Costa Rica has a rich agriculture sector including a prominent dairy industry. While here I have had the opportunity to sample the delicious dairy products including cheese, milk and of course ice cream. I also had a chance to visit a local dairy farm.
Most dairy facilities are small, family run operations in Costa Rica and are a part of a larger cooperative effort. Without local cooperatives, the small dairy farms could not continue to operate. The cooperatives offer a chance for families share equipment and gain more advantageous prices for their products. The dairy industry has allowed many Costa Rican individuals to support themselves and to pass a legacy onto future generations.
In Missouri, I have toured dairy facilities like Shatto Dairy in Osborn where hundreds of Holsteins are milked with modern dairy equipment hourly. However, in Costa Rica dairy cattle are milked by hand. Our day began at 5:00a.m. where our group assisted with the daily hand milking. At this dairy there were mostly Jersey and mixed breed cattle. The heard contained fewer than 20 head, which was a typical size. The heard was in good health and the local cheese factory provides veterinary care for farmer’s livestock who sell cheese to them.
Visiting the Costa Rican dairy farm was an eye opening experience. I discovered no matter what size of farming operation nor what country you happen to be in you can always find common ground with agriculture. Another lesson; hand milking is harder than it looks.
My first experience of hand milking was a success! 
Hand milking is a new experience for all agriculture and journalism students on the tour. Cidney King and Maggie Hardwick try their skills out. 
Amy Esker, a journalism student from St. Louis had never even touched a cow before her visit to the dairy. But by the end of the tour she was the best milker of us all. 
Everyone is friendly in Costa Rica including the dairy cattle!
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