March 2012 Highlights « Back

Fuel Up to Play 60 in South Dakota

There are now 320 schools in South Dakota engaged with Fuel Up to Play 60.  As noted in the article above, funding has just been awarded to a number of schools across the Midwest, including Robert Frost Elementary School in Sioux Falls. Check in on fueluptoplay60.com to see if your school is enrolled, and if so, encourage them to apply for the next round of Midwest Dairy funding.

Other South Dakota Updates

Look for breakout sessions sponsored by Midwest Dairy at the Central Plains Dairy Expo at the end of the month. The first, “Five Ways to Improve the Global Environment and Your Bottom Line Right Now,” and second, “A Look at the Cow of The Future,” take place on Wednesday, March 28. Our other session is called “Is Anybody Listening?” and takes place on Thursday, March 29.

We also have major involvement in the Expo through the event that kicks off the Expo at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27. Dairy farm families are inviting the public to “Be Our Guest” at a concert by Sawyer Brown. Anyone who donates $10 to Feeding South Dakota will receive a ticket to the concert at the Sioux Falls Arena. Prior to the event those attending (we hope for 2,500!) will see a video we’ve produced that will help show how dairy farm families give back to and are leaders in their communities. The donated funds will go to purchase perishable dairy products for more than 500 hunger relief and emergency food distribution sites throughout the state.

Also in conjunction with the Expo, South Dakota Dairy Princess Natalie Thyen will pass on her title to a new dairy princess. The coronation is on March 28. If you have a daughter or an employee on your dairy that would be interested please contact rscheibe@midwestdairy.com for an application.

During that same time frame, we’ll be providing content for the annual South Dakota State University Nutrition Conference.  Doug Ode, dairy producer from Brandon, and Lloyd Metzger, director of the Midwest Dairy Foods Research Center, will be on a panel discussing science-based information about hormones in food.  The event is on Tues., March 27.

South Dakota’s dairy industry was excited to learn of a decision last month by Bel Brands USA to locate a new cheese plant in Brookings. The plant is expected to help the company meet growing demand that’s currently being supplied by imports.  It’s important to note that the existence of the Institute for Dairy Ingredient Processing in South Dakota was a key factor in Bel Brands’ decision.  Midwest Dairy has made major investments in the Institute and in dairy research at SDSU. Midwest Dairy board member Allen Merrill was one of those interviewed for a KDLT story on the Bel Brands announcement.    

Your Midwest Dairy district meetings were held this past month with South Dakota Division board representatives elected, including:

• Dan Thyen, Waverly;
• Arlen Harvey, Ree Heights;
• Wayne Jarmen, Wilmot;
• Mike Frey, Claremont;
• Gary Jarding, Alexandria;
• Su Sybesma, Platte;
• Marv Post, Volga;
• Randy Schweer, Watertown;
• Jim Neugebauer, Dimock; and
• Allen Merrill, Parker. 

.Your District 1 board is:

• Scott Moes, Goodwin, chair;
• Andy Paulson, Andover, vice-chair;
• Chris Fieber, Goodwin, sec./treas.; and
• Mel Reis, Watertown, board member.

Your District 2 board is:

• Gary Jarding, Alexandria, chair;
• Ron Krogstad, Baltic, vice-chair;
• Olga Reuvekamp, Elkton, sec./treas.; and
• Laura Nielson, Crooks, board member.

Kelly Nelson from Ag United for South Dakota completed a spokesperson training we held in Dubuque, Iowa recently. Ag United works closely with us on many consumer-directed events and we appreciate the coverage they provide in telling the story of dairy farm production practices.

If you are aware of anyone interested in attending SDSU and enrolling in dairy science, let them know that Midwest Dairy Association will be providing $5,000 in scholarships for 2012. Contact Dr. Vikram Mistry for an application at (605) 688-5731 or vikram.mistry@sdstate.edu.