Idaho Students Get Free Dairy Lessons in New Kit
Third through sixth grade teachers in Idaho can use aligned dairy lessons, with 50 additional kits to be distributed at no cost.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Financial Aid
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University of Idaho Extension has introduced Dairy in a Box, a dairy education curriculum for third through sixth grade students, with kits that include flashcards, posters, storybooks, lesson plans and quizzes.
Why it matters
The curriculum gives Idaho teachers aligned classroom material on dairy and agriculture, and the program's grant funding is a reminder that Extension programs are often supported by federal dollars rather than tuition or student aid.
The five-year USDA grant totaled $750,000 and was awarded to University of Idaho Extension in 2023, with more than $10,000 in further funding directed to development. The initial run was 75 kits, with 50 more planned, some to be distributed at no cost.
The players
University of Idaho Extension
The public outreach arm of the University of Idaho, a state land-grant institution whose Extension programs deliver research-based education to communities across the state.
Dairy West
A regional dairy promotion and education organization that collaborated with Extension on the curriculum's development.
Matt Fisher
A University of Idaho Extension educator and former elementary school teacher who developed the Dairy in a Box curriculum.
The details
Each Dairy in a Box kit bundles flashcards, posters, storybooks, lesson plans and quizzes built around six lessons on dairy cow breeds, milk production, cattle feed byproducts, the path of milk from farm to store and butter making. Developer Matt Fisher, a former elementary teacher working with Dairy West, aligned the material to Idaho's standards in language arts, math, social studies and science so teachers can slot it into existing instruction. Students can also take virtual tours of dairy farms in Idaho and Utah.
Timeline
2023: USDA grant of $750,000 over five years awarded to University of Idaho Extension
2025: ePotato curriculum on Idaho's potato industry released, and Idaho milk sales revenue estimated at $3.85 billion
November 4, 2026: Dairy in a Box curriculum introduced
Education Landscape
Idaho's standing as the third-ranked U.S. milk producer, with an estimated $3.85 billion in 2025 milk sales revenue, gives the state's Extension system a strong local industry to teach from. Extension curricula like Dairy in a Box follow a pattern of tying K-12 lessons to regional economies, as seen in the 2025 ePotato release on the potato industry.
If you are a parent or teacher in Idaho, the new kits may be available for classroom use, and the 50 additional kits will be distributed at no cost, so asking your school or local Extension office is the practical next step. Families interested in Extension-funded programs can ask their local University of Idaho Extension office what outreach resources are available.
The takeaway
Publicly funded outreach can bring free, standards-aligned learning materials into classrooms, and the 50 no-cost kits are worth asking about. Teachers and parents can contact their local University of Idaho Extension office to find out how to request one.
Further reading
For more on the programs that fund public university outreach like this, see Financial Aid in Idaho.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dailyfly News.
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