The Joint Annual Meeting of National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB) and the United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA) recently wrapped up their fall meeting. The meeting’s theme was “Creating a Path to Prosperity” and was held October 26 – 28 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, NV. Dairy producers, member cooperatives, Young Cooperators (YCs), industry representatives, staff, and others from all over the country arrived for a few days of speeches, reports, banquets, general sessions, town hall meetings, and award ceremonies.
One of the highlights of the meeting was Former NFL star and Fox Sports commentator Howie Long. Long served as the keynote luncheon speaker Wednesday. And, over the past year, the NFL partnership with dairy producers has grown stronger, as Brian Baxter reports. Listen in as dairy farmer and National Dairy Board Chair, Paul Meabon, explains the Fuel Up to Play 60 program.
Listen to Paula’s interview with Brian Baxter here:
Dairy Checkoff News from Reno
“Schools are incredibly important to the dairy industry,” said Paula Meabon, Pennsylvania dairy producer and NDB chair. “We aim to sell more dairy in schools and also to reach 100 percent of our future customers.”
The checkoff’s Fuel Up to Play 60 program helps protect and promote dairy’s place in schools. Fuel Up to Play 60 is an unprecedented, in-school program that works to combat childhood obesity through an integrated approach that focus on good nutrition – including dairy – and physical activity. The program help protect sales by building a positive image of dairy through education and information to 55 million school children, 180 days a year.
“What’s good for childhood nutrition is good for dairy,” Meabon said. Fuel Up to Play 60 promotes dairy’s place in schools by providing the best possible dairy experience in the cafeteria and beyond, not just the school lunch line, but also at breakfast, snacking and after-school activities, she said.
“Partners are critical to our success. We cannot do it alone,” Meabon said.
To that end, the dairy checkoff is working with high-level partners in the business, government and nutrition world to activate Fuel Up to Play 60.
Fuel Up to Play 60 is a unique partnership between National Dairy Council and the National Football League, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Meabon said. “NFL brings ‘star power’ and their experience regarding physical activity”, she said.
Other critical supporters of Fuel Up to Play 60 are core health and nutrition organizations – – including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Dietetic Association and the School Nutrition Association – – as well as food and dairy companies.
Together, all of these organizations can offer incentives for students to make changes needed to create healthier schools, Meabon said.
Source: Dairy Management Inc.