their forefather, Hans Nissley, settled and farmed this region in the early 1700s. The 10th generation of Nissley’s continue the family’s farming tradition. They take stewardship of the land and care of their animals seriously as they offer quality, handcrafted, local cheeses made from their cows’ milk. As part of the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation’s mission to promote agriculture and educate the public schools about its importance in daily life, this virtual tour provides an accessible way for schools – urban, suburban, and rural alike – to experience a working dairy farm without leaving the classroom.
In addition, classrooms that register for the tour, will receive follow-up, digital educational resources to continue the conversation. Whether your students are studying food systems, animal science, nutrition, or simply enjoy cheese on their pizza and sandwiches, this immersive virtual tour will leave them with a new appreciation for dairy farming and cheesemaking!