That night, after playing in the pioneer village all day long, it was time to come home and shower, eat dinner, and go to bed. But we had one more surprise up our sleeve. About the week before we left on our driving excursion, Nana offered to help pay the difference if we would rather fly. But a week before, for 5 people, plus a rental car when we got out there was too expensive. So I asked if she would be willing to fly hubby out. At that time, he had no plans to join us in Utah at all. She said yes. So we went about making plans, but didn't tell the kids. So when Daddy showed up, everyone was surprised and super happy to see him! Even the dog :)
The next morning we got up bright and early for a tour of the dairy farm that Grandpa's company owns in Utah.
The first thing they showed us was the literal mountains of food used to feed the cows.
They specially design the food to be the most nutritionally valuable for the herd as possible, so they can remain healthy. They load various grains, minerals, veggies and vitamins by the literal truck load into a sort of huge blender. And when it comes out, it is well mixed and easily digested.
The kids also thought that it was quite odorous. To be fair.... it was!
Then we went into the office where we learned about how they track the animals through, basically, a cow fit bit. They attach it to their foot, and the tracker monitors their movement and sleep patterns. With this information, they can tell when the cows are going into heat, so they can sent them for breeding. Did you know that a cow will move much more when she is in heat than when she isn't... Interesting cow facts! #WhoKnew
Also, while this part was mostly interesting for the grown ups, I would like to point out that my eldest understood pretty much all of the information we were discussing, even though we were using big, technical terms (on purpose). Boo! I don't want her to grow up!
Then we got to go in and watch the cows be milked. These cows can produce 4-5 gallons of milk in around 5 minutes, 3 times a day!!!
They actually look interested!
This picture is one of my favorites... Though I probably couldn't tell you why. At one point in our tour, we walked by the cows as they were heading into the milk shed. Our tour guide told us the cows don't really associate with humans very much, but if you stood still, they might get closer. So... In their plastic shoe covers (meant to protect the cows from any foreign particles we might track in), looking directly at the cows, my two youngest look terrified and enthralled... And the cows look pretty interested themselves. I love it!
From there it was out to the nursery!
Baby calves are born every day. This one was literally hours old!
They are taken to the nursery where they are separated according to where they will eventually end up, and cared for.
Even Grandma found a friend!
I've never toured a diary farm. I was pleasantly surprised at how interesting both adults and children found it!
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