A Reason to Scream With the Minnesota Vikings

What do 700 students and the fans at U.S. Bank Stadium have in common? ...noise and enthusiasm!

Yesterday the noise and enthusiasm of the students of Kaposia Education Center would have rivaled that of the fans at the recent Minnesota Vikings - Green Bay Packers game. 

Because of their schools efforts in the Fuel Up To Play 60 program, they received a Hometown Grant and a visit from some special guests of the Minnesota Vikings.

These kids had good reason to cheer. The $10,000 grant will be used to accomplish the students goal of improved health and wellness through several activities and purchases. A farm tour, nutritional information, a smoothie maker, fitness equipment, and even Ninja Warrior stations, are just some of the ways this grant money will be used to assist students in eating well and staying active. 

I was invited to be the guest dairy farmer which gave me the opportunity to speak at the program as well as give a presentation about my farm and life as a dairy farmer to the first grade classes. I got to field some great questions too!

Viktor the Viking, Vikings players and staff, and Vikings cheerleaders, came to help in the celebration. The players were interviewed by students from the FUTP60 leaders,

there was a field goal kicking contest, and the FUTP60  leaders also went through some skill drills lead by the Vikings Youth Football Development Manager.

I am so proud of these students and staff for their dedication to a healthy lifestyle through the Fuel Up To Play 60 program and I was thrilled to be a part of their special day. Keep up the great work Kaposia!

You know me, I'm quite a Vikings fan. I couldn't leave without a photo... 

L-R Stephen Weatherly (#91- defensive end), me, Chad Beebe (#12- wide receiver), Vikings Legend Greg Coleman, and Jeff Robinson (youth football development manager). 

and autographs!

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   ; )

Rochester Rocks Dairy and FUTP60

Rochester, Minnesota is well known for some pretty great things; the Mayo Clinic,  the University of Minnesota Rochester, and some really wonderful students at Riverside Central Elementary! I recently visited with 130 of these super kids and their teachers about life on my farm.

 I shared my PowerPoint about my family, our animals, what we feed our animals,

 
what we do each day, how we grow their food, 

and how we milk our cows.

Then I spoke about the importance of dairy foods in our daily diet. Did you know that dairy is part of your recommended food intake, and we should have 3 servings every day of milk, cheese, or yogurt? The smart students of Riverside Central knew this. :)

I even taught them a little song to help them remember to have their Dairy 3 For Me every day. It goes like this- 

A special thank you goes out to Ann Winkels, Riverside Central's physical education teacher and Fuel Up To Play 60 coach. She not only realizes the importance of her students eating healthy and having a farmer share where the students food comes from, but she also encourages at least 60 minutes of activity each day. The day I visited, Ann planned a full day of healthy eating and fun activities for the kids, including Zumba, CrossFit, Hip Hop, and even a ping-pong exhibition by an Olympic hopeful! Great job Ann! Thanks for including this dairy farmer in your FUTP60 Day.

And to all of you, here's your chance to pledge to eat #Dairy 3 For Me.

From now through May 27, 2016, anyone taking the pledge through Midwest Dairy.com will be automatically entered to win one of three weekly prizes – an immersion blender to help get their three servings every day. All pledges are also eligible for the grand prize – a $250 retail gift card to help stock up on dairy essentials at the grocery store.

You're the Cow Lady!

"You're the cow lady!" 

This was how I was greeted by a kindergartener at William Byrne Elementary when I recently paid a visit to their in-school breakfast. But this wasn't the only greeting I received that morning. 

I was also greeted by farm pictures the kids had colored welcoming me to their school. The cafeteria walls were coated in these colorful works of art which hung along side posters sharing the importance and freshness of milk. But that's not all...

Students also created their own smoothie flavors! There were many great flavor combinations, but I think this one was my favorite. Perhaps it was the name that won me over.

I was invited to William Byrne to visit with the students at their in-school breakfast.  William Byrne participates in the Fuel Up To Play 60 program. Fuel Up To Play 60 is a program funded by the National Dairy Council and the National Football League in collaboration with USDA, that empowers students to take charge in making small, everyday changes at school. Students are encouraged to change the way they look at food and nutrition, and change their attitudes about physical education.

As a dairy farmer, and a mom, it made me smile to see the healthy dairy filled breakfast the kids received. Milk, cheese sticks, yogurt, and fruit smoothies all gave these students a super start to their daily  Dairy 3 For Me. 

Thank you to the students of William Byrne for the invitation to visit your breakfast. Thanks also to Miss Tracy and the staff for getting your kiddos so enthused about  meeting a farmer and learning where their food comes from. Lastly, I would like to thank the kitchen staff for the great job they do of incorporating healthy dairy foods in all the meals served.

If you are a farmer, I encourage you to visit schools in your area. You will be amazed at the excitement you generate! Kids want to know you, and the story behind the dairy foods we produce.

If you are not a farmer, I encourage you to contact a farmer- invite a farmer to your school or event and ask questions. We LOVE to share our story!

Visit Midwest Dairy and take the Dairy 3 For Me Pledge. 

Milk And Middler-Schoolers

Most of my school visits to talk about being a dairy farmer happen at elementary schools. Recently I was invited to speak at Maplewood Middle School. For you non-Minnesotan's, Maplewood is considered a suburb of St. Paul, with a population of nearly 40,000 so farmin' country it is not. 

 

I began with my Powerpoint presentation, sharing about my family, our farm, and what we do each day. I talked about feeding our animals, the milking process, and what happens when animals get sick. We moved on to a discussion of dairy foods and how they get to the grocery store. 

Even though the teacher suggested the students hold their questions until the end of my presentation, I kept getting interrupted with questions... and I loved it! I witnessed enthusiasm and great questions from these middle-schoolers along with a strong desire to learn more about dairy farming and where their food comes from. Here are some of my favorite questions-

Q.- When you buy 1% milk, what is the other 99%?

A.- All types of milk are 100% milk. The percentages included in the names of the milk indicate how much fat is in the milk by weight. All of these milks contain the nine essential nutrients found in whole milk but less fat.

Q.- I've heard that we are supposed to drink chocolate milk after sports. Why?

A.- Chocolate milk contains a combination of carbohydrates and protein to help replenish exhausted muscles after exercise, and provides potassium and sodium that help your body re-hydrate. And, there's an added bonus- chocolate milk is natural, and less expensive than sports drinks!

And now it was time for me to ask the students some questions...

Me- "Why do you think I go to schools to talk about dairy farming?"

Them- "So we can find out what you do and why it's important for us to drink milk?"

Me- "That's right. As you probably know, not everything you read or see on social media or TV or the internet is always true.

 (Them...laughter)

Me- " If you have a concern about your dog or cat, who do you talk to?" 

Them- "The vet."

Me- "If you have a question about your car, who do you talk to?"

Them- "A mechanic."

Me- "So if you have a question about your food, why wouldn't you talk to a farmer?"

(Them- heads nodding yes.)

Mission accomplished!

Maplewood Middle School knows the importance of milk and  

participates in the Fuel Up To Play 60 program.

Thanks to  Michele, Miss Martha, and the students of Maplewood Middle school for a moovelous time!

Busy People Promote Fuel Up to Play 60

My grandpa Dankers often said, "If you want something done, ask a busy person." I thought that was, and is, such a profound thought. Way to go grandpa! Since then, I discovered (thanks Google) it wasn't grandpa that came up with these words of wisdom. It may not have been a grandpa Dankers "original" but it is still profound, so thanks, Mr. Benjamin Franklin.

I recently spent time with some of the busiest, and fun people I know- 
Fuel Up To Play 60 program advisers. 

Fuel Up To Play 60 is a program funded by the National Dairy Council and the National Football League in collaboration with USDA, that empowers students to take charge in making small, everyday changes at school. 

A recent training was held to equip these volunteers (yes, I said volunteers) in ways to implement the program to encourage students to change the way they look at food and nutrition, and change their attitudes about physical education. 

 We at Bremer Farms are proud to be a part of this program that promotes healthy foods and healthy activity. Dairy foods are a perfect fit in the Fuel Up To Play 60 program. 

I was given the opportunity to represent Minnesota's nearly 3,400 dairy farmers at this training event, complete with a milk toast honoring dairy farmers contributions to healthy eating and Fuel Up To Play 60.

Now that training is complete, each program adviser will head back to their school to fire-up their students about FUTP60.

I was invited by Harriet Bishop Elementary to attend their Fuel Up To Play60 kick-off event! A healthy breakfast complete with strawberry-banana smoothies, time to visit with the students about my life as a dairy farmer, a question and answer time, and they even made a video of my visit! Take a peek...

 
I am grateful for the program volunteers who dedicate their time and talents to a program that encourages healthy eating and exercise. Thanks also to the National Football League, our Minnesota Vikings, and my fellow dairy farmers for recognizing the value in Fuel Up To Play 60.

Click here to learn more about my involvement in...

 

F Is For Fuel Up To Play 60

It's June Dairy Month! The barn doors are open, 

so join me on my daily A to Z journey 

to learn more about dairy. 

  F is for Fuel Up To Play 60

 

Fuel Up To Play 60 is a program funded by the National Dairy Council and the National Football League in collaboration with USDA, that empowers students to take charge in making small, everyday changes at school. Students are encouraged to change the way they look at food and nutrition, and change their attitudes about physical education. 11 million students are involved in this program. We dairy farmers contribute to the success of this program.

Each year the Minnesota Vikings help build a playground for a needy community. I was asked by Midwest Dairy to give a short speech at the Playground Build to explain dairy farmers commitment to the Fuel Up To Play 60 program. 

We at Bremer Farms are proud to be a part of this program that promotes healthy foods and healthy activity. Dairy foods are a perfect fit in the Fuel Up To Play 60 program!

As an added bonus on the day of the Playground Build, my family and I got to hang out with the Minnesota Vikings! Take a peek...