Thursday, May 14, 2026Serving the Iowa County, Wisconsin, area since 1862
May 14, 2026 • Schools

Gard Day on the Farm hosts Iowa-Grant students

4th Grade from Highland --- These smiles from Miss Calabria's 4th Grade class at Highland Community Schools say it all! Students headed home from Gard Day on the Farm with goodie bags filled with dairy-themed fun - in- cluding squishy cows and other special items generously donated by businesses from across the dairy industry. Thank you to all the supporters who helped make the day even more memorable for our students! 4th Grade from Highland — These smiles from Miss Calabria's 4th Grade class at Highland Community Schools say it all! Students headed home from Gard Day on the Farm with goodie bags filled with dairy-themed fun – in- cluding squishy cows and other special items generously donated by businesses from across the dairy industry. Thank you to all the supporters who helped make the day even more memorable for our students!

Gard Day on the Farm was initiated in 2016 by the Cobb Busy Badgers 4-H club with generous funding from the Connie and Glen Gard Family following the passing of Glen Gard in 2015. Over the past 9 years, the event has been successfully organized every year except one. The primary objective is to offer a costeffective field trip to a local dairy farm for 4th graders in the area. The field trip provides students with valuable insights into dairy farming, dairy products and dairy cattle. It’s an opportunity for them to witness Wisconsin’s

FFA and 4-H -- It feels like just yesterday they were the 4th graders excited to step onto the farm for Gard Day - and now they are the ones leading stations, helping students, and giving back. Members of the Cobb Busy Badgers 4-H Club and lowa-Grant FFA helped make this year's Gard Day on the Farm a success, proving how powerful it is when young leaders grow into mentors for the next generation.
FFA and 4-H — It feels like just yesterday they were the 4th graders excited to step onto the farm for Gard Day – and now they are the ones leading stations, helping students, and giving back. Members of the Cobb Busy Badgers 4-H Club and lowa-Grant FFA helped make this year’s Gard Day on the Farm a success, proving how powerful it is when young leaders grow into mentors for the next generation.

Dairyland up close and in action. Since its inception, Gard Day on the Farm has hosted Iowa-Grant 4th graders and, in many instances, has welcomed students from Mineral Point 4th grade. New in 2025 4th graders from Highland Community School will be attending. The Cobb Busy Badgers 4-H club collaborated with Leix Farms for several years and in 2023 the event was relocated to the Schilling Brothers Farm.

lowa-Grant 4th Grade - Did you know Wisconsin's official state soil is Antigo Silt Loam? These 4th graders from lowa-Grant Middle School learned that fun fact - and much more - during an interactive soil and agriculture station presented by University of Wisconsin-Extension at Gard Day on the Farm!
lowa-Grant 4th Grade – Did you know Wisconsin’s official state soil is Antigo Silt Loam? These 4th graders from lowa-Grant Middle School learned that fun fact – and much more – during an interactive soil and agriculture station presented by University of Wisconsin-Extension at Gard Day on the Farm!

At the event 4th graders are divided into groups with each group being named after a specific dairy cattle breed. These groups rotate through 8 different learning stations on the farm. The stations cover topics such as animal nutrition, animal health, the various roles of a farmer, Wisconsin agricultural products, baby calves, and a guided tour of the farm. Students have the opportunity to learn from dairy industry experts while immersing themselves in the dairy farm experience using all of their senses.

New Calf Pick Up - Getting a hands-on les- son in just how big a "little" calf really is!
New Calf Pick Up – Getting a hands-on les- son in just how big a “little” calf really is! These 4th graders had the chance to lift a life sized, life-weight newborn calf model and experience what caring for young animals on the farm is really like. A big thank you to Southwest Wisconsin Technical College for sharing this interactive experience and helping bring agriculture education to life at Gard Day on the Farm!

The Cobb Busy Badgers 4-H club has been actively involved in the community for almost 100 years, as the club was established in 1927. The general leaders who initiated Gard Day on the Farm were Paula Daentl and Angela Davis-Brown. The club currently boasts nearly 30 members. The current general leader, Amanda Linscheid, collaborated with Iowa-Grant FFA, Bridget and Sara Schilling from Schilling Brothers Farms to ensure the success of this year’s Gard Day on the Farm.

This year’s Gard Day on the Farm, held on May 7th, included Iowa-Grant and Highland 4th graders. Over 100 4th graders, teachers and volunteers, participated in the event.