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Please take time to read through our website to determine if our school is a good fit for you. We believe it’s important that our farm, program, and values align with yours before committing to enrollment.
Experience & Areas of Knowledge
Hands-on animal care from growing up on a small farm
Dairy cow management and daily milking routines
Animal science education at the college level
Commercial dairy operations (milking an 80-cow herd)
Dairy cattle evaluation and conformation (dairy judging team experience)
Pasture-raised livestock systems
Raising laying hens and meat birds
Raising pigs for meat
Poultry processing (on-farm chicken processing)
Starting and managing a small homestead
Developing and operating a farm school program
Teaching children hands-on, animal-based agricultural education
Background
Hello, my name is Emily. I am a mom to a four-year-old who will be with me during classes. I was raised on a small farm where we cared for a wide variety of animals, and from an early age I developed a strong interest in dairy cows.
I studied animal science in upstate New York, where I also worked on a commercial dairy milking an 80-cow herd. During that time, I was part of a dairy judging team and traveled throughout the country evaluating dairy cattle. After returning home, I worked on a pasture-raised farm that produced eggs, meat chickens, and pork, where I gained hands-on experience processing chickens.
After moving to Florida, I started my own small homestead and, in 2024, launched a farm school program in Mount Dora. While that experience was incredibly rewarding, I chose to slow down and focus more on family life. I am now offering a small, intentional farm school program at our homestead, centered on hands-on learning, animal care, and thoughtful stewardship. I also currently teach kindergarden faith formation at our church.
On Our Homestead
On our homestead, we raise chickens for both eggs and meat. Our meat birds are raised seasonally, not year-round. We do not process any animals during regular class time. Poultry processing may be offered as an optional add-on for interested students, but it will never take place during scheduled classes.
We breed and raise goats for milk and use our goat milk to make cheese and soap. We also raise pigs for meat; however, we do not process pigs on our farm. All market hogs are sent to a licensed processing facility. We also have pot-belly pigs that are kept as pets.
Our cows are kept as pets and for hands-on learning experiences. In addition, we build goat milking stands and occasional chicken enclosures, which are sometimes available for purchase.
Everything we do on our farm is reflected in what students learn and participate in during class. This year, we will also be adding a meat rabbit colony and establishing a garden as part of our ongoing farm education.
Ask me anything!
Parents are expected to stay during classes unless prior arrangements are made. Younger or older children- not attending the program- may remain with parents in designated areas during class time. Classes will begin the week of February 23 and will run year-round.
Classes offered
Program Duration: One Month
Class Times: Wednesdays 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM or 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Fridays 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM or 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Each student will attend one two-hour class per week. Every class is a hands-on farm experience where students actively participate in daily farm responsibilities such as feeding animals, cleaning and caring for living spaces, and learning proper animal handling and husbandry techniques.
Each week will feature a different farm task based on seasonal needs, giving students real-life exposure to how a working homestead operates. This allows them to build practical skills, confidence, and a deeper understanding of farm life.
In addition to structured activities, each class includes 30 minutes of intentional free time. During this time, students are encouraged to bring a book or journal, or simply enjoy observing and spending quiet time with the animals. This helps foster connection, reflection, responsibility, and a calm relationship with the farm environment.
Classes are limited to 5 students to ensure safety, individualized instruction, and meaningful hands-on participation.