Students at Neil Hafley Elementary School were well aware about nutrition.

“We’ve studied the (five) food groups,” said first-grade teacher Susan Austin at last month’s outdoor assembly.

But seeing a dairy cow up close was great educational experience, to say the least.

“They sure learned a lot today (about cows),” Austin added.

Dairy — the other food groups are fruits, vegetables, cereal/grain, and meat/beans — was front and center thanks to the Mobile Dairy Classroom.

Kimberlee McLaughlin of the Dairy Council of California brought along Coco the Cow and Tootsie Roll, a two-month-old calf, from Cal-Denier Dairy in Galt.

“Coco is 6 years old, weighs 1,300 pounds, and follows me around like any pet,” she said to the group of youngsters on Oct. 9.

Besides milk, they learned of the many products from dairy such as cheese, butter, whip cream, ice cream, and yogurt, to name a few.

McLaughlin even showed them proper technique on milking a cow outside of the dairy-gadget milking claw.

She said there are six Mobile Dairy Classroom units currently being used from throughout the state.

This free program of the Dairy Council of California helps educate kindergarten- through- sixth- grade students about the role of agriculture in the food supply, from the journey of milk and dairy foods from the farm to the table and school cafeteria.

McLaughlin and others stress that this is also an important part of a nutritious diet.

She mentioned that Coco, her dairy cow, eats alfalfa along with the pineapple, strawberry, cantaloupe, cauliflower, broccoli, etc. “Coco uses her tongue (to pick up her food) and chews side to side,” said McLaughlin, who studied Agriculture Education at Fresno State.

Along those lines, youngsters were quick to learn that the cow has one large stomach and four different pockets inside. “Coco can chew her food and chew it again,” said McLaughlin, in turn, explaining the term ‘chew the cud.’

She also pointed out that Coco is able to produce milk because she’s also mother.

The young calf Tootsie Roll was a calf to another cow. Youngsters had a chance to pet that one on their way out.

The Mobile Dairy Classroom, in addition, aligns with Common Core State Standards and incorporates English-Language Arts, Math and Science into the lesson, according to the Dairy Council of California.

The Manteca Unified Nutrition Services were also on hand to further promote healthy eating via fresh produce.

The connection to food literacy includes the school cafeteria, where the Dairy Council of California along with partners such as the California Department of Education and the University of California Cooperative Extension provide technical assistance through the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement, which is a program that encourages students to eat better by changing the food choices to healthier options in the school cafeteria.

To contact reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com.