Help Iowa dairy farmers give back to their community, up to $30,000, during the Iowa Farmers Feed US campaign. All you need to do is fan the Iowa Farmers Feed US Facebook fan page or become a Twitter follower of @IAFarmersFeedUS. Each new fan and follower will add $1 to the donation milk can. The promotion runs through March 31.
Iowa dairy farmers know a thing or two about giving back to the community. In addition to providing wholesome, nutritious milk for consumption across the state, last month dairy farmers donated $30,000 to Iowa’s food banks to provide dairy products to those seeking community assistance. With the help of the community, the donation could grow to $60,000.
Beginning March 8, dairy farmers will add $1 to their donation, up to $30,000, for every new fan to the Iowa Farmers Feed US Facebook fan page and Twitter follower of @IAFarmersFeedUS. The donation promotion also extends to the Midwest Dairy Association website. For each click received from the homepage to the Iowa Farmers Feed US link, another $1 will be added to the donation. The donation drive will run until Wednesday, March 31 or until a combination of 30,000 new fans, followers and website clicks are reached.
Iowa’s six food banks – Food Bank of Iowa, Food Bank of Southern Iowa, HACAP, Food Bank for the Heartland, Northeast Iowa Food Bank and Riverbend Food Bank, which serve the state’s 99 counties, will purchase dairy foods from Iowa dairy processors as needed over the next 12 months with the money donated by dairy farmers throughout the state. Midwest Dairy Association will also provide ongoing nutrition education materials to food banks for their clients, highlighting the benefits of consuming three servings of milk, cheese and yogurt every day.
Posted: February 24, 2010 at 7:17 pm
By News Editor
Congratulations to Shirley Krall for being named the scheduler for the Pennsylvania Dairy Farmers Speakers Bureau, a program that trains dairy producers to speak about their families’ roles in the local community. The bureau is a joint effort between the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and the Center for Dairy Excellence, through a grant funded by the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program.
Krall will reach out to local community groups such as the Lions Club, the Rotary or the Chamber of Commerce to schedule meetings for the more than 25 producers enrolled in the speakers’ bureau program. She will work with the producers to help their non-farm neighbors better understand how dairy farmers take care of the animals and land, provide the safest products possible, and play a vital role in the local community.
Krall’s love for dairy the dairy industry grew from spending time on her grandfather’s dairy farm as a child, and in 1982, she married dairy farmer Tom Krall. After working as a Licensed Practical Nurse, she began working full time on the dairy farm, where the Kralls raised four children, Joel, Travis, Marlin and Louise.
The Kralls are active in the Lebanon County Dairy Promotion Committee and serve as youth advisors for the Midway Church of the Brethren. They are also members of the Lebanon County Chamber of Commerce, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania, and the Cedar Crest Young Farmers Association. They are in the process of transitioning their farm onto the next generation.
Anyone interested in having a dairy producer speak at their community meeting is encouraged to contact Krall at 717-821-0259 or dairyspeakerscheduler@gmail.com. Those interested in learning about upcoming Pennsylvania Dairy Farmers Speakers Bureau training sessions can also contact Krall.
Posted: February 9, 2010 at 8:32 pm
By News Editor
Today First Lady Michelle Obama announced the Partnership for a Healthier America, an effort to support the national goal to solve the childhood obesity. The First Lady will serve as Honorary Chair of the new organization. The National Dairy Council sent this follow-up release regarding how Fuel Up to Play 60 can fit into Mrs. Obama plan.
Fuel Up to Play 60 is joining the First Lady’s call to improve the health of our next generation. An in-school nutrition and fitness program launched in partnership by National Dairy Council and National Football League, Fuel Up to Play 60 shares the ambitious and attainable goals outlined in the First Lady’s childhood obesity platform. The program recognizes that many of today’s youth are overweight yet undernourished and encourages the availability and consumption of nutrient-rich foods – particularly low-fat and fat-free milk and milk products, fruits, vegetables and whole grains – along with 60 minutes of physical activity daily. Fuel Up to Play 60 is funded with an initial private sector financial commitment of $250 million over five years by America’s Dairy Farmers. Already impacting more than 59,000 schools nationwide, the program will further its progress by announcing the following commitment to the next generation:
Together with the involvement of the First Lady’s office, Fuel Up to Play 60 will expand its reach into more than 90,000 schools participating by the end of the next school year (May 2011), or more than 90 percent of schools nationwide. Fuel Up to Play 60 will ensure all schools have access to customizable and non-prescriptive program components such as curriculum materials, in-school promotional materials and a program Web site, to facilitate positive changes in the school nutrition and physical activity environment. Ultimately, through its reach and impact in schools, Fuel Up to Play 60 will help youth take small steps toward developing and maintaining lifelong healthy habits.
Posted: January 28, 2010 at 5:43 pm
By News Editor
And the winner to White Gold’s Milkdonkulous Givewaway is: Santa Susana High School! Watch the winning video below.
Santa Susana High School in Simi Valley won the grand prize of $20,000 in the GOT MILK? “Battle for Milquarious, White Gold Milkdonkulous Giveaway.” The contest was designed to encourage teens to get creative with their video-making skills for a chance to win thousands of dollars for their public high schools’ art programs.
Santa Susana received close to 11,000 online votes. Students from the school submitted a video entry after recreating the last of seven scenes from GOT MILK?’s online rock opera titled “Battle for Milkquarious” The online 20-minute rock opera is intended to reach California teens with the message of the health benefits of drinking milk for strong bones, muscles, hair, teeth and nails. The rock opera chronicles White Gold’s quest to save his hometown of Milkquarious from a potentially deadly milk shortage. The students at Santa Susana acted out the scene using homemade props and creative video editing.
The school that received the second most online votes is Pioneer Technical Center in Madera, which will receive $10,000 for its live action entry. The students acted out the second scene of the rock opera that tells the first meeting of White Gold and his partner in crime, Jug Life, to save Milkquarious.
GOT MILK? Will honor eight other runners -up for their efforts, each with $2,500. The eight runners-up are: El Molino High School, Dublin High School, Santa Teresa High School, Los Angeles County High School, San Dieguito High School, Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts, Los Angeles High School of the Arts and Gardena High School.
Posted: January 25, 2010 at 8:51 pm
By News Editor
The Dairy Council of California is encouraging Americans are eating more of the food trend of the decade: yogurt!
Yogurt was named the food trend of the decade by Harry Balzer, Vice President with the market research firm NPD Group.
“It’s very convenient. It’s very individualized …” said Balzer of yogurt in a Jan. 1 interview with National Public Radio. “This is just for you. It’s your own flavor. It has a health halo certainly surrounding it. It really does define what I think America wants from its food supply.”
Plain or flavored, served in a cup, a tube or a tub, yogurt provides calcium, potassium and high-quality protein. Some yogurts are fortified with vitamin D, which promotes calcium absorption and bone health. Yogurt is also a good option for people who have trouble drinking fluid milk. The “live active cultures” in yogurt feed on lactose, milk’s natural sugar, making yogurt an excellent choice if you’re lactose intolerant.
According to consumption research conducted by Dairy Council of California, families with children and adults in their 30s eat the most yogurt, with adults eating less in their older years. There’s plenty room for growth within the yogurt category, according to registered dietitian Andrea Garen.
“Americans have certainly embraced single-serving flavored and frozen yogurts, but plain, unflavored yogurt is still fairly foreign,” said Garen, Project Manager with Dairy Council of California. “Yogurt is a versatile food ingredient used around the world, particularly in Greek and Indian cuisine.”
Garen recommends traditional recipes like Chicken Souvlaki, Cucumber Yogurt Soup, Tandoori Chicken or Raita for introducing plain yogurt in your diet. Its tangy flavor also works well in salad dressings, dips and other recipes. Kids enjoy adding their favorite fruits like strawberries, mangos or bananas to plain yogurt sweetened with honey, maple syrup or vanilla.
White Gold’s Battle for Milkquarious is a 20-minute online rock opera intended to reach California teens with the message of the health benefits of drinking milk for strong bones, muscles, hair, teeth and nails. The rock opera chronicles White Gold’s quest to save his hometown of Milkquarious from a potentially deadly milk shortage. Teenagers 14 to 18 who attend California public high schools were eligible to enter the $50,000 White Gold Milkdonkulous Giveaway from Oct. 5 to Dec. 20, 2009. Students were asked to recreate one of the scenes from the rock opera and submit their video entries online. White Gold and celebrity judges selected nine finalists, with the tenth finalist decided by “people’s choice” through popular vote online.
Online public voting to decide the grand prize winner out of the top 10 will be held from 10 a.m. PST on January 11 to 10 a.m. PST on January 24. The winner will be announced online on Jan. 25 at 10 a.m. PST.
The campaign, known as Fuel Up to Play 60, is funded with an initial private sector financial commitment of $250 million over five years by America’s Dairy Farmers.
Funding is expected to grow as government, business, communities and families join this effort to improve nutrient-rich food choices and achieve 60 minutes of physical activity each day among children. More than 58,000, or 60 percent, of the nation’s 96,000 private and public schools are currently enrolled in Fuel Up to Play 60.
“Today is a significant milestone in the fight against childhood obesity because this unprecedented partnership will help educate our youth about steps they can and should take to lead healthy lives,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
“Increasing access to more nutrient-rich foods and physical activity in America’s schools is no simple task, and will require the combined effort of private and public interests. Partnerships like these, combined with a strong reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Programs, can make a significant difference in our battle against childhood obesity.”
As an initial step, these partners will work together to promote and expand Fuel Up to Play 60. Based on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the program empowers students in grades 4 through 10 to engage their peers to “fuel up” with nutrient-rich foods they often lack – particularly low-fat and fat-free milk and milk products, fruits, vegetables and whole grains – and “get up and play” with 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
Fuel Up to Play 60 also gives leaders in health, business, government and communities nationwide the opportunity to be a part of a movement that relies on participation, collaboration and action by youth and adults to help develop and maintain healthy habits to last a lifetime.
The program taps the power of the NFL and its teams, players and physical activity programming to add recognition and value for students.
National Dairy Council’s trusted school relationships are crucial in sustaining the program. All 32 NFL teams are participating in the program through local dairy councils and schools in their respective markets.
Posted: January 13, 2010 at 12:14 pm
By News Editor
Hannaford retailer has joined the new Keep Local Farms initiative that was recently formed in New England. The Keep Local Farms program has been developed by a group of concerned local leaders in the Northeast, all of them working for the benefit of local dairy farmers. That group includes the following: Cooperative Development Institute, the Vermont Dairy Promotion Council, New England Dairy Promotion Board and New England Family Dairy Farm Cooperative
The program is a way to help farmers get fair-trade prices for their milk and give consumers a way to support them. Keep Local Farms hopes to close that price gap so dairy farms can be more sustainable. It’s encouraging consumers to buy local dairy products and contribute directly to a fund that’ll be shared with New England farmers.
Inspired by the “Fair Trade” products such as coffee, bananas, and chocolate, the Vermont Dairy Promotion Council, Food and Markets, the New England Dairy Promotion Board, and the New England Family Dairy Farm Cooperative with Cooperative Development Institute, have developed the idea of marketing milk with an icon that indicates the farmer who produced it will be paid a portion of the price for it-a price that helps farmers cover the cost of production. The Keep Local Farms program connects consumers with dairy farmers through education and direct support.
Hannaford, which gets 90 percent of its milk from the Northeast, is the first retailer to back Keep Local Farms. The chain will donate 10 cents for each “Close to Home” reusable bag sold in February. Customers also may donate $2 or $5 at its cash registers.
Lucinda Williams is the 12th generation to work the Luther Belden Farm, and she doesn’t want the property that’s been in her husband’s family since 1661 to follow the 150 New England dairy farms that failed last year. Williams yesterday joined Hannaford Supermarkets and state agriculture officials in an appeal to Bay Staters to support New England dairy farms.
“Farmers are not looking for a handout,” Williams said. “It’s called a business, and we’d actually like to be in business. At a minimum, we’d like to be able to cover our costs.”
Federally set milk prices plunged after the recession took hold. The U.S. lost 3 percent of its export market, leaving a glut of product, said Chris Galen, spokesman for the National Milk Producers Federation in Virginia.
“Prices have been strengthening the last four months or so, but it’s going to take us quite a while to dig out of that hole,” he said.
The new program will give away hundreds of thousands of gallons of milk – the equivalent of more than three million servings – to help raise awareness of the important role milk plays in building strong families. Events are scheduled from coast-to-coast to give out the gallons and families can register to win a year’s free supply of milk.
The “Great Gallon Give” will also make it possible to help families in need by passing a virtual gallon of milk to friends on Facebook. For every virtual gallon passed, $1 will go to Feeding America, up to $100,000. Feeding America is the country’s largest network of food banks that serves more than 25 million people facing hunger in this country. In addition, milk processors will be donating thousands of real gallons of milk to local food banks in the Feeding America network.
“We want to salute moms for all they do to help build strong families,” said Vivien Godfrey, CEO of the Milk Processor Education Program. “When you sit down to a meal together, you’re doing something good for your family. When you set the table with milk, you are providing your family with one of the most nourishing choices possible.”
Visit the website to find out if the Great Gallon Give is coming to your town. Local events are planned for 20 markets from coast-to-coast. In total, more than 200,000 gallons of milk will be distributed. While there, you can register for a chance to win a year’s worth of free milk. The first 125,000 people to enter the contest will receive a downloadable coupon for free milk with purchase.
Posted: December 31, 2009 at 4:41 pm
By News Editor
From the AP: The American Dairy Association & Dairy Council unveiled a 487-gallon mug of hot chocolate Wednesday in New York City. Officials say they think it’s the world’s largest.
Be sure to make your hot chocolate with milk this winter – it’s the best way to enjoy this warm treat! Here is a video of the story from YouTube:
Posted: December 30, 2009 at 9:55 pm
By News Editor
Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI), who manages the national dairy checkoff, is proud to report that in 2009, partnerships and innovation helped to drive sales for America’s dairy producers. Read on to learn more.
Tom Gallagher, chief executive officer for DMI cited these key accomplishments that helped dairy producers and the U.S. dairy industry build sales in 2009 and beyond.
· Partnering to create a “Legend.” Dairy producers began a partnership with Domino’s Pizza® to help revitalize the pizza category and build cheese sales. In February, Domino’s introduced its American Legends™ pizzas, which are six specialty pizzas that use up to 40 percent more cheese than the chain’s traditional pizzas. Domino’s invested four to five times the amount dairy producers invested, and due to the success of the specialty pizzas other chains are increasing cheese on their pizza offerings as well.
· Reformulating school pizza. National and local dairy checkoff organizations are working with industry partners to create a school pizza that will meet increasingly restrictive school nutrition guidelines, while also meeting kids’ taste preferences. School pizza is the most popular entrée in schools, and therefore is an important priority for growing long-term sales.
· Growing dairy sales at McDonald’s®. As part of a multi-year partnership between dairy producers and McDonald’s, the chain launched its McCafe® specialty coffee offerings – which use up to 80 percent milk – in its 14,000 restaurants across the country. McDonald’s also launched its Third Pounder Angus Burgers, three new burger options with two slices of cheese per sandwich, resulting in an additional 6 million pounds of cheese sold.
Posted: December 15, 2009 at 10:45 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
Dairy was in the spotlight today in Copenhagen at the Climate Change Summit when U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced an agreement with U.S. dairy producers to accelerate adoption of innovative manure to energy projects on American dairy farms.
“This historic agreement, the first of its kind, will help us achieve the ambitious goal of drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions while benefiting dairy farmers,” Vilsack said from Copenhagen. “Use of manure to electricity technology is a win for everyone because it provides an untapped source of income for famers, provides a source of renewable electricity, reduces our dependence on foreign fossil fuels, and provides a wealth of additional environmental benefits.”
The agreement was made between USDA and Dairy Management Inc.’s Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy with the goal of reaching a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2020.
DMI CEO Tom Gallagher says memorandum came about because of the commitment of U.S. dairy farmers and the dairy industry to a sustainable future that includes both environmental and economic viability. “Sustainability goes hand in hand with our heritage of taking care of the land and natural resources while producing nutritious products that consumers want,” said Gallagher.
Under the agreement, USDA intends to increase the number of anaerobic digesters supported by USDA programs. Beyond promoting the digesters, the agreement will encourage research, and development of new technologies to help dairies reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Anaerobic digester technology is a proven method of converting waste products, such as manure, into electricity. The technology utilizes generators that are fueled by methane captured from the animal manure. Currently, only about 2 percent of U.S. dairies that are candidates for a profitable digester are utilizing the technology. Dairy operations with anaerobic digesters routinely generate enough electricity to power 200 homes.
One study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that what 5-year-old girls drink can predict their weight status for the remainder of childhood and into adolescence. Researchers at Pennsylvania State University found that those who drank more sweetened beverages, such as soda and sports drinks, at the age of 5 were more likely to be overweight over the following 10 years. Additionally, the nutrient-rich beverages displaced the sodas and sports drinks – girls who drank more milk and 100% fruit juice drank fewer nutritionally empty sweetened beverages.
Another study, in the current issue of Public Health Nutrition, reinforces recent reports that suggest low consumption of nutrient-rich foods – specifically low-fat and fat-free dairy foods, fruits, vegetables and whole grains – can contribute to obesity among young adults.
Posted: November 30, 2009 at 7:23 pm
By News Editor
If you are a Minnesota dairy farmer looking for a fun, family outing, then you should join the Midwest Dairy Association at a Timberwolves (Minnesota’s NBA team) game.
A promotion effort that will bring 250 dairy producers to a Timberwolves game Saturday, Dec. 5, also rewards consumers who buy $10 worth of dairy products at Rainbow Foods. Midwest Dairy has offered free Timberwolves tickets to dairy producers for the Dec. 5 game against the Utah Jazz. Producers will also receive a cap and a refreshment voucher. Groups of producers will be seated together, and four lucky winners will be escorted in the spotlight to front-row seats at courtside. The Timberwolves provided the tickets as part of the Midwest Dairy sponsorship.
Remaining tickets are available to producers on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Midwest Dairy Producer Services Center at 1-877-360-FARM (3276). Callers are asked to limit their requests to dairy producer families.
The promotion is part of Midwest Dairy’s campaign to reinforce the value of dairy’s nutrition at a time when consumers are making food choices that save them money. The effort, called Dairy Makes Sense, utilizes a Web site, retail partners, radio advertising, social media and other tactics. The Timberwolves partnership adds another layer of activity, focusing not only on the free ticket with dairy purchase, but utilizing the Timberwolves Web site, electronic signage at the game and in-game advertising to extend the dairy value concept. Kemps LLC, in partnership with Rainbow Foods, provided in-store point-of-sale materials. Shoppers received register vouchers on qualified purchases as claim checks for game tickets at the Target Center box office.
Posted: November 27, 2009 at 8:46 pm
By News Editor
The dairy checkoff has taken dramatic steps to increase dairy sales in the short term, while building for the long term, in response to dairy farming’s 2009 economic crisis, according to Tom Gallagher, chief executive officer of Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI), which manages the national dairy checkoff. Gallagher spoke at the 2009 National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB)/United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA)/National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Joint Annual Meeting in Grapevine, Texas.
The checkoff responded to the economic challenges by redirecting $35 million of the budgets of DMI and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) to efforts that would affect immediate sales, Gallagher reported. DMI eliminated $9 million of fixed administrative, consulting and other costs and moved that money to programming. It entered into key strategic partnerships to drive short-term sales, while advancing the dairy checkoff’s long-term goals, he said.
To help reignite the pizza category, the dairy checkoff and Domino’s Pizza have a multi-layered partnership focused on more cheese, on more pizzas. To impact the specialty beverage market, the dairy checkoff has a three-year partnership with McDonald’s to support dairy-friendly menu development. And, to capitalize on the enormous potential in the lactose-free milk market, the checkoff is partnering with HP Hood, the marketers of Lactaid®.
In addition, Gallagher also cited the formation of a critically important partnership that affects all of dairy’s future consumers. DMI and the National Dairy Council (NDC) formed a partnership with the National Football League (NFL) to offer a unique program where kids are directly involved in making better food and fitness choices at school.
“We have taken the power of NDC and coupled it with the NFL, resulting in ‘Fuel Up to Play 60’, a full package of nutrition and physical fitness options, with dairy front and center,” Gallagher said. Now, DMI and the NFL are working toward a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) because they, too, see the positive impact this program can have on kids.
Posted: November 24, 2009 at 6:31 pm
By News Editor
The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and Wisconsin Cheese have launched a new, interactive website for cheese-lovers! Called “Cheese for Me”, the site takes your answers to several questions and will select a cheese for you based on your flavor preferences, style and sense of adventure. My cheese selection was “Wisconsin Monterey Jack,” because it is a versatile but reliable standby cheese. Yum! What’s your cheese?
Be adventurous. Try something new. Discover the cheese that’s just for you.
Posted: November 16, 2009 at 8:17 pm
By News Editor
America’s dairy farmers delivered a hot and cheesy “thank you” to veterans in five U.S. cities this past Veteran’s Day! Patients in Veterans Administration hospitals in Washington; Chicago; Dallas; San Antonio, Texas and Green Bay, Wis. all received special care packages of pizza and milk courtesy of America’s dairy farmers in partnership with Pizzas 4 Patriots, a non-profit organization that aims to deliver “a slice of home” to U.S. service men and women both domestically and abroad.
“Dairy farmers have a long-standing tradition of supporting our local communities, so we are pleased and honored to join the nation in celebrating the service and sacrifice of America’s Veterans,” said Ken Miller, a Sulphur Springs, Texas-based dairy producer and U.S. Veteran who will be among those serving milk and some 800 slices of Domino’s pizza to Veterans at the Dallas VA Medical Center. “We are proud to show admiration and appreciation for Veterans in a way that is closely connected to what we do as dairy farmers – producing great milk and milk products.”
The idea for Pizzas 4 Patriots was sparked in the summer of 2008, when 15-year-old Kent Evans of Elk Grove Village, Ill., asked his father, retired Air Force Master Sergeant Mark Evans, if they could send pizzas to U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq. His wish became a reality when service men and women at Camp Victory in Baghdad enjoyed a Fourth of July pizza party that brought back fond memories of home and made the troops feel remembered and appreciated.
Pizzas 4 Patriots is now in its second year of showing support for the troops. “Support from others, such as America’s dairy farmers, allows us to achieve our mission,” Evans said. “We’re able to make a positive difference in the lives of our service men and women – those presently serving as well as our wounded Veterans.”
Posted: November 13, 2009 at 9:10 pm
By News Editor
Who loves chocolate milk? Raise your hands!
Did you know that chocolate milk is a healthy and delicious drink filled with nine essential nutrients, including calcium? Did you also know that lowfat chocolate milk is the most popular milk choice in schools? This power drink needs you to stand up and sign the “Raise Your Hand For Chocolate Milk” petition to help ensure it stays on school menus nationwide! (Just enter your state on the widget to the right and click “Sign the Petition”)
You can also help spread the message with social networking tools available on the campaign’s website – get those hands in the air and help save chocolate milk!
In attempts to improve the nutritional quality of school meals, some schools and lunch advocates are calling for a change that many health professionals agree could cause more harm than good when it comes to children’s health: removing lowfat chocolate milk from the lunch line.
The nation’s leading health and nutrition organizations recognize the valuable role that milk, including lowfat flavored milk, can play in meeting daily nutrient needs. The nation’s milk processors (through the Milk Processor Education Program) and dairy farmers (through the National Dairy Council) have teamed up to provide the latest facts and science on Chocolate Milk’s role in children’s diets.
Posted: November 13, 2009 at 8:36 pm
By News Editor
Congratulations to dairy producer, David Weitzer, Poolesville, Md., for being awarded the 2009 Richard E. Lyng Award by the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB). David was recognized for his dedication and service to dairy promotion, and was awarded a $2,500 donation in his name to a college of his choice.
Weitzer also represented dairy producers nationally. He was elected 2nd vice chairman of UDIA, and chairman of the National Dairy Council®, the nutrition research and education arm of the dairy checkoff. Weitzer also was a founding director of the U.S. Dairy Export Council®, which helps grow U.S. dairy sales internationally, and served six years as a member of the NDB.
“David has dedicated more than four decades of service to dairy producers in Maryland and across the country,” said Kimberly Clauss, California dairy producer and NDB chair. Weitzer has been a leader in dairy promotion since the mid-1970s, when he was first elected to serve on a local dairy promotion board. He served multiple terms as chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and its predecessor organizations.
The award is named after former U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Richard E. Lyng, who played a key role in implementing policies that led to the establishment of the NDB more than 25 years ago. The Lyng Award honors dairy industry leaders who have made a significant contribution to dairy promotion that benefits the entire U.S. dairy industry.
Operation Dairy challenges players to explore a rich virtual farm landscape to find and “win” nine unique dairy tokens by correctly answering a question about the dairy industry. Each token is accompanied by an engaging video clip from the Discover Dairy education-based Web site.
Players watch the short video, and then answer a question based on the video clip to win the token. Each token helps players understand how dairy farmers provide for their animals and about basic dairy farming practices. Once all nine tokens are collected, the player can choose from three different certificates that they can personalize as their prize.
“The professionalism and creativity of Singularity Design make Operation Dairy an engaging and fun experience for kids of all ages,” said Laura England, executive vice president of communications for Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association. “The appealing graphics and animation help to illustrate how dairy farmers care for their land, the environment and their cows through an enjoyable and challenging game.”
An animated cow named “Cammie” is one special touch created by Singularity Design. Cammie greets visitors to Operation Dairy and leads them through the game instructions. As players navigate their way through the game, Cammie provides tips and encouragement.
Help Iowa dairy farmers give back to their community, up to $30,000, during the Iowa Farmers Feed US campaign. All you need to do is fan the Iowa Farmers Feed US Facebook fan page or become a Twitter follower of @IAFarmersFeedUS. Each new fan and follower will add $1 to the donation milk can. The promotion runs through March 31.
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