Dairy Farmers and the Super Bowl

Are you ready for some football?

As the Super Bowl drew near, football seemed to be on most every Minnesotans mind. As Minnesota welcomed the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles for the Big Game, dairy farmers were gearing up for the Super Bowl as well.

Having never attended a Super Bowl, I had no idea all the surrounding activities that happen in the host city. For one week prior to the game, there were events, parties, displays, and concerts. Many of these included the Fuel Up to Play 60 program. If you haven't heard of this program, it is a school nutrition and exercise program launched by National Dairy Council and the National football League in collabaration with the USDA to improve health and wellness for kids. The key to Fuel Up to Play 60's success is having a strong student foundation, a team of committed educators and community engagement, with the goal of building a healthy, high-achieving generation of youth.

Dairy farmers participated at several  FUTP60 events during Super Bowl week. Daughter Sara and I were involved in the "Super Bowl Experience" which is sort-of a fair with displays and activities around anything and everything football. Attendees could view past Super Bowl rings, get up close to the Lombardi trophy, observe NFL broadcasts in the making, and even do the combine drills. It was a huge week-long celebration, but the part I enjoyed the most was assisting with the Fuel Up to Play 60 area in the kids zone.

   

Dairy farmers manned a booth which gave football fans the opportunity to visit a dairy farm (and NFL locker room) through a virtual reality game. Here's Sara helping a fan get ready to play the VR game.

As with any big, well attended event, fans waited in long lines. This gave us a great opportunity to speak about our farm, dairy foods, the importance of eating right, and also explain the FUTP60 program. It was a fun time to answer questions and even teach through the trivia we shared. My favorite questions was, "I didn't know you had to milk cows every day. When do you go on vacation?" Here Sara is explaining what happens in each of the buildings on a dairy farm.

The cheese samples we handed out were a big score too!

I also had the opportunity to be the "special guest" as school age children were invited to the skills and drills field. Students were welcomed by a dairy farmer and an NFL player to get in their 60 minutes of physical activity by participating in on-field drills. I was paired with Kareem Hunt of the Kansas City Chiefs.

We began by sharing about ourselves so I got to tell about my dairy farm, what we do each day on the farm, and what happens to the milk when it leaves the farm. After Kareem shared about being a pro football player, and also telling us that chocolate milk is the BEST, we led the kids through the activities. Below is a relay showing the importance of eating right every single day!

I am proud to be a part of the dairy community that puts a strong emphasis on the health of our youth. I appreciate that dairy farmers have the chance to collaborate with the National Football League to encourage exercise and good nutrition.

After the group picture, the students pledged to continue to lead a healthy lifestyle by eating right and getting their 60 minutes of activity each day.

Being a part of the Super Bowl Experience was great, and rubbing elbows with NFL players wasn't too bad either   ; )

The Commercial I Still Love

Super Bowl Sunday is Tomorrow!

 Even if my Minnesota Vikings are not playing in the Big Game, I will be watching. I will be watching because I like football. I will be watching because I like Justin Timberlake. I will be watching because Minnesota is this year's host. I will be watching because I like the commercials.

I have posted this commercial each year since 2013 when this commercial was first broadcast during the Super Bowl. It brings tears to my eyes each time I view it. It makes me cry knowing I am a sixth generation farmer, and I think back to the hardships my ancestors have endured as farmers. 

But this year it makes me especially sad knowing so many of my fellow farmers have had to leave farming because the struggles of farming are too great. Low prices for our goods have caused many farmers to leave the career they love. Many farm families have taken jobs off the farm to supplement their income, hoping to hang on to their farms. Some farmers are discouraging their sons and daughters from farming, knowing that it is a tough way to support a family.

I am not writing this to complain. I don't want sympathy. I am writing this to make you aware of the situation farmers are facing. It is real. It is serious. It affects all of us. Yes, you too, the consumer.

Thank you are purchasing milk. Thanks for stocking your refrigerator with yogurt and cheese. Thanks for buying that ice cream you love. Thanks for your support of the farming community.

So God made a farmer. Thank God he made us resilient.

Super Bowl and Super School Breakfast

If you are a Minnesotan, you probably know Minnesota will host the Super Bowl in 2018. If you are a football fan from Minnesota, like me and my family, you definitely know where the Super Bowl will be played next year...and I can't wait! I may not be one of the lucky ones to sit in the stands on game day, but there is still a lot to be excited about!

As we approach Super Bowl LII, Midwest Dairy Council and Fuel Up to Play 60 are working closely with the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee (MNSBHC) to award Super School Breakfast grants to Minnesota Schools and celebrate school breakfast across the state in the 52 weeks leading up to the Big Game.

This past week, Adams Spanish Immersion School was host to the grant dedication celebration for St. Paul Schools.

As the students arrived, they were greeted by the Super Hero volunteers representing ECMC and General Mills,

and of course, Midwest Dairy Association was there too. That's my daughter Sara on the right!

After the students Super welcome, they headed to the cafeteria to collect their breakfast because everyone knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

I had fun greeting the students as they went through the breakfast line. I shared smiles and high-fives as the students helped themselves to the nutritious, healthy choices including milk and yogurt.

Then it was off to the Media Center for the program where we were greeted by Maureen Bausch, (CEO, Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee) who shared that just like football players, students do their best when they fuel up with a nutritious breakfast. Through this 52 week campaign, the Legacy Fund has a goal of helping every Minnesota child build life-long healthy habits.

Next it was my turn to represent the Minnesota dairy farmers of Midwest Dairy. I shared with the students how starting their day with a good breakfast, including milk, prepares them for a full day of learning. I told them how proud my family is to be in partnership with the Super School Breakfast Initiative, and also a part of providing them with dairy foods, and that each time they choose milk, it makes my cows smile!

Iris Cumberbatch (ECMC) and Mary Jane Menlendez (Executive Director, General Mills Foundation) also stressed the importance of the Super School Breakfast. Did you know that more than 60 percent of students do not eat breakfast?

The celebration ended as we raised our milk cartons in a "milk toast" led by Dana Nelson (Vice President, Legacy and Community Partnerships, Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee) to celebrate school breakfast and the dedication dairy farmers have to providing wholesome, nutritious milk to schools. 

"We are committed to positively impacting the health of children across Minnesota as part of this campaign."

As a Minnesota dairy farmer I am proud to be a part of the Super School Breakfast program. About 140,000 school-age students will benefit from this program and that's Super! 

Thanks to Midwest Dairy and the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee for inviting Bremer Farms to the celebration.

Have A Soup-er Bowl

Many of you...

probably already know...

our family is...

HUGE Minnesota Vikings fans,

and even though our Vikings will not be in the Super Bowl (again) this year, we will still be watching...and eating our way through the game!

Soup-er Creamy Veggie Soup

 Souper Creamy Veggie Soup

• Servings: 6
• Created by: Midwest Dairy Association

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups reduced fat milk
• 2 teaspoons butter
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 can (14 ½ ounces) fat free chicken broth
• 1 large potato, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes (1 ½ cups)
• 1 ½ cups thinly sliced carrots
• 2 cups small broccoli florets or cut fresh green beans
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour

Preparation

1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add broth, potato and carrots; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 5 minutes.
2. Add broccoli, salt and pepper; cook 5 minutes.
3. Place flour in a medium bowl. Gradually stir in milk, mixing well.
4. Add milk mixture to soup; bring to a simmer. Simmer uncovered 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender and soup has thickened.
5. On the run? Use pre-cut or thawed frozen vegetables to make this tasty soup in a snap.
6. Substitution Idea
7. For chicken vegetable soup, stir in 2 cups diced cooked chicken breast in with the milk-flour mixture.
8. Now I know my ABC’s For an educational dinner, add 1 cup of cooked alphabet pasta to the soup.

Nutritional Facts Per Serving

• Calories: 130
• Total Fat: 3mg
• Cholesterol: 11mg
• Sodium: 847mg
• Carbohydrates: 19mg
• Protein: 5mg
• Calcium: 15% Daily Value

- See more at: http://www.dairymakessense.com/recipe/soup-er-creamy-veggie-soup/#sthash.ZDZsf4X8.dpuf

The recipe for Souper Creamy Veggie Soup can be found at Dairy Makes Sense.

• Servings: 6
• Created by: Midwest Dairy Association

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups reduced fat milk
• 2 teaspoons butter
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 can (14 ½ ounces) fat free chicken broth
• 1 large potato, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes (1 ½ cups)
• 1 ½ cups thinly sliced carrots
• 2 cups small broccoli florets or cut fresh green beans
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour

Preparation

1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add broth, potato and carrots; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 5 minutes.
2. Add broccoli, salt and pepper; cook 5 minutes.
3. Place flour in a medium bowl. Gradually stir in milk, mixing well.
4. Add milk mixture to soup; bring to a simmer. Simmer uncovered 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender and soup has thickened.
5. On the run? Use pre-cut or thawed frozen vegetables to make this tasty soup in a snap.
6. Substitution Idea
7. For chicken vegetable soup, stir in 2 cups diced cooked chicken breast in with the milk-flour mixture.
8. Now I know my ABC’s For an educational dinner, add 1 cup of cooked alphabet pasta to the soup.

Nutritional Facts Per Serving

• Calories: 130
• Total Fat: 3mg
• Cholesterol: 11mg
• Sodium: 847mg
• Carbohydrates: 19mg
• Protein: 5mg
• Calcium: 15% Daily Value

- See more at: http://www.dairymakessense.com/recipe/soup-er-creamy-veggie-soup/#sthash.ZDZsf4X8.dpuf

Soup-er Creamy Veggie Soup

Have a "souper" Super Bowl everyone!

 

• Servings: 6
• Created by: Midwest Dairy Association

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups reduced fat milk
• 2 teaspoons butter
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 can (14 ½ ounces) fat free chicken broth
• 1 large potato, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes (1 ½ cups)
• 1 ½ cups thinly sliced carrots
• 2 cups small broccoli florets or cut fresh green beans
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour

Preparation

1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add broth, potato and carrots; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 5 minutes.
2. Add broccoli, salt and pepper; cook 5 minutes.
3. Place flour in a medium bowl. Gradually stir in milk, mixing well.
4. Add milk mixture to soup; bring to a simmer. Simmer uncovered 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender and soup has thickened.
5. On the run? Use pre-cut or thawed frozen vegetables to make this tasty soup in a snap.
6. Substitution Idea
7. For chicken vegetable soup, stir in 2 cups diced cooked chicken breast in with the milk-flour mixture.
8. Now I know my ABC’s For an educational dinner, add 1 cup of cooked alphabet pasta to the soup.

Nutritional Facts Per Serving

• Calories: 130
• Total Fat: 3mg
• Cholesterol: 11mg
• Sodium: 847mg
• Carbohydrates: 19mg
• Protein: 5mg
• Calcium: 15% Daily Value

- See more at: http://www.dairymakessense.com/recipe/soup-er-creamy-veggie-soup/#sthash.ZDZsf4X8.dpuf

• Servings: 6
• Created by: Midwest Dairy Association

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups reduced fat milk
• 2 teaspoons butter
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 can (14 ½ ounces) fat free chicken broth
• 1 large potato, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes (1 ½ cups)
• 1 ½ cups thinly sliced carrots
• 2 cups small broccoli florets or cut fresh green beans
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour

Preparation

1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add broth, potato and carrots; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 5 minutes.
2. Add broccoli, salt and pepper; cook 5 minutes.
3. Place flour in a medium bowl. Gradually stir in milk, mixing well.
4. Add milk mixture to soup; bring to a simmer. Simmer uncovered 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender and soup has thickened.
5. On the run? Use pre-cut or thawed frozen vegetables to make this tasty soup in a snap.
6. Substitution Idea
7. For chicken vegetable soup, stir in 2 cups diced cooked chicken breast in with the milk-flour mixture.
8. Now I know my ABC’s For an educational dinner, add 1 cup of cooked alphabet pasta to the soup.

Nutritional Facts Per Serving

• Calories: 130
• Total Fat: 3mg
• Cholesterol: 11mg
• Sodium: 847mg
• Carbohydrates: 19mg
• Protein: 5mg
• Calcium: 15% Daily Value

- See more at: http://www.dairymakessense.com/recipe/soup-er-creamy-veggie-soup/#sthash.ZDZsf4X8.dpuf

A Super Bowl For Super Bowl

Part of the fun of Super Bowl Sunday is the food...and the commercials...and the half-time show...oh yeah, and the football game! Even non-football fans come together to share the day. I like to think it's the fellowship with friends and family, and yes, the food. I score BIG points when I serve this Pizza Dip recipe. I found it many years ago when I cut it out from a magazine, so I don't even know who to thank for it, but it is sure to be a touchdown with your football fans.

Pizza Dip

8 ounces low-fat cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup light mayannaise

1 cup shredded mozarella cheese

5 ounces sliced pepperoni, chopped

2 ripe plum tomatoes, chopped

10 large, pitted black olives, chopped

4 crusty Italian rolls, cut into 1/2 inch pieces OR crackers

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together the cream cheese, mayonnaise, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, tomatoes and olives. Spoon into a 6 cup baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes, or until lightly browned and bubbly. Allow to cool slightly. Serve with bread pieces or crackers.

While you are watching the 49ers and the Ravens, and enjoying your Pizza Dip, keep an eye out for the first-ever GOT MILK? commercial played during the Super Bowl!  

Go team, and Go Milk!