Cave Hill Dairy Farm was met with the energy of 52 excited campers from Camp LEO, who arrived for a special field trip to experience life on a working dairy farm.
This trip marked the first field outing of the June 2–6 session of Camp LEO, which is now in its sixth year. Created as a unique way for children to bond with their Botetourt County School Resource Officers (SROs), Camp LEO blends engaging, educational, and action-packed experiences into one unforgettable summer program. Another group of campers is scheduled to visit the farm during the camp’s second session beginning June 19, continuing the tradition of connecting youth with both their community and those who serve it.
The fifth-generation family operation opened its gates to give these young visitors a first-hand look at farm life, complete with cows, calves, and a taste of agriculture’s vital role in Botetourt County. Led by volunteers and guided by farm owner Jeff Henderson and his daughter, Courtney, the campers were divided into groups to explore different aspects of the farm.
The Henderson family has been farming the land since the 1700s. In 1935, Courtney’s great-great-grandfather traveled to Pennsylvania and brought back three Holstein heifer calves, marking the beginning of their dairy herd. Today, Cave Hill Dairy milks around 100 cows each day, with approximately 350 animals on the farm in total, ranging from newborn calves to mature milk cows.
Jeff took the lead on tours introducing campers to the farm’s youngest residents – calves – while Courtney led groups through the milking parlor, explaining the process and technology involved in producing milk.
“The general theme, it seemed, was that everyone (the Hendersons and SROs) wanted to see the kids witness where their food comes from,” Courtney said when asked about Thursday’s visit. “That is a critical time for kids as they are able to make decisions about their food and health.”
After 30-minute sessions, the groups switched and later reconvened in “the big barn,” where the Hendersons provided an engaging overview of how the entire operation works and the farm’s longstanding ties to the community.
“In our county, we do a great job with K-2nd graders and exposing them to agriculture with ag literacy month where farm bureau reads to them and James River’s FFA’s group that host ‘Grow, Go, Know,’” Henderson continued. “However, we fall short with the age group we had yesterday.
“As the world populations continues to skyrocket, it is important that kids understand where their food comes from and have an understanding of how farms work. Plus, having them see how we interact with the animals and how the animals interact with us is a great way to see how well we care for them and that farmers aren’t just making money, we are caring for these creatures the best way possible. Social media and the media in general likes to paint farming in a negative light. To speak to younger groups and show them what really happens is an opportunity I won’t pass up, especially since these kids are three to four generations removed from the farm.”
Photos by Matt de Simone
The visit offered more than just education. Volunteers prepared a hearty farm-style lunch, wrapping hot dogs and setting out tables donated by the farm and its volunteers. Campers enjoyed a picnic that included cookies and drinks.
Following lunch, the young visitors participated in spirited “agOlympics” events, team-based challenges designed to combine fun with agricultural-themed tasks. The top three teams faced off in a final round to determine who would claim the ultimate prize: the coveted “Golden Milk Can.”
As the day at Cave Hill Dairy Farm came to a close, the kids of Camp LEO left not only with new knowledge about dairy farming but also with memories of teamwork, laughter, and the simple joy of discovering where their milk comes from.
