Gala Raises Nearly $50,000 to Support
Fuel Up to Play 60 Program
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Bet Howrigan, dairy farmer and elementary school teacher from Fairfield, VT, is recognized by Patriots player Devin McCourty for her work with the Fuel Up to Play 60 program.
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On the evening of May 9th the Stars Among Us Gala, hosted by New England Dairy & Food Council, was held at the Putnam Club East at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The fundraising gala was held to celebrate the tenth year of Fuel Up to Play 60 in New England and to honor a select group of individuals whose impact on health and wellness in their schools has led to significant changes in the lives of students.
The nearly $50,000 raised from the event will be used to expand the reach of the Fuel Up to Play 60 program. Expanding the program’s reach translates into more opportunities for schools to start or enhance school and summer meal programs; increase access to nutritious dairy foods served at school; promote physical activity at school; and offer dairy farm-to-school educational experiences and resources to students.
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Read our 2018 Annual Report and Learn How Funds Are Used to Grow Sales & Trust
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The annual report includes a letter from NEDPB/NEDFC chairwoman Heidi Dolloff, CEO report from Jenny Karl, and an overview of each of our program goals & results.
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USDA released its analysis of the effectiveness of dairy checkoff programs, showing a cost:benefit ratio of $4.78 in programs, support, and promotions for every $1 assessed.
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June is National Dairy Month and an opportunity to celebrate New England’s dairy farmers and local products! We created a web page with dairy nutrition information, recipes,
social media memes, posts,
and more.
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Dairy Celebrated as Harvest of the Month
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We all know June is dairy month, but schools celebrate a little differently. Many of our schools celebrate dairy as a “Harvest of the Month” during the year.
Posters, recipes, stickers, and more can be found at the state links above. We also mail resources to participating schools to help them promote dairy in their cafeteria, connect students with dairy farm families, and highlight how Fuel Up to Play 60 is supported by dairy farmers.
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Speakers Reach Dietitians About Dairy
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National Dairy Council research shows that dietitians rely on their professional association as the primary source of their nutrition information, and 40% consider environmental impact when making a nutritional recommendation.
At the VT Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, we sponsored Dr. Joanna Mitri, MD of Joslin Diabetes Center to speak on dairy and diabetes with Dr. Jana Kraft, PhD researcher from UVM who addressed the benefits of full fat dairy.
We supported Dr. Don Layman, PhD at the MA Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics to speak about dairy protein for human health and the health of the environment. We also
showed attendees our 360 degree farm tour videos that highlight sustainability on the farm.
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18 Tours and 300+ Visitors to Farms
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Students at EMMA Acres in Exeter, RI.
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So far this year, we’ve hosted 18 farm tours throughout New England, reaching 340 people.
In Rhode Island, culinary students from Johnson and Wales visited EMMA Acres dairy farm in April to discuss sustainable practices. Survey results showed 92% of attendees felt positive or very positive about dairy farming after the tour; compared to 30% before.
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Farmers Visit Classrooms Across New England
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We help bring farmers to classrooms to talk about dairy.
In May, Kies Orr of Fort Hills Farm in CT spoke to 270 middle school students about how dairy foods get from farm to school.
In June, Maggie Laprise of Emma Acres in RI spoke to 900 elementary students in Newport and brought a calf to the school.
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Share the Value of Dairy in Massachusetts
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We've added to our website a one page overview of the value of dairy in Massachusetts. A poster and table top flyer are also available.
Contact us
to request copies.
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Free Communications Training with Lunch!
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Are you interested in improving your communication skills? We'd like to bring our
Productive Conversations training to your area. You'll learn techniques for conversations with reporters, on social media and panel discussions.
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Free Resources and Giveaways!
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If you have an opportunity to educate the public on and off the farm about dairy, we can provide free printed resources, signage, and fun giveaways including coloring books, pens, pencils, and buttons.
(order form).
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Six Food Label Claims That Don't Mean What You Think
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It seems like food labels are more crowded than ever with statements about what is and isn’t in food. From non-GMO to natural, it’s hard for people to know what to think or believe. Share this blog to help consumers decipher six common and confusing labels.
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Newmont Farm Hosts Open Farm Day on June 1
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Newmont Farm in Bradford, VT kicked off June Dairy Month by hosting an Open Farm Day on Saturday, June 1. There were lots of educational activities including a guided hay ride. Our Must Be the Milk exhibit was there with dairy trivia and prizes, and we also created a video of the event.
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We contact local media with ideas for stories about dairy. Here are some recent headlines we worked on. If you have a story idea contact
Rene Thibault.
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The Stars Among Us Gala Honorees
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