The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board has announced new members of the board of directors, who will all serve a three-year-term.
Board members supervise WMMB policies and procedures and approve WMMB’s long-range business plan and annual budget. All WMMB programs — which are funded by Wisconsin dairy producer checkoff dollars — are designed to increase demand for Wisconsin-produced milk.
District 1 Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Rusk, Sawyer and Washburn Counties
Director: Benjamin J. Peterson, Grantsburg (incumbent)
District 4 Barron and Polk Counties
Director: Lyle K. Jensen, Amery (incumbent)
District 7 Clark County
Director: Bill Herr, Greenwood (incumbent)
District 10 Brown, Door and Kewaunee Counties
Director: Roger Buresh, Luxemburg (incumbent)
District 13 Buffalo, Pierce and Pepin Counties
Director: Lanette Harsdorf, Beldenville (incumbent)
District 16 Fond du Lac, Green Lake and Marquette Counties
Director: Romona Averbeck, Fond du Lac (incumbent)
District 19 Columbia and Dodge Counties
Director: Sarah E. Lloyd, Wisconsin Dells
District 22 Grant County
Director: Mary Wackerschauser, Lancaster (incumbent)
District 25 Green, Rock and Walworth Counties
Director: Stacy Eberle, Monroe
The dairy industry continues to become more global, and with the help of dairy checkoff dollars, the U.S. Dairy Export Council is pursuing growth opportunities for U.S. cheese worldwide, including Asia. Brian Baxter provided us with this report featuring Jeff McNeill, USDEC – Japan Director, that says that major progress has been made increasing U.S. cheese sales in Japan.
Anyone wishing to see the announcement of the 12 new finalist’s for Minnesota’s 55th annual Princess Kay of the Milky Way is invited to attend the royal luncheon on Sunday, May 18 at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph.
The public is invited to attend the luncheon by calling 1-800-338-5160 to purchase tickets at a cost of $15 each. Reservations must be made by Monday, May 12. Those wishing to attend without participating in the meal may do so free of charge and without making reservations.
The three-day event that includes a workshop for the princesses concludes with the announcement of the 12 young women who will compete for Minnesota’s 55th Princess Kay title.
About 80 young women involved in dairy promotion typically participate in the workshops and contest, learning how to educate the public about the passion dairy farmers have for producing wholesome dairy products while caring for the land and animals. Dairy farmers sponsor the event and the dairy princess program through their promotion checkoff organization, Midwest Dairy Association.
Those who opt to compete for a Princess Kay finalist position are judged by an application, a personal interview, a speech and a mock media interview. Princess Kay is selected during the opening of the Minnesota State Fair in August, and the 12 finalists will each have their likenesses carved in butter while fair-goers watch. The butter sculptures are a key attraction at the fair.
The cheese state has added two new masters to its rank of 44 certified cheesemakers. Tom Torkelson of Pasture Pride Cheese, Cashton, Wis. and Bruce Workman of Edelweiss Creamery, Monticello, Wis. have completed the Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker® Program. The program is the only advanced certification program of its kind outside of Europe.
The Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker® Program is administered by the Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research and funded by Wisconsin dairy producers, through WMMB. Participants must be active, licensed Wisconsin cheesemakers with at least 10 years’ experience. Cheesemakers can earn certification in up to two specific cheese varieties each time they enroll and must have been making those varieties as a licensed cheesemaker for a minimum of five years prior to entering the program.
Torkelson received Master certification in the production of Brick and Muenster cheeses, and Workman added Emmenthaler and Specialty Swiss (low-fat, low-sodium lacy Swiss) to his Master’s portfolio. This is Workman’s fourth time through the rigorous three-year program, and he now holds Master certification in the production of seven cheese varieties, more than any cheesemaker in the state. Both men already have applied to go through the program again.
The Midwest Dairy Association - North Dakota Division is seeking candidates to participate in this year’s Dairy Princess contest scheduled for July 23, 2008 in Minot during the North Dakota State Fair. The entry deadline is June 27, 2008.
The North Dakota State Dairy Princess serves as an ambassador for the state’s dairy industry, helping the dairy checkoff program to communicate with consumers about wholesome and nutritious dairy products and the responsible stewardship employed by dairy farmers with their land and animals.
Candidates must be 17 to 23 years old, a high school graduate, unmarried and have parents or guardians who are actively engaged in the production of milk for sale to a licensed plant. A candidate also qualifies if she, her parent or guardian is employed on a dairy farm. Candidates are judged on their communication skills, personality, general knowledge of the dairy industry and enthusiasm for dairy promotion.
The 2008 North Dakota Dairy Princess receives a $400 scholarship and the first runner-up receives a $200 scholarship. One contestant, regardless of the contest results, will also be awarded a $500 scholarship from the Midwest Dairy Association North Dakota Division.
Congratulations to Stephanie Nussbaum of Garretson, S.D. was crowned as the 54th South Dakota Dairy Princess on March 19th. Nussbaum won a $1,000 scholarship from the dairy princess program sponsor, Midwest Dairy Association – South Dakota Division.
Nussbaum is the daughter of Brad and Monica Nussbaum and is a student at South Dakota State University studying dairy production and ag business. During the next year, Nussbaum will represent the state’s dairy farmers at events and appearances to help explain dairy farmers’ commitment to good stewardship, animal care and wholesome products.
Among her first appearances is the Kids Zone at the Central Plains Dairy Expo, where local elementary students will learn more about the dairy industry.
First runner-up in the contest was Ashley Vostad, 20, of Volga. Her parents are Ann and Kevin Vostad. Vostad attends Kansas State University with a major in ag communications and animal science. She received a $500 scholarship from Central Plains Dairy Expo.
Brad Gronli has been named South Dakota/Minnesota industry relations manager for Midwest Dairy Association, joining the checkoff organization’s staff serving dairy farmers in nine states.
In his new role, Gronli will provide information and services to dairy farmers in both states and will serve as a liaison to organizations and processors. He will also manage South Dakota’s state fair efforts and facilitate the South Dakota Division board of Midwest Dairy Association. Gronli lives near Princeton, Minnesota, but will spend significant time in South Dakota.
Gronli graduated from the University of Minnesota in agriculture education with an emphasis in animal science. He began his career as an agriculture education instructor before spending 17 years working for Land O-Lakes, Inc., and then moving to DQCI Services, Inc. More recently he was employed by Genex and also provided dairy consulting services for an international project in Vietnam.
In his new role in South Dakota, Gronli will replace Char Hovland, who will retire from full-time employment with Midwest Dairy Association in the fall. Hovland will continue managing the dairy princess programs in South Dakota, Minnesota and North Dakota after she leaves her full-time position. In Minnesota, Gronli’s duties will complement those of Sherry Newell, who carries out industry relations duties in the state while also serving as communications manager at the corporate level.
There’s been a lot of news lately about low-fat chocolate milk being a great choice for athletes post work-out. The nutritious drink has been shown to re-hydrate and re-fuel the body.
In a statement the MilkPEP said that scientists have evaluated chocolate milk as a post-exercise drink and have highlighted several reasons why it might help the body recover.
According to MilkPEP, chocolate milk contains carbohydrates and protein to help replenish exhausted muscles and it provides fluids and electrolytes such as potassium to help with re-hydration. Also, chocolate milk has protein that builds lean muscle when combined with exercise.
The MilkPEP draws on research published in the study Chocolate milk as a post exercise recovery aid published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism in February 2006.
Another relevant study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in August 2007. The researchers concluded that “chronic post-exercise consumption of milk promotes greater hypertrophy during the early stages of resistance training in novice weightlifters when compared with isoenergetic soy or carbohydrate consumption “
The South Dakota Dairy Princess Kathryn Norling will crown her successor on March 19, 2008 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center as part of the Central Plains Dairy Expo. Four young women from across South Dakota will compete for the title of South Dakota Dairy Princess.
South Dakota’s Dairy Princess serves as the official goodwill ambassador for the state’s dairy industry and makes a variety of public and media appearances throughout the year, highlighting the dairy industry and their commitment to the land, environment, safe keeping of animals and producing a wholesome, healthy product. The program is sponsored by Midwest Dairy Association through the dairy promotion checkoff.
Contestants for the title are:
* Joni Martinmaas, daughter of Rick Martinmaas of Orient and the late Janet Martinmaas – District 2;
* Kori Wieting, daughter of Loren and Marsha Wieting of Milbank - District 5;
* Ashley Vostad, daughter of Kevin and Ann Vostad of Volga – District 7; and
* Stephanie Nussbaum, daughter of Brad and Monica Nussbaum of Garretson – District 9.
The contestants are judged on their general knowledge of the dairy industry, communication skills, personality and enthusiasm for dairy promotion. The new princess will receive a $1,000 scholarship from Midwest Dairy Association, while the first runner-up receives a $500 scholarship from the Central Plains Dairy Expo.
Posted: February 25, 2008 at 5:14 pm
By News Editor
The last several times I’ve stopped at Starbucks for a quick pick-me-up, I’ve noticed appealing new signs touting the benefits of milk in the coffee house’s lattes. Now I read that Starbucks has created a print ad featuring one of their baristas wearing a milk mustache. What do you think of it?
The ad features coffeehouse barista Young Han wearing a foam milk mustache, and is set to run in this week’s issue of Entertainment Weekly and in the New York Times Magazine on Feb. 24.
The ad promote the fact that Starbucks’ beverages—such as the Grande Latte that Han holds in this ad—deliver about half of an adult’s recommended daily allowance for calcium and vitamin D. The store manager from Mountain View, Calif., was selected from several other nominees in a companywide contest.
“Starbucks is a big seller of milk, but people don’t think of the company in that way,” said Sal Taibi, president of Lowe, which created the ad. “Now, given how health conscious people are, Starbucks saw this was a great way to get milk in the diet, and the processor saw value in getting that message out there.”
For the ad, Starbucks approached Kemp, a St. Paul, Minn., dairy processor, for collaboration on the advertising. MilkPEP, a Washington marketing group funded by milk processors, typically handles the milk mustache campaign.
Posted: February 20, 2008 at 9:55 pm
By News Editor
Calling all young dairy women in South Dakota - could you be the next South Dakota Dairy Princess? The Midwest Dairy Association is currently seeking candidates for the 53rd State Dairy Princess pageant to be held on March 19-20 in Sioux Falls, S.D. Applications are due March 1st.
The South Dakota Dairy Princess serves as the official goodwill ambassador for the state’s dairy industry, making a variety of public appearances to help consumers understand how dairy products contribute to good health, and how dairy farmers provide wholesome products through responsible stewardship of their land and animals.
Midwest Dairy Association is funded by dairy farmers to build sales and demand for dairy products through integrated marketing, innovation, nutrition education and research. “The princess can serve as an important educator on behalf of dairy farmers,” said Char Hovland, Industry Relations Manager for Midwest Dairy Association. “She can be especially effective with younger children who want to learn about dairy products and dairy farming.”
Candidates must be 17 to 23 years old, a high school graduate, unmarried and have parents or guardians who are actively engaged in the production of milk for sale to a licensed plant. A candidate also qualifies if she or her parents or guardian are employed on a dairy farm. Candidates are judged on their communication skills, personality, general knowledge of the dairy industry and enthusiasm for dairy promotion.
The 2008 South Dakota Dairy Princess receives a $1,000 scholarship from Midwest Dairy Association. The first runner-up receives a $500 scholarship from the Central Plains Dairy Expo.
Posted: February 15, 2008 at 9:59 pm
By News Editor
Several schools in the Midwest have been recognized by the Midwest Dairy Council for their innovative breakfast programs and will receive grants to continue the enhancement of this valuable food service. The Hawthorne Elementary in the Sioux Falls, S.D. School District and the Anson Elementary in the Marshalltown, Iowas Community School District will both receive a $5,000 grant.
Hawthorne Elementary is helping to raise awareness of the importance of new ways to serve breakfast including dairy products. The school received a $5,000 award to use in enhancing their program, a “Read and Feed” initiative that includes a snack. Hawthorne’s grant will provide the opportunity to offer a pilot alternative breakfast program for those students that may not participate in the traditional cafeteria breakfast program.
Several other Iowa schools will also receive grants. Waukee Community School District received a $2,000 award for offering breakfast after the first bell, and Central Alternative High School in the Dubuque Community School District received a $1,000 award for its breakfast served in the classroom. Linn-Mar, Alta, Central Clinton and Knoxville Community School Districts each received $500 awards.
Midwest Dairy Council launched the award program last year. Offering breakfast in alternative ways increases participation by providing service for children who arrive late or who prefer to socialize rather than eat, and by helping to remove the potential social stigma that the program is meant for low-income students. School breakfast is the most cost-effective and fastest way to improve children’s learning and health. Breakfast at school reassures time-deprived parents that their children are receiving a nutritious morning meal.
“The benefits children receive from eating a nutritious breakfast are numerous and well-documented,” according to Carrie Scheidel, school nutrition program manager for Midwest Dairy Association. “Eating breakfast yields better student test scores, increases concentration and attendance, decreases disciplinary problems and more.”
Dairy is an important part of school breakfast, so encouraging new offerings in schools helps Midwest Dairy Association meet its goal of expanding sales and demand for dairy products.
The ad text reads: “Losing the fat pants 10 years ago meant learning to eat fresh - and drink fresh. That’s why the calcium and nutrients in milk are part of my healthy lifestyle. So, try 3 servings a day of lowfat Shamrock Farms milk. It’s the perfect fit.”
The Subway spokesman, who lost weight by eating sandwiches from the chain, is touting milk from Arizona as part of a healthful lifestyle. Jared is one of more than 250 celebrities who’ve appeared in the “Got milk?” mustache campaign. Phoenix-based Shamrock Farms is only the second branded milk to appear in the campaign. Jared’s ads debut today and will run through the end of March in national magazines.
“For the last decade, Jared’s talked about the importance of making smart food choices while eating out, so backing the benefits of milk as part of a healthy lifestyle is the perfect complement to this effort,” said Mike Krueger, Shamrock Farms vice president.
Posted: February 12, 2008 at 6:05 pm
By News Editor
Two schools in N.J. have received the annual Leadership in School Nutrition (LISN) award and will be awarded $5,000 each to use toward future school nutrition efforts. The LISN grand prize winners were Union City School District of Union City, N.J., and Farmland Dairies of Wallington, N.J.
Since the single-serve plastic packaging, provided by Farmland Dairies, was implemented in the Union City’s 14 schools, milk consumption has risen to an estimated 1.5 million bottles per year and has become a regular part of the breakfast and lunch offerings. Equally significant, school meal participation among students has increased by 20 percent, which generates additional revenue for school foodservice programs.
Two other school districts and dairy processors were recognized for their partnerships. Second place LISN winners were Brownsville Independent School District of Brownsville, Texas, and Borden Milk Products LP of Austin, Texas. The school district installed new upright milk coolers that highlight the milk packaging and feature the Elsie the Cow mascot. Each organization received $2,000.
Third place winners were Arlington Heights School District 25 of Arlington Heights, Ill., and Kemps Dairy of Chicago. By using local sports heroes, heavily promoting flavor updates and working with Kemps to provide 8-oz., colorful packaging, the district raised milk sales by 9 percent and consumption by 13 percent. Each organization received $1,000.
Providing students milk that’s packaged in plastic, re-sealable bottles helps the dairy checkoff increase milk consumption and build lifelong dairy consumers. That’s why dairy producers, through their promotion investment, teamed up with Dairy Field magazine to sponsor the annual Leadership in School Nutrition (LISN) Awards. The LISN Awards help advance the producer-funded New Look of School Milk (NLSM) program by recognizing and promoting partnerships between individual dairy processors and schools that pave the way for school milk innovation by offering milk in plastic, single-serve bottles on the school meal line. To date, more than 9,200 schools nationwide participate in the checkoff-funded NLSM program, reaching more than 5 million students with single-serve milk on the school meal line. Since its inception six years ago, NLSM has accounted for more than 200 million pounds of incremental milk sales.
The position is designed to assist Midwest Dairy Association staff with marketing communication objectives on behalf of the dairy checkoff. Duties will include news release development and involvement with activities conducted by the organization in conjunction with the Illinois State Fair and June Dairy Month.
To be eligible, applicants must be at least 18 years of age and be a student in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma or Arkansas, or be a permanent resident of those states. The candidate need not be from a dairy farm, but those with knowledge of the dairy industry are preferred. Students possessing strong communication and organizational skills are preferred.
The position, which is salaried, requires the intern to locate within commuting distance of Springfield, Illinois, where most duties will be based. Applicants must submit a resume, a list of three references, and a two-page written essay describing how Midwest Dairy Association would benefit from their skills.
Posted: January 30, 2008 at 5:09 pm
By News Editor
Do you live in Wisconsin and want to help “Shape the Future of Dairy” in your state? Then the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) wants you! A WMMB director spends about 200 hours each year on WMMB business and attends an average of two committee meetings and five board meetings annually. Board terms are three years and must be filled by an active dairy producer.
The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has announced the upcoming 2008 Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board director elections. By serving on the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB), producers can help shape the future of Wisconsin dairy and join the bold leadership that promotes dairy as a leading industry in the state.
WMMB directors guide the organization’s finances, formulate and set its policies and long-range business plan and maintain its mission: To help grow demand for Wisconsin milk by providing programs that enhance the competitiveness of the Wisconsin Dairy Industry. Through these initiatives, a WMMB director has the opportunity to represent Wisconsin dairy farmers and products, as well as to become involved in activities that inform and educate consumers.
Each year, a portion of WMMB’s 25-member board is elected to three-year terms. All director nominees must be active dairy producers who sell milk into commercial channels and live in the district where they are nominated. Becoming a candidate is easy — just complete and submit a nomination form, have the “Affidavit of Eligibility” certification requirement notarized and acquire at least five signatures from active dairy producers within your district. DATCP soon will mail election announcement postcards to all licensed producers living in the nine districts up for election this year. Nominations will be taken through March 1.
Posted: January 22, 2008 at 6:33 pm
By News Editor
Dairy producers in North Dakota take note - the Midwest Dairy Association has scheduled its district meetings in conjunction with North Dakota State University’s Dairy Cow College the week of January 28.
Midwest Dairy Association, which manages the dairy checkoff for North Dakota and eight other states, holds its meetings to update dairy farmers on how current programs are helping to build demand for dairy products. All meetings begin at 11 a.m. and conclude at 3:30 p.m. All dairy farmers, families and employees are invited to attend a meeting in their area. The noon meal is provided by Midwest Dairy Association.
“This year we’ll share how promotion has taken a new direction to build sales and demand for dairy,” said Jerry Messer, Richardton, Midwest Dairy Association’s North Dakota Division chairman. “Dairy farmers who attend the meetings this year will learn more about how the checkoff is working in new ways, including ones that reach all geographic areas.”
The meeting schedule is as follows:
Monday, January 28 - Emmons County Courthouse, Linton;
Tuesday, January 29 - Morton County Fairgrounds, New Salem;
Wednesday, January 30 – Elks Lodge, Dickinson;
Thursday, January 31 - Sleep Inn, Minot; and
Friday, February 1 – Gladstone Inn, Jamestown.
Posted: January 16, 2008 at 8:54 pm
By Chuck Zimmerman
Pretty soon it’ll be Super Bowl party time. I’m betting a lot of people are doing playoff parties. If so, hopefully cheese is on the menu. Apparently it is according to the Dairy Checkoff.
With the football playoffs underway, some may be surprised to know that many Americans offer pizza as a key game-day menu item. But in addition to driving football party menus, pizza is also a significant driver of demand for U.S. dairy producers, as Brian Baxter reports.
Posted: January 4, 2008 at 10:45 pm
By News Editor
Artists have a knack for being able to create a story from any medium. Jim Victor has carved himself a niche in butter - butter sculptures to be exact! On Thursday, the 17th annual butter sculpture was unveiled as part of the kick off to the 92nd Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa.
The butter sculpture is sponsored annually by Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program on behalf of the Commonwealth’s dairy farmers. The golden sculpture introduces “Discover Dairy” and “MILK: It Does a Student Body Good!,” two educational series developed by Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program in conjunction with Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to help students understand the many ways dairy farmers positively contribute to the community. As the largest butter sculpture in Pennsylvania Farm Show history, this year’s sculpture was crafted from 1,000 pounds of butter donated by the Land O’Lakes plant in Carlisle.
“With just 8,400 dairy farms remaining in the Commonwealth, it’s important to educate Pennsylvanians about milk’s journey from cow to container,” said Tom Croner, a Somerset County dairy farmer and chairman of the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program. “Consumers are increasingly interested in where their food comes from. By using the butter sculpture to promote our dairy education kits, educators will be well-equipped to teach the story of our state’s official beverage.”
At the conclusion of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, the butter sculpture will be bussed to State College where it will be made into biodiesel at the Pennsylvania State University and State College High School. At Penn State, the butter sculpture will power the tractors used to harvest crops that feed the cows that make milk, which is churned into butter. The rest of the sculpture will be processed by State College High School Career and Technical Center Ag Science Program and Science Department Integrated Biodiesel Project to fuel the school’s grounds equipment. Both schools currently recycle used cooking oil from their campuses.
Dairy farmers in the South Dakota will have the opportunity to learn more about their checkoff investment from the Midwest Dairy Association. District meetings across the state have been scheduled for the month of January. All producers are welcome to attend, but reservations are required by calling 800-338-5160.
“This year we’ll share how promotion has taken new direction to build sales and demand for dairy,” said Jim Neugebauer, Dimock, Midwest Dairy Association’s South Dakota Division chairman. “Today’s promotion efforts are all around us, but because they are behind the scenes, they can be invisible to those of us who fund them. Dairy farmers who attend the meetings this year will learn more about how the checkoff is working in new ways, including ones that reach all geographic areas.”
The meeting schedule is as follows:
Friday, January 4, 11:00 a.m. - District 5, Pizza Ranch, Milbank;
Monday, January 7, 11 a.m. - District 2 and 4, Airport Café’, Aberdeen;
Wednesday, January 16, 11:00 a.m. - District 8 and 10, Chef Louie’s, Mitchell;
Thursday, January 17, 11:00 a.m. - District 3, Gregory’s, Gregory;
Thursday, January 24, serving from 7:00-7:45 p.m. - District 6 and 7, The Main Steak, Castlewood; and
Friday, January 25, 11:00 a.m. - District 9 and 11, Royal Fork, Sioux Falls.
The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board has announced new members of the board of directors, who will all serve a three-year-term.
Pretty soon it’ll be Super Bowl party time. I’m betting a lot of people are doing playoff parties. If so, hopefully cheese is on the menu. Apparently it is according to the Dairy Checkoff.
