McCarty Family Farms has always been a cornerstone of their community. Known for their deep involvement and commitment to the places where they and their team members live and work, McCarty Family Farms goes beyond simply producing quality dairy products. They are dedicated to making meaningful contributions to their local communities.
Earlier this year, the McCartys took a significant step in expanding their community engagement with the establishment of the Judy McCarty Dairy Learning Center. This nonprofit educational facility offers visitors an immersive farm experience, providing visitors with an up close look at life on the farm. Located in Rexford, Kansas, this center offers a unique opportunity for guests to gain a firsthand understanding of dairy farming while also enhancing the farm’s transparency.
“The outcomes that we’ve been able to see with the Learning Center at MVP (McCarty-VanTilburg Partnership Dairy in Ohio) and trying to engage with the community at large and to tell our story of dairy really has been something that we’ve been pretty passionate about even back when we were farming in Pennsylvania,” Ken McCarty, one of the farm’s owners, shared
More than 100 years ago, the McCarty family began dairy farming in northeast Pennsylvania. In 2000, the family moved to northwest Kansas to continue growing their business. Today, McCarty Family Farms is home to more than 19,000 dairy cows and employs more than 200 people across their farms and milk processing plant. Their newest location, McCarty Family Farms North, houses 10,000 and those cows are milked on two 120-stall carousels, the largest in the world.
With the new farm being operational for more than a year, McCarty says the timing was right to open the innovation center to bring people to their farm and show them what dairy is and what it means.
“We want to show how we care for our cows and act as good stewards of the land,” he explained.
Honoring a Legacy
The Judy McCarty Dairy Learning Center is named in honor of Judy McCarty, the late mother of the current owners—Mike, Clay, Dave, and Ken McCarty. Judy was known for her warm hospitality and her passion for sharing the farm with the public. By naming the center after her, the McCarty family honors Judy’s legacy and her enduring impact on their community.
“Our mom loved giving tours,” Ken fondly remembers. “It was really close to her heart to open the barn doors and visit with the public.”
Mission and Principals
The learning center’s aim is to tell the story of dairy from soil to supper plate. Allison Ryan, Director of Communication and Marketing with McCarty Family Farms, shares that while the learning center focuses a lot on McCarty Family Farms, it also delves into the family’s history.
“I think for the dairy community, it’s so important to remind people that there are families behind these larger scale operations,” she adds. “So essentially we are inviting people to take a look behind the farms that are producing food, regardless of the size of their operations.”
Interactive Learning
The on-site learning center is designed to provide a transparent view of modern dairy farming to visitors. Its mission is grounded in four key principles: education, transparency, innovation, and community engagement.
Visitors, ranging from school groups and families to agricultural professionals, are invited to explore milk’s journey from soil to cup through interactive exhibits, games, and guided tours. They will also learn about cow care, water conservation, and regenerative farming practices. The 120-stall milking carousel can be seen from two viewpoints within the learning center. With a scheduled group, visitors may also tour the farm by shuttle for a more in-depth look at the facilities.
Visits are by appointment only. To schedule a visit or for more information, call 785-269-3022 or visit jmdairylearningcenter.com.
