Cortland dairy farmer Julia Fouts delivers animal care and responsible milk production messages to thousands of students across the state through Discover Dairy’s Adopt a Cow program.
CORTLAND, N.Y. (March 23, 2026) – In a year recognized globally as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, National Agriculture Day shines a light on the farmers who produce our food and the growing impact of female farmers.
At Fouts Farm in Cortland, N.Y., dairy farmer Julia Fouts is helping nearly 100,000 people connect with agriculture virtually through Discover Dairy’s Adopt a Cow program this school year. In New York, however, there are 65,000 participants from about 1,700 groups – from schools and agriculture clubs to local libraries and assisted living centers – that are following the growth of calves Lily and Ivy.
“It’s exciting to be part of the Adopt a Cow program again and share our farm with classrooms across New York and internationally,” said Fouts. “As a woman farmer, I’m proud to help share the story of modern dairy farming and hopefully inspire young people — especially girls — to see agriculture as a field where they belong and can be leaders. Fouts Farm is predominantly women-owned, and most of our farm’s consultants are women. I look forward to the day when being a woman in any field isn’t remarkable – just normal and expected.”
This is the second year Fouts Farm has hosted the Adopt a Cow program which connects classrooms and other organizations with agriculture through interactive lessons that help participants gain a deeper understanding of the dairy industry and where their food comes from. Each program enrollee is matched with calves from Fouts Farm, allowing them to follow their calf’s journey all year long through monthly photos and video updates. Along the way, they get a behind-the-scenes look at life on a dairy farm while learning about nutrition, animal care and modern farming practices.
The program also highlights the role dairy farms play in New York’s agricultural economy as the industry celebrates National Agriculture Day. Dairy is New York’s largest agricultural sector and contributes $3.9 billion annually to the state’s economy. The state consistently ranks as one of the top dairy-producing states in the country, placing fifth nationally in milk production. It also leads the nation in other dairy favorites including yogurt and cottage cheese.
For Fouts, this year’s program is especially meaningful as 2026 has been recognized by the United Nations as the International Year of the Women Farmer – spotlighting the important contributions women make to agriculture around the world. Nationally, 94 percent of dairy farms are family owned and Fouts, a fourth-generation farmer, represents a growing number of women who are helping to shape the future of dairy farming.
“Caring for our cows is at the heart of everything we do on the farm,” says Fouts. “Through the Adopt a Cow program, students get to see firsthand everything we do to care for our animals – from providing customized nutritional diets and tracking their health to making sure they’re comfortable and well cared for every day. It’s wonderful to see women farmers recognized this year – for the work we do every day on the farm and for the chance to teach students and consumers about the care and attention that goes into producing the milk they enjoy.”
The program culminates with a live chat hosted by the American Dairy Association North East and streamed on the Dairy Excellence Foundation’s YouTube channel. The 30-minute virtual meet-and-greet will give students a chance to interact with Fouts and get an update on their adopted calf.
Teachers and other organizations interested in participating in next year’s program can sign up at DiscoverDairy.com/Register to receive an email alert when enrollment opens on May 1.