also assembled the MOOMap , an impressive map available at the museum and online , that documents all of the Montgomery County farms that shipped milk at some point in history . So far , they have identified 611 farms .
The addition of electricity to farms in the 1930s enabled vacuum milking machines to replace hand milking , says Duvall , which was instrumental in reducing the amount of human labor needed to run a dairy farm . That , paired with rapid population growth in Washington , D . C ., caused an explosion of farms shipping milk that peaked in 1952 .
“ At its height , in 1952 , there were 326 farms shipping milk ,” explained Duvall . “ Today , there are only three .”
The number of dairy farmers in Montgomery County declined in the second half of the twentieth
century for a number of reasons .
“ After World War II , the veterans that grew up on farms came back home trained as mechanics , electricians , heavy equipment operators , carpenters , truck drivers , and pilots ,” said Duvall . “ When they returned , they found they could get other jobs that weren ’ t as labor-intensive as dairy farming .”
It became harder to recruit farm workers after the war , and farmland was in demand for housing developments . Farmers had to choose whether to pay for expensive facility upgrades to keep pace with changing milk production regulations or sell their farms to developers .
Today , the dairy tradition in Montgomery County is kept alive by only three farms : Artie-Jay Farm and Savage Acres Farm , both in Dickerson , and Rock Hill Orchard /
Woodbourne Creamery in Mount Airy .
The MOOseum , which will open for the season in May , is focused on preserving the history of the dairy industry through its hands-on exhibits and experienced volunteers , Duvall among them . The museum makes its home in the 72-stanchion cow barn that his grandparents built , now on the grounds of the South Germantown Recreational Park , across from the SoccerPlex .
For Heritage Days 2024 on June 29 and 30 , a county-wide event sponsored by Heritage Montgomery , the MOOseum will offer crafts , live farm animals , a walking tour , and the opportunity to “ milk ” a model cow . Your visit will leave you forever indebted to the hard-working dairy farmers who provided milk to generations of Montgomery County residents .
Heidi Schlag serves as the Assistant Director of Heritage Montgomery . She is a seasoned marketing and communications professional with expertise in promoting nonprofit , heritage , culture , and tourism organizations .
Visitors to the MOOseum can try their hand at milking Bessie , an electronic cow .
King Barn Dairy MOOseum hours : Saturdays 10-3 and 4th Sunday of each month 1-4 ( May to October ). Admission is free . www . mooseum . org
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