June is Dairy "Facts" Month
Education plays a vital role in June Dairy Month Activities
by Pat Boettcher
WMMB District 6 Director

Yes, it's just about that time of year again! As we begin the spring planting season, June Dairy Month is not far behind. Undoubtedly some of your communities are well into planning June events. The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) works closely with over 60 County Dairy Leader Groups around Wisconsin as they plan year-round activities, many of which take place in June. As the dynamics of our state continue to change, it's increasingly important to weave more and more education into our events.

It's no longer just the neighbors coming to see another farming operation on a warm June weekend. June Dairy Month activities welcome new neighbors who have migrated from the city to the country, consumers wondering where their food comes from, and town residents. These events offer the chance to educate all Wisconsinite's about the value of our industry to our communities and our state.

Farm Activities
While many farms continue to host June activities, some communities have opted to bring the farm to town. Whether it's a petting zoo at school or an on-farm breakfast, for many it may be their first farm experience. This gives hosts, dairy committee members and all dairy farmers an excellent opportunity to convey facts about the care our animals receive and the things we do on our farms to assure the quality of our milk.

Remember to feed their minds as well as their stomachs. Wide-eyed children and hungry adults alike are ready to soak up knowledge when they visit the farm. Many moments are easily overlooked. Try offering informative nutrition facts and trivia as they wait to fill their plates in line for their nutrient rich meal. Tell them that dairy means more to Wisconsin's economy than citrus does to Florida or potatoes do to Idaho. Quiz them about the many careers that exist in agriculture and dairy. Don't forget to remind them where their food comes from!

For those activities that allow visitors to interact with the farm animals, questions will arise. Don't let these curious visitors leave with unanswered questions! Offer guided tours of the dairy, position volunteers around the farm to reinforce positive messages and answer questions, or place informative signs in key traffic areas. Volunteers play a large role in successful events. By offering a wide variety of tasks you may find that someone who isn't interested in serving food might find their niche on the education side.

Keep in mind that anytime you welcome visitors to your farm bio-security should be considered. A few small steps can protect your business and your visitors. By taking a few cautionary steps such as providing plastic boots and hand washing stations you can protect your business and emphasize the extreme care you take of your farm to your visitors.

Finally, if you find yourself too busy to plan these events but plan on attending an event in your area, seek out another visitor and "talk dairy" with them. Together, we can reinforce the true importance of dairy in Wisconsin.

Reaching Consumers
Perhaps your group's goal is to reach consumers in their environment. Supermarkets and banks are popular spots for all town residents. Customers and consumers are very receptive to tasty dairy products. As you hand them string cheese or yogurt, tell them how this product fits into the new USDA dietary guidelines which recommends 3 servings of low-fat dairy products daily. Or, while scooping an ice cream cone, tell shoppers that agriculture provides jobs for 3,700 residents in Chippewa County (see UW Extension's website for your county's data). Tell your story as you greet shoppers; tell them that you're part of the dairy industry which contributes $20.6 billion to Wisconsin's economy. There's a wealth of knowledge that we have the opportunity to share! Brochures and pamphlets or stickers and fun books for the kids help to draw attention to your exhibit and give shoppers a dairy reminder that they can take home. Many such resources are available from WMMB.

Finally, planning a June Dairy Month event is not the only way to educate communities on the dairy industry. No matter what time of year, if you're attending a dairy breakfast or shopping at your local supermarket, try "talking dairy" with the person next to you. You'll likely enlighten them on the tremendous impact dairy has in your community and throughout Wisconsin. Together we can continue getting our message out.

Resources for your June Dairy Month event are available from WMMB
The WMMB catalog offers America's Dairyland t-shirts, plastic stadium cups and balloons. Fun-books, erasers, check stuffers clothing and much more are also available through the catalog. Contact Bonnita Denson at 800-373-9662 to request your copy of the Dairy Promotion Materials 2005 Catalog.

In addition, Dairy Impact materials such as informational graphics, brochures, fact cards and copies (VHS or DVD) of the seven-minute Dairy Impact video are available by contacting Moriah Morris at mmorris@wmmb.org or 800-373-9662.

Visit WMMB's website to view our listing of June Dairy Month activities or to add your event.

Pat Boettcher has been a member of WMMB for 10 years and serves as the Chairman of the Communications and Local Promotions committee. Pat and her husband, Herman along with their son and daughter-in-law milk 110 cows in Chippewa County. In addition to WMMB, Pat has served on numerous committees including and the National Dairy Board and Wisconsin Women in Agriculture. She's also received many awards such as the National FFA Bloomer Chapter Distinguished Service Award.