Idaho Extension Launches Dairy Curriculum for Students
University of Idaho Extension's new Dairy in a Box program gives third through sixth graders hands-on lessons on the state's dairy industry.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Financial Aid
Live Poll
Should your local schools teach elementary students more about where food comes from?
University of Idaho Extension has introduced Dairy in a Box, a dairy education curriculum for third through sixth grade students. The program includes flashcards, posters, storybooks, lesson plans and quizzes, and plans to print 50 additional kits, some to be distributed at no cost.
Why it matters
Idaho ranks third nationally in milk production, and dairy sales in the state generated an estimated $3.85 billion in revenue in 2025. The curriculum aims to build students' understanding of an industry central to the state's economy.
The curriculum was developed with a five-year, $750,000 USDA grant awarded in 2023, with 75 kits initially produced and 50 more planned. The extraction does not indicate how many classrooms have received the kits so far.
The players
University of Idaho Extension
The university's outreach arm that delivers research-based education to Idaho communities and developed the Dairy in a Box curriculum.
Matt Fisher
A University of Idaho Extension educator and former elementary school teacher who developed the dairy curriculum and previously released the ePotato curriculum.
Dairy West
A dairy industry organization that collaborated with University of Idaho Extension on developing the curriculum.
The details
Developed by University of Idaho Extension educator Matt Fisher with Dairy West, the curriculum covers six lessons on dairy cow breeds, milk production, cattle feed byproducts, the path from farm to store and butter making. Lessons align with Idaho's standards in language arts, math, social studies and science, and students can take virtual tours of dairy farms in Idaho and Utah.
Timeline
2023: USDA grant awarded to University of Idaho Extension for curriculum development.
2025: Idaho milk sales revenue estimated at $3.85 billion.
November 4, 2026: Dairy in a Box curriculum introduced.
Culture Shift
The Dairy in a Box curriculum follows the ePotato curriculum released in 2025 by Fisher and Extension educator Siew Guan Lee, part of a growing set of Idaho-specific agricultural lessons. A sugarbeet curriculum has completed peer review and awaits publication, extending the same approach to another crop.
Teachers of third through sixth grades in Idaho can use the Dairy in a Box kits, which include flashcards, posters, storybooks and lesson plans aligned with state standards. Some of the 50 additional kits will be distributed at no cost, reducing classroom expense for participating schools.
The takeaway
Educators seeking free, standards-aligned agricultural lessons can request Dairy in a Box materials, since some kits will be offered at no cost. Parents can also explore the dairy curriculum's virtual farm tours to extend learning at home.
Further reading
Explore more about Financial Aid programs that fund educational initiatives like this one.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dailyfly News.
Live Poll
Should your local schools teach elementary students more about where food comes from?
