June 2011 Highlights « Back

Fuel Up to Play 60 in Kansas

Midwest Dairy Council was a sponsor of the 2011 Emma Creek Classic 5K race held on April 30 in Hesston. Sponsorship included mention in radio promos, logo listing on race t-shirts, race signage highlighting chocolate milk as a sport beverage and links to website materials in runners’ goody bags. At the finish, participants enjoyed chocolate milk, yogurt and cottage cheese provided by co-sponsor Hiland Dairy. A record 1,134 women and children participated in the event.

Midwest Dairy Council is sponsoring a grant given to six Kansas schools to expand their 2011 Summer Food Service programs. The program, called “Fuel Up for Summer Fun,” emphasizes healthy eating and daily exercise, and provides a nutritional bridge during the summer months when school is not in session. Fuel Up for Summer Fun promotes three servings of dairy a day and Fuel Up to Play 60. The following schools were chosen to participate in the Fuel Up for Summer Fun grant:

• Atchison Middle School, Atchison;
• Emporia Middle School, Emporia;
• Meadowlark Elementary, Pittsburg;
• Riverside Elementary, Emporia;
• Westside Elementary, Pittsburg; and
• William Allen White Elementary, Emporia.

A video created by students at Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet School in Wichita won the Fuel Up to Play 60 Challenge Showcase. The video features how Horace Mann students get active and eat healthy to make a difference at their school. The school also recently received $3,000 in Fuel Up to Play 60 funding to complete their healthy eating and physical activity “plays.” The Fuel Up to Play 60 kickoff event and ongoing nutrition trivia challenge featured dairy.

Other Kansas Updates

Nearly 120 students at Robinson Middle School were treated to a virtual tour of a farm, accompanied by feed samples, before school dismissed for the summer.  The sixth, seventh and eighth graders also learned about the positive health effects of dairy products.

In the copy above, you may have read that Steph Cundith, who serves you in Kansas on the Health and Wellness team, recently was honored by the Kansas Dietetic Association.  Her fellow team member, Bridget Sheehan, is serving on the Industry Relations board of the School Nutrition Association of Kansas as well as on the Advisory Board of the Kansas Coordinated School Health Council.  Bridget will serve as the Kansas City Dietetic Association treasurer from 2011-2013.  Health and Wellness team members like Stephanie and Bridget are essential leaders in many of the health and nutrition organizations we partner with in order to reach goals in the Unified Marketing Program.

Another staff note:  Carol Hicks, who manages the Nutrition Service Center answering dairy questions on your behalf from the Overland Park office, was recognized by the Kansas City Division board this month.  She was singled out to receive the Division’s Oscar, which is designated to recognize someone who has shown outstanding leadership and service to the dairy industry and dairy promotion.  Carol is a registered dietitian and began her career with the Dairy Council almost 25 years ago. In fact, she will celebrate her 25th anniversary on August 1.