FACES & PLACES AROUND TOWN MAY 2009   Fulper Farms Summer Camp AN “UDDERLY” DIFFERENT SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE Dairy Farm Opens Doors to Campers While New Jersey is known as the “garden state,” most of its residents have little knowledge of the state’s vast agricultural industry. But the popularity of “farm to you” programs is growing as consumer demand for locally produced foods has soared in the past five years. Not only have programs developed to bring locally produced foods to retailers and schools, but there are more efforts being made to provide “hands on” activities to teach students about agriculture.   This summer, Fulper Farms in West Amwell Township will open its doors to campers for one week to provide the ultimate “hands on” agricultural experience. From Monday July 13 through Friday, July 17, 2009 from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm, fifth generation Breanna Fulper, a junior attending Cornell University, will host “Dairy Day” camp at the family’s 100 year old dairy farm.  While this unique experience for youth ages 10-13 will teach participants about daily dairy farm operations, the highlight is the calf care project.  Campers are paired up and given a calf to look after for the week.  They learn how to wash, clip, feed and properly handle the calf for a show. Families of each participant are invited on the last day of the camp to watch children present their calf in the show.  In addition, campers will make ice cream, milkshakes and butter; milk a cow, go on hayrides and nature hikes; play farm games and go on scavenger hunts. The cost of the one-week camp is $300 and two scholarships are being offered to attend the camp free of charge in memory of Holly Ann McTeigue; a local Hunterdon county 4-H member and former dairy camp counselor. To receive a registration application and scholarship form, contact Breanna Fulper at (315) 406-0731 or blf26@cornell.edu. The picturesque Fulper Farm is home to 300 Holsteins and 1,200 acres of farmland.  The farm is one of only about 100 dairy farms left in New Jersey.  Owners Robert and Fred Fulper, fourth generation dairy farmers, are proud of the progress of the dairy industry in New Jersey. Milk produced on their farm is shipped to Farmland Dairies in Wallington, NJ and is used to make an innovative new school milk that is served in hundreds of New Jersey schools.  The new milk comes in single serve plastic chugs in multiple low fat flavors and has increased consumption of milk in schools by up to 18 percent.