MAYAKKA CITY, Fla. — If you are not exposed to it, how would you know?
That’s what Kaylee Betts says to reassure visitors who have a lot of questions about cows. A lot.
What You Need To Know
- Dakin Dairy Farms, located in Myakka City, gives one-hour tours four times a week
- Tour guide Kaylee Betts grew up nearby the farm's location, with six generations in Manatee County
- The dairy farm milks 2,100 cows three times a day
“It is really fun seeing it from new peoples' eyes,” said Betts.
As a tour guide at Dakin Dairy Farms in Myakka City, the most frequent “little kid” question she gets is: ‘Where are the chocolate milk cows?"
Betts grew up down the road from Dakin Dairy Farms, with a family six generations deep in Manatee County. She is, of course, a proud four-year alum, who once even showed a Dakin cow.
“I did grow up around it,” Betts said. “And so, it does come very natural to share it.”
A view of Dakin Dairy Farms in its entirety. (Photo: Virginia Johnson)
She’s not just a tour guide, she’s the tour guide to explain farm life at Dakin. She guides groups through one of the six barns, introducing them to Holstein cows.
The dairy farm milks 2,100 cows three times a day. A parlor crew cleans and attaches milking machines to udders after cows walk into milking stalls with minimal effort.
It takes 15 minutes.
“This goes 24/7 through the night. It never stops,” Betts said.
Next stop: the cheese making, bottling and packing rooms. The dairy employs 60 to 90 people annually.
“Really cool machines on shows like ‘How it’s Made’ actually happen here in Myakka City,” Betts said.
On the final stop, visitors will shake a jar of cream until it turns into butter.
Then they get to taste some of the food the cows make.
“I really do love answering questions,” Betts said.
Tours at Dakin Dairy Farms are $9, children under 4 get in for free.