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HIO STATE
Dairy Farm Tours
Waterman Dairy Farm, 2433 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH 43210

**DAIRY FARM TOURS ARE AVAILABLE ON A LIMITED / RESTRICTED BASIS AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW TO INQUIRE ABOUT A FUTURE VISIT.**

Request a Tour Biosecurity Form

In preparation for your visit, you may want to peruse the following websites to learn a little bit about dairy farming:

1) http://www.ohiodairyfarmers.com. Please note the links across the top, especially Kids and Teachers and Meet Ohio Dairy Families. There are some wonderful video clips and even a farm tour that the Holter family hosts.
2) http://www.foryourinfarmation.com. This is a wonderful curriculum that is filled with excellent resources.

Both of the above links also have Facebook pages.

NEW- we will have a big surprise……… The Incredible Milking Cow!


Please, if you have additional questions, contact Bonnie Ayars (tour coordinator) at ayars.5@osu.edu or 614.688.3143. Thank you for continued patience.

OVERVIEW OF FARM

The university's dairy farm is uniquely located at the Waterman Complex on the west end of the Columbus campus. It is used extensively for teaching, outreach, and research purposes. The facility is home to approximately 100 cows and an equal number of heifers which are young dairy females. The breed of dairy cattle in our herd is represented by Jersey cattle. Jersey cattle are soft brown and the smallest of the breeds in body size. The cows are milked two times daily and OSU students handle much of that responsibility. For additional information about the dairy facility, go to: http://ansci.osu.edu/facilities/waterman-dairy-center

HISTORY OF THE WATERMAN FACILITY

Cows and the dairy industry have a long and rich heritage on the OSU campus. In fact, one cow was even voted Homecoming Queen in 1926 under the name of Maudine Ormsby! In over 100 years, gifted and talented leaders have directed research here at the dairy and many students have gone on to make their way in the business because of their grass roots education at the dairy. The farm includes about 155 acres and was originally owned by Anna Waterman who had been managing the farm since 1905. In 1923, the university purchased the farm. Reportedly, she turned down a more sizable offer because she was determined to see that OSU would have a farm to teach students about agriculture. Obviously, Anna was a strong woman who looked to the future!

The Waterman Dairy complex was built in the 70s to support our students and promote research. Although it is not new by today's standards, it continues to be a front runner when it comes to research and teaching that will impact another generation of consumers.

TOUR INFORMATION

Farm tours are generally held during summer, fall, and spring quarters when the weather is more cooperative. If you would like to schedule a tour, it is important that you complete the request form, as well as a signed Biosecurity Form (see at top of page) that must accompany each individual on the tour. The tour details are:

• Tour costs: $4.00/adult and $1.00/child.
• For safety, we limit the tours to children 4 years old or older.
• We accept groups of 10 to 100 people.
• The tour can be made ADA compliant when requested.
• We offer additional educational opportunities, such as butter making for $2.00/participant.

Checks should be made out to the OSU Waterman Dairy. We encourage you to mail your payment 1 full week prior to the visit. The address is as follows: OSU Waterman Dairy, c/o Reagan Bluel, 2433 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH 43210.

Children who are at LEAST 4 YEARS OF AGE find the tour enjoyable. Our tours are NOT recommended for children under this age. We suggest 1 adult for every 10 children. If some children have special needs, more adults will enhance the experience for all. On the tour, attendees will see and touch baby calves, observe where we milk cows, view our milk house, walk through the "cow kitchen", as well as a trip through the various barns that house our cows. As you make your way through the tour, you will actually become more aware of the daily routine on a working dairy farm.

Dairy Farm tours are fun for kids, informative for the adults, and a good match for us all as we bridge the gap between consumers and the daily routines of a working dairy farm. Click here for additional information about what happens on a tour.

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