This summer I have made the decision to do a weekly big activity with the girls to get their little brains thinking about all the things there are to learn about in our big ole world. I wanted a way to keep them engaged during the summer months, so participating in unique adventures has been a great bonding experience for us ladies.

One of our first activities was a trip to Circle N Dairy Farm out in Gainesville Texas. Why a dairy farm? My kiddos have watched enough Sesame Street to know without a doubt where milk comes from. However, it’s one thing to view cows and the milking process from afar and a whole other experience to be there in person and associates the sights, sounds, and smells that come along with the work. A trip like this helps add dimension to their tv viewing experiences.

We pulled up to the farm and were immediately met with the very animal scents of cows and hay. The girls were excited to get a glimpse of so many “Chick Fil A” cows up front. They excitedly paced near the barn watching the cows chew and moo before heading out to a nice green pasture.

Our guide Michelle gathered us around a large John Deere tractor to kickstart our tour. She gave us an overview of the farms history and her many roles that help keep things running. Farm life starts before the sun is even up (4am I believe she said) so by the time daylight hits, their crew is in full swing.

One of the biggest parts of dairy cow life is eating! These cows spend a lot of time grazing, so in an effort to give us a close up look into their diet, Michelle passed around a sample bucket of feed. Cows appear to savor every bite of this hay mix, but that smell is so unappetizing to us humans 😝. Regardless, the hay has everything a cow needs to be healthy. Healthy cows equals healthy milk!

Next we got to walk over to their barn where the cows had already moved on to the fields. The smells were quite potent and definitely hung in the air. Thankfully huge running fans that kept the cows cool also aided in blowing smells in the opposite direction lol.

Michelle showed us how the barn has an installed water pump that flushes and cleans the floor of cow dung (I couldn’t imagine trying to clean that by hand multiple times a day). We also got a glimpse of Circle N’s very own nameless resident rooster. Apparently one day he just showed up and declared Circle N his home. Now he spends his days waking up the farm and hanging out near the barn.

Afterwards Michelle took us to the milking room where cows come in to be milked by machine. Milking by hand could take as long as 10 minutes per cow, but by using machines milking time is cut significantly lower. The cows are very accustomed to the process so for the most part they cooperate and keep a steady pace. Each cow will get milked twice a day and make on average 7 gallons of milk total.

While the cows are getting milked, pipes connected to the pumps run through the room and empty fresh milk into these huge drums. They keep the milk stored inside at certain cold temperatures before it is ready to be bottled or made into foods like cheese, butter, or ice cream.

Unlike big chain farms, Circle N Dairy chooses to produce raw milk (meaning it hasn’t gone through a heating process to kill pathogens). What’s great about this method is it keeps all the necessary enzymes in the milk that helps us humans process it correctly. Michelle made mention that many people find they aren’t actually lactose intolerant, they just need to have milk in its rawest form.

The next to last part of the tour we headed over to bottle feed the adorable little baby calves. Before we could even unload the milk, they squeezed in ready to eat. They definitely knew what the assignment was and finished their meal in no time!

Finally, at the end of our tour we got to try some milk. I grabbed us 3 cold pints of raw strawberry milk and we drank it down no problem. Circle N also has a mini market where I was able to buy local items and of course diary products. I stocked up on milk, cheese, and an ice cream treat for the hubs.

We stayed a little longer after the tour to have some lunch on the covered picnic area. The kiddos also pressed in for their chance at “milking” the fake resident cow lol. If any littles still had the wiggles, there was a convenient park a few steps away equipped with swings and huge hay bales for their playing pleasure.

I have to say it was worth the 1.5 hour drive north to have this Dairy Farm tour. I love learning about animals and it’s always fascinating to see the process of were our food comes from. It adds a whole other level of appreciation to all the work people are willing to do to make goods we enjoy.

If you’re local I highly recommend a trip to see a dairy farm in person. If you’re not local, I hope you’ll go see if there’s one nearby your own location to visit. Dairy farm life is 💯 worth a go! Me and my kiddos will never forget.

‘Til next time, I hope you find a fun adventure outside your comfort zone and live life to the full!