Mishael McDougal has served as one of Dairy Council of California’s Mobile Dairy Classroom instructors for more than a decade, covering a broad region that spans from Tehachapi through Madera, and Springville to Coalinga.  In this role, she is able to bring her love for agriculture to life, enthusiastically teaching children, families and communities in California about where food comes from, how to eat healthfully and the value of nutrient-dense foods like milk and dairy.  

Agriculture runs deep and is a way of life for Mishael. A sixth generation Californian and the daughter of one of Southern California’s earliest citrus and livestock farmers, Mishael’s childhood shaped her experiences, passion for agriculture and desire to teach others to appreciate where food comes from. Her upbringing inspires her to teach her son to understand the food supply and appreciate healthy foods and motivates her to spread that knowledge to other children to ignite a passion for wholesome, minimally processed foods as the foundation for eating patterns. 

Seeing the excitement, high engagement and active learning of her audience is what drives Mishael and propels her to continue the work she does throughout the school year. She believes Mobile Dairy Classroom is a teaching tool and values the unique educational experience it brings to children. By working directly with schools to teach young children ag literacy, how to make healthier eating decisions and the value of nutrition on health, she can empower children to build lifelong healthy eating habits, which ultimately builds healthier communities one generation at a time. 

McDougal earned a B.S. in Animal Science from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.— Marc Anthony
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