Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) recently taught a full-day intensive farmer training class on Production of Low-Risk, World-Class Raw Milk in Mount Pleasant Texas. RAWMI President Mark McAfee and Vice President Sarah Smith traveled to Texas to teach this class in collaboration with Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC).

There were 25+ attendees from Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Attendees included farmers who are already producing raw milk, prospective farmers considering raw milk production, and students who were interested to know more about raw milk.

RAWMI presented our full 5-hour training presentation in the NTCC Ag Complex classroom, complete with catered snacks and lunch from local businesses.

A Texas state dairy inspector also presented and answered questions about Texas raw milk laws. She provided invaluable information about Texas’ Raw for Retail statute as well as the allowance for herdshares in Texas.

Following our classroom presentation, we took the students for a farm tour at Udder Delight Dairy, which is a raw milk micro-dairy that is operated by Tom and Brenda Ramler. Their dairy is currently working through our free one-on-one mentoring process to become a RAWMI Listed dairy.

Overall, this class was a resounding success! The students were engaged and appreciative of the opportunity to learn more. Several farmers who attended the class have expressed interest in becoming RAWMI Listed as well.

RAWMI extends special thanks to Tom Ramler, Jimmy Smith, and Northeast Texas Community College for sponsoring and coordinating this important step for safe, low-risk raw milk in Texas!