Posted: February 26, 2010 at 2:59 pm
By Amanda Nolz
Check out our fun new turquoise t-shirts that we received for being a part of the youth seminar at the 2010 Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference! Celeste Laurent and myself focused on getting the kids excited about who they are and where they come from. Being young people ourselves, we can relate to the challenges kids sometimes face in being different from their peers because they live on a farm.
Growing up, I got teased a lot for living on a farm and liking things like 4-H and FFA. Obviously, today I don’t have these issues, and I really don’t care if people were to tease me, but at a young age where being popular and fitting in are huge, it can sometimes be difficult to stay excited about farming and ranching.
Overall, it was a great youth seminar with lots of participation from the kids. I truly enjoyed my time in Michigan working with the future of the dairy industry!
Posted: February 26, 2010 at 1:44 pm
By Amanda Nolz
“Little Miss Muffet, sat on her tuffet, eating her curds and whey.” This was how Teresa Crook opened up the youth session at the 2010 Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in Frankenmuth, MI earlier this month. Crook explained what whey protein is and where whey protein can be found.
Interestingly, whey protein can be found in oatmeal, hot chocolate, pudding, Doritos, protein bars, Cheez whiz and more! It’s amazing just how much dairy cattle impact our daily lives without us even knowing it! Crook’s youth seminar was a hit because she had taste samples of all of her products in the speech! Definitely a crowd pleaser!
Celeste Laurent and myself followed Crook’s presentation with our own segment in the youth program. Stop back for an update on our session!
Posted: February 26, 2010 at 10:36 am
By Amanda Nolz
Congratulations to Melissa Erdman, the new Michigan Senior Dairy Ambassador! Melissa is currently a student at Michigan State University, where she is on the path to become a veterinarian. Melissa impressed the judges with her extensive knowledge of the dairy industry, her passion for dairy products and her communication skills in explaining her depth of knowledge and passion with the judges. In the interview, she identified the two weaknesses facing the dairy industry as lack of consumer trust in dairy production and profitability (or lack thereof) for producers. Her proposed dairy project will focus on senior citizens and teaching them the importance of dairy as a part of a balanced diet.
Congratulations also goes to the new Michigan Junior Dairy Ambassador, Sarah Michalek. Sarah is a high school student who believes in putting 110% in everything she does. Her drive, passion and determination really convinced the judges that she would be an ideal candidate for the ambassador program. She hopes to study food science in the future, and she identified dairy public relations and fluctuating prices as two challenges facing the dairy industry. Her proposed dairy promotion project was titled, “Milk, Unlike Any Udder,” and it focused on working with students in grade six, and it included a milk label design contest.
Cheers to Melissa and Sarah, and best of luck in your year promoting dairy products to consumers! I’m confident you will do an awesome job! (Photo courtesy of Celeste Laurent)
Posted: February 25, 2010 at 4:22 pm
By Amanda Nolz
I had the great privilege and honor of meeting and working with a dynamic group of young people by serving as a judge for the 2010 Michigan Dairy Contest. The contest was held at the 2010 Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in Frankenmuth, MI earlier this month, and before the competition actually began, the contestants participated in a morning session of round table discussions with the judges including myself, Kevin Dill and Debbie Kubacki.
Participants in the junior division of the competition included: Emily DeVooght, Amanda Carey and Sarah Michalek. Senior participants included: Melissa Erdman, Olivia DeVooght, Eric Sneller, Karmen Jackson and Chelsea Jones. (Photo provided by Celeste Laurent)
Together, we discussed career opportunities in the dairy industry, problems facing dairy producers today, ways to communicate our messages to consumers, ideas for promotional events and efforts to be made in working with policy makers. This is a great group of kids, and I truly enjoyed being a part of this event. The future of the dairy industry certainly looks bright!
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 23, 2010 at 7:05 pm
By News Editor
The sixth annual Midwest Dairy Challenge drew 66 dairy and animal science students from 15 universities and colleges to the Shisler Center in Wooster, Ohio, February 11-13, 2010.
The Dairy Challenge is an innovative management analysis competition developed in 2002 by industry and university professionals, that also involves dairy owners in identifying opportunities for making their businesses more efficient and profitable. To date, more than 1,500 students have enhanced their dairy management, communication and business skills through the Dairy Challenge program.
This year’s contest, hosted by The Ohio State University, included students from University of Illinois, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Lakeshore Technical College, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, The Ohio State University, Ohio State University-Agricultural Technical Institute, Purdue University, South Dakota State University, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and the UW-Madison Farm & Industry Short Course.
Working in four- or five-person, mixed-university teams, students assessed all aspects of a working dairy farm and then presented their highest priority recommendations to a panel of judges and the dairy business owners. Judges chose three teams as Platinum winners, the contest’s highest distinction. The individuals who comprised these teams were Holly Bruns, South Dakota State; Ryan Conklin, Ohio State; Sabrina Eick, OSU-ATI; Andrea Eilenfeld, Ohio State; Allison Flinn, Iowa State; Tricia Gates, Lakeshore Technical College; Nathanial Guy, OSU-ATI; Katherine Harmelink, UW-Madison; David Hutchinson, UW-Platteville; Darci O’Brien, UW-Madison; Brenda Reiter, University of Minnesota; Stephanie Retz, UW-River Falls; Natalie Schreyer, Kansas State; and Ed Weisgarber, OSU-ATI.
Host farms for the 2010 Midwest Dairy Challenge were Steinhurst Dairy and Ayers Family Dairy.
Posted: February 22, 2010 at 7:47 pm
By News Editor
The Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin invites dairy producers and industry agribusiness people to their Business Conference held March 16 -17, in Madison, Wis. Five highly regarded keynote speakers, 15 specialty sessions, and 25-plus resources are on tap for the Conference.
Economist and president of AgResource Company, Dan Basse, will explain how global markets influence milk and feed prices as he helps dairy producers avoid basing marketing decisions on crystal ball prognostications.
Dr. David Kohl from Virginia Tech is the opening keynote and also the emcee of this dynamic two-day event. Kohl has spoke around the globe on dairy business and will get dairy producers thinking about opportunities ahead and focused on ways to reposition their businesses in 2010 and beyond. His presentation alone will provide the guidance and perspective needed to push forward with optimism and real direction.
A former college basketball coach, Dr. Kohl’s presentations are action-packed, entertaining and geared to get your mind running and conditioned for game-winning business management. The highly credentialed and sought-after Dr. Kohl has conducted more than 5,000 workshops and seminars for agricultural groups, published four books and more than 1,000 articles on financial and business-related topics, received 11 major teaching awards, received 15 major Extension and Public Service awards, and traveled more than 7 million miles during his career.
Dr. Kevin Bernhardt of the UW-Extension and Center for Dairy Profitability will explore how to bridge management of costs with marketing of products and explain how to a change one’s mindset from being impressed with $19 milk to one that is impressed with a double-digit rate of return on assets.
Dr. Jan Shearer of Iowa State University will address metabolic and mechanical factors that predispose dairy cattle to some of the most serious of lameness disorders in his informational breakout session titled, “End Lame Profits with Keen Hoof Care.”
Posted: February 22, 2010 at 7:34 pm
By News Editor
The Dairy Calf & Heifer Association (DCHA) is pleased to announce the Intervet/Schering-Plough Leadership Program, created in order to help mold the next generation of industry leaders.
“The DCHA Young Leaders program plays a vital role in the continued growth and success of the organization and development of future leaders,” says Bob Patrick, DCHA First Vice President. “Individuals that participate in the program are exposed to the workings of DCHA and learn valuable skills that should bode well for future involvement with the organization at the committee and board levels.”
The 2010 Leadership Class participants are: Katie Carpenter, Plato Brook Farms, Arcade, N.Y.; Jeff Cornwell, Clover Ridge Dairy, Lawndale, N.C.; Amy Shiplett, Bon-Home Livestock, Chilton, Wis.; Alan Vander Horst, Vander Horst Dairies of Texas, Dublin, Texas; Case Vlot, Vlot Brothers Calf Ranch, Chowchilla, Calif; and Roy Williams, Midland, Texas.
The DCHA Leadership Development Program, sponsored by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, will bring the leadership class together with DCHA board members during the 2010 Dairy Calf & Heifer Conference in Lexington, Ky., March 23-25. Participants will have the opportunity to develop skills to manage hot button issues, media training and member development training.
For beginners, the Dairy Judging workbook starts with fundamentals such as the parts of a dairy cow and the four major breakdowns of the PDCA Unified Scorecard. Comparative dairy terminology is covered with pictures showing structural variations of cattle. Preparing and presenting oral reasons is a featured section, with several examples, as well as tips for both beginners and more advanced youth. An introduction to linear evaluation is also provided. Several interactive exercises and resources for both youth and judging coaches are available in the workbook, including worksheets to teach the parts of a cow, oral reasons vocabulary and note-taking skills, as well as placing cards that can be copied off and used in practices.
For those interested in learning more about Registered Holstein pedigrees, the Pedigree Questions and Answers workbook has also been updated, with information on many of the changes that have taken place in recent months.
These workbooks come along with the launch of a completely redesigned Holstein Foundation Web site, which highlights the organization’s dairy leadership development programs. Along with Dairy Judging are several other free, educational workbooks covering topics from genetics and pedigrees to nutrition and general dairy cattle care.
Posted: February 12, 2010 at 10:15 am
By Amanda Nolz
If you’re young, savvy and into dairy, then have I found an organization for you. Recently established on Facebook, the Young, Savvy and Into Dairy (YSD) group met and enjoyed a night of social networking at the 2010 Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in Frankenmuth, MI. YSD is a group of young people joined together by a common interest in the dairy industry. As their mission states, together, “We learn together, teach each other and have a great time doing it.”
Most of the YSD members are age 17 to 35, although there were several “older” dairymen that crashed the social last night! It was great meeting with so many folks who are passionate and enthusiastic about the agriculture industry, and I know this group will be a resource to lean on in years to come.
To become a fan of YSD on Facebook, click here. To follow all tweets on this conference, search #glrdc2010.
Posted: February 9, 2010 at 9:10 pm
By Amanda Nolz
Are any of you planning to attend the 2010 Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in Frankenmuth, MI this week? This is my second year as a speaker at this conference, and I enjoy meeting with friends, discussing the important issues facing the industry and participating in an exciting conference! (Of course, you can always count on ice cream bars and flavored milk at all of the breakout sessions, bonus!)
I speak on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. where I will be presenting, “Table Truths in a New York Minute,” a guide for producers to habitually stand up, speak out and tell their stories. At the conclusion of my speech, I will serve as a moderator on a student panel, “Issues, Engagement, Impact,” where university students will share how they have become engaged on the front lines to speak up about industry issues and the impacts of their actions.
The next day, I will serve as a judge for the dairy ambassador contest, and on Saturday, I will take part in a youth workshop to teach these dairy kids how to always be proud of who they are and where they come from. Join me for a fun few days of friendship and forward thinking. See you in Frankenmuth, pending an avoidance of an oncoming blizzard, of course!
“The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has identified a great opportunity for teaching the public about modern agriculture. Through science and productivity, farmers are feeding the world and bettering the lives of people every day,” said Frank Ross, vice president and regional director for Pioneer, North America. “We are pleased to partner on this initiative and support the cause of increased agricultural literacy.”
The My American Farm virtual education program is anticipated to engage millions of youth, teachers and parents over the next five years through unique educational experiences. The website, www.myamericanfarm.org, is a destination for children to be entertained by playing games while learning math, social studies, language arts and science in the context of agriculture and food production. There are a number of grade school level games on the site that incorporate facts about dairy, corn, soybeans and other agricultural commodities.
Posted: December 19, 2009 at 10:31 am
By News Editor
The Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW) announce the 2010 Managers Academy, Jan. 19-21, in Seattle, Wash. The conference is open to industry leaders and dairy producers wanting to identify those opportunities as well as build professional competencies and confidence.
The Managers Academy includes two days of highly interactive presentations, workshops and panels coupled with one day of unique, insider-only tours of three world renowned businesses.
Dr. David Kohl, president of AgriVisions, a knowledge-based consulting business, will lead Day 1, sharing proactive management practices that can help attendees capitalize on the economic environment to reach peak business performance. He’ll also oversee a unique workshop where a panel of three CEOs will detail how they navigated through financial crisis, environmental regulations and other challenges to land their companies on solid ground—and then help attendees switch roles with these CEOs to determine the next steps for each company.
Day 2 will be learning outside a classroom setting, with tours of three diverse and vibrant businesses: Pike Place Fish Mart, Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery and Werkhoven Dairy Farm. Key players of each business will address the group and share their secrets of transformation and business success. No question to these CEOs will be off limits.
David Parker, senior vice president of Agribusiness Group, will lead the third and final day of the Managers Academy, providing insight on “Critical Thinking for Critical Times.” After absorbing practical business wisdom, attendees will work in small teams, begin to develop and utilize a planning document designed for application in their own business and engage in “war-gaming.” Participants will leave the session having heard and learned from their peers and empowered to make more effective short- and long-term decision for the viability and advancement of their business.
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: December 7, 2009 at 7:43 pm
By News Editor
Congratulations to all the dairy students who competed in the fourth annual Southern Regional Dairy Challenge, November 19 through 21 in Russellville, Ky.
A total of 76 students from 16 southern colleges and universities participated. The Southern Regional Dairy Challenge is an innovative two-day event designed by professionals from allied industry and university educators to bring classroom training to life in the real world for students preparing for dairy careers.
The University of Kentucky, Western Kentucky University, and Eastern Kentucky University co-hosted the 2009 contest, drawing participants from Alabama A&M University, Berry College, Clemson University, College of the Ozarks, Eastern Kentucky University, Lake City Community College, University of Florida, University of Kentucky, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, North Carolina State University, Santa Fe College, Southern Illinois University, Virginia Tech, West Virginia University, and Western Kentucky University.
Maury Cox, Executive Director of the Kentucky Dairy Development Council, described the Southern Dairy Challenge as a “first class event that provided great interaction with dairy industry mentors and leaders of tomorrow. It was personally rewarding to see such enthusiastic, professional young people.”
A key objective is to present students with a real-life situation that stresses the importance of teamwork and professionalism. Teams of students from the different universities were formed to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of a working dairy farm. Afterwards, teams presented their analysis and prioritized opportunities for improvement to a panel of expert judges and the dairy owners. Hosts for this year’s Southern Regional Dairy Challenge were Jimmy and Andy Woodall, Lewisburg, KY and Lee, Denise, Adam, Chris, and Eli Robey, Adairville, KY.
Posted: November 17, 2009 at 4:25 pm
By News Editor
Congratulations to all of the students involved in this very valuable educational program!
More than 120 students from 11 northeast colleges and two Canadian universities participated in the seventh annual Northeast Regional Dairy Challenge in Glens Falls, New York. Host coordinator, Dayton Maxwell, and colleagues from the State University of New York at Cobleskill welcomed students from Alfred State College, Cornell University, Delaware Valley College, Morrisville State College, The Pennsylvania State University, SUNY Cobleskill, University of Maine, University of Maryland, University of New Hampshire, University of Vermont, Vermont Technical College, University of Guelph from Ontario, Canada, and McGill University from Quebec, Canada.
The Northeast Regional Dairy Challenge is an innovative three-day event designed by a team of industry and university professionals to promote a vibrant future for the dairy industry. Working in mixed-university teams of four or five students, contestants assessed all aspects of a working dairy farm and presented recommendations for improvement to a panel of judges and participating farm families.
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.
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.
Posted: November 5, 2009 at 8:11 pm
By News Editor
Wisconsin dairy producers can learn more about the latest calf-care techniques at the hand-on training offered by the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin. Choose from one of three one-day Calf Care Connection workshops: Dec. 8, Arlington, Wis.; Dec. 9, Chilton, Wis.; and Dec. 10, Eau Claire, Wis.
Each one-day workshop will provide dairy producers, professional calf feeders and heifer growers with the latest research, cutting-edge techniques and hands-on training so they have a distinct competitive edge. This isn’t the typical day-long classroom-style discussion as the labs are extremely hands-on. In addition to learning new procedures, calf raisers will have a chance to practice in a supervised learning situation.
The agenda for each workshop includes four presentations, three hour-long learning labs involving live calves and an expert panel where top-of-mind questions can be asked. Presentations will cover calf management styles, use of vaccines in dry cows and wet calves, sanitation protocols that can help cut health costs and “Feeding Your Calves, Starving Your Checkbook or Striking the Right Balance.” Learning lab topics include, delivering more live results, advanced lifesaving procedures and what works and doesn’t work regarding pasteurizers.
Presenters include Steve Hayes, DVM; Don Sockett, DVM, Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory; Todd McDonough, Land O’Lakes Inc.; Daryl Dydam, DVM, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University; Simon Peek, DVM, School of Veterinary Medicine, UW-Madison; Dr. Tom Earleywine, Land O’Lakes Inc.; and Richard Dumm, DVM, Dairy Tech Inc.
Posted: November 3, 2009 at 3:12 pm
By News Editor
A new study recently released by Nutrition Today suggests that the prevalence of lactose intolerance may be far lower than previously estimated.
The study, which uses data from a national sample of three ethnic groups, reveals that the overall prevalence rate of self-reported lactose intolerance is 12 percent – with 7.72 percent of European Americans, 10.05 percent of Hispanic Americans and 19.5 percent of African Americans who consider themselves lactose intolerant.
These new findings indicate that previous estimates of lactose intolerance incidence – based on the incidence of lactose maldigestion – may be overestimated by wide margins. Previous studies have found lactose maldigestion, or low lactase activity in the gut, to occur in approximately 15 percent of European Americans, 50 percent of Mexican Americans and 80 percent of African Americans.(2,3,4) The new study shows that lactose intolerance, based on self-reported data, may actually occur far less frequently than presumed.
“There’s so much confusion surrounding lactose intolerance,” said Theresa Nicklas, DrPH, of the USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine and lead study author. “By getting a better handle on the true number of people who deal with this condition every day, the nutrition community can be better equipped to educate and provide dietary guidance for Americans, including strategies to help meet dairy food recommendations for those who self-report lactose intolerance.”
Study: Nicklas TA, Qu H, Hughes SO. Prevalence of self-reported lactose intolerance in a multi-ethnic sample of adults. Nutrition Today 2009; 44(5):186-187
Check out our fun new turquoise t-shirts that we received for being a part of the youth seminar at the 2010 Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference! Celeste Laurent and myself focused on getting the kids excited about who they are and where they come from. Being young people ourselves, we can relate to the challenges kids sometimes face in being different from their peers because they live on a farm. 
“Little Miss Muffet, sat on her tuffet, eating her curds and whey.” This was how Teresa Crook opened up the youth session at the 2010 Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in Frankenmuth, MI earlier this month. Crook explained what whey protein is and where whey protein can be found.
Congratulations to Melissa Erdman, the new Michigan Senior Dairy Ambassador! Melissa is currently a student at Michigan State University, where she is on the path to become a veterinarian. Melissa impressed the judges with her extensive knowledge of the dairy industry, her passion for dairy products and her communication skills in explaining her depth of knowledge and passion with the judges. In the interview, she identified the two weaknesses facing the dairy industry as lack of consumer trust in dairy production and profitability (or lack thereof) for producers. Her proposed dairy project will focus on senior citizens and teaching them the importance of dairy as a part of a balanced diet. 
Congratulations also goes to the new Michigan Junior Dairy Ambassador, Sarah Michalek. Sarah is a high school student who believes in putting 110% in everything she does. Her drive, passion and determination really convinced the judges that she would be an ideal candidate for the ambassador program. She hopes to study food science in the future, and she identified dairy public relations and fluctuating prices as two challenges facing the dairy industry. Her proposed dairy promotion project was titled, “Milk, Unlike Any Udder,” and it focused on working with students in grade six, and it included a milk label design contest.
I had the great privilege and honor of meeting and working with a dynamic group of young people by serving as a judge for the 2010 Michigan Dairy Contest. The contest was held at the 2010 Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in Frankenmuth, MI earlier this month, and before the competition actually began, the contestants participated in a morning session of round table discussions with the judges including myself, Kevin Dill and Debbie Kubacki.
If you’re young, savvy and into dairy, then have I found an organization for you. Recently established on Facebook, the Young, Savvy and Into Dairy (YSD) group met and enjoyed a night of social networking at the 2010 Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in Frankenmuth, MI. YSD is a group of young people joined together by a common interest in the dairy industry. As their mission states, together, “We learn together, teach each other and have a great time doing it.”
Are any of you planning to attend the 2
I speak on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. where I will be presenting, “Table Truths in a New York Minute,” a guide for producers to habitually stand up, speak out and tell their stories. At the conclusion of my speech, I will serve as a moderator on a student panel, “Issues, Engagement, Impact,” where university students will share how they have become engaged on the front lines to speak up about industry issues and the impacts of their actions. 
“The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has identified a great opportunity for teaching the public about modern agriculture. Through science and productivity, farmers are feeding the world and bettering the lives of people every day,” said Frank Ross, vice president and regional director for Pioneer, North America. “We are pleased to partner on this initiative and support the cause of increased agricultural literacy.”
The 
Congratulations to all the dairy students who competed in the fourth annual Southern Regional Dairy Challenge, November 19 through 21 in Russellville, Ky.
Congratulations to all of the students involved in this very valuable educational program!
Online games featuring farming are popular on social networks. Now, the 
A new study recently released by