Midwest Dairy Association

December 2011 Highlights « Back

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Fuel Up to Play 60 in Kansas

On November 3, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback signed a proclamation reflecting statewide commitment to child health and wellness. At a school-wide assembly at Wilbur Middle School in Wichita, the Governor signed a proclamation declaring the day “Fuel Up to Play 60” Day. Kansas Agriculture Secretary Dale Rodman, former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Eddie Kennison, Chiefs mascot KC Wolf, dairy producers Steve Strickler of Iola and Curtis Steenbock of Longford, and Midwest Dairy Council staff joined Wilbur students and teachers for the Governor’s signing event. Fuel Up to Play 60 is in more than 1,200 Kansas schools, reaching more than 450,000 students, and has provided nearly $75,000 in funding to Kansas schools, like Wilbur Middle School, to help them jumpstart and champion their school wellness efforts.

“As dairy farmers, we have always cared about legacy and the importance of passing on a better future to the next generation,” said Strickler. “Fuel Up to Play 60 is a positive way to help Kansas students achieve better nutrition and fitness for life.”  For more information as well as photos of the event click here.

Since April of 2011, your Kansas City Division staff members have been meeting with partner organizations to gain their support for Fuel Up to Play 60. To date, the Kansas City Division staff has gained the support of the following partners:

  • Kansas Department of Agriculture
  • Kansas State Department of Education
  • Kansas Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics
  • Kansas Academy of Family Physicians
  • Kansas Dietetic Association
  • Kansas Action for Healthy Kids
  • Kansas School Nutrition Association
  • Missouri Action for Healthy Kids
  • Missouri School Nutrition Association
  • Missouri Coordinated School Health Coalition
  • Missouri Academy of Family Physicians

Dairy producer Steve Strickler also played host to Chiefs mascot KC Wolf and former wide receiver Eddie Kennison at his farm last month, providing the backdrop for a photo and video shoot. The guys started off their day by feeding calves, and Eddie noted this activity would be the perfect workout for wide receivers! KC and Eddie spent time on the tractor, in the hay loft and with the calves, while Steve filmed a video tour of his farm. The photos and video will be utilized for the new Midwest Dairy/Chiefs Fuel Up to Play 60 school assembly program hosted by KC Wolf.

Carri Flores, a physical education teacher at Wilbur Middle School in Wichita, was named Kansas Fuel Up to Play 60 Program Advisor of the Year. In addition to engaging and empowering students to get involved in Fuel Up to Play 60, program advisors help their schools and students earn recognition, rewards and funding to support wellness initiatives in their schools. Any adult enrolled in Fuel Up to Play 60 can become a program advisor. For more information and photos click here.

In November, your Health and Wellness program manager serving Kansas, Bridget Sheehan, was invited to the Kansas State Department of Education’s Child Nutrition and Wellness team meeting. At the meeting, Bridget discussed ways for state consultants to engage schools in expanding breakfast programming and Fuel Up to Play 60 activation.

Sheehan also participated in Milk Toasts, both at the Kansas School Nutrition Association’s Annual Conference and the Missouri School Nutrition Association’s Annual Conference. In the toast, Bridget explained that the school nutrition staff deserved recognition for all the work they do to serve nutrient-rich foods like low-fat and fat-free dairy.

Three Kansas schools received Fuel Up to Play 60 funding this fall, including:

  • Lincoln Elementary, McPherson;
  • Dodge Literacy Magnet, Wichita; and
  • Jardine/Edison Partnership Middle School, Wichita.

Midwest Dairy hosted a Kansas City Chief’s tailgate party for students from two elementary schools in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. The chilly Sunday night game of the Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers was November 27 and was part of a reward for the school district receiving breakfast grants from General Mills.  Several dairy producers attended, interacting with students and parents by answering questions about dairy farm practices. The Chiefs provided 50 tickets between the two schools and filmed the students in their Fuel Up to Play 60 t-shirts and stickers at the tailgate party. The video played on Arrowvision during the game. A select group of the students participated in a human tunnel to greet the Chiefs players coming onto the field prior to the game.

A Fuel Up to Play 60 School in Kansas was recently recognized as an NFL Play 60 Super School. Spring Hill Elementary School in Spring Hill was awarded a $10,000 PLAY 60 grant for health and wellness programming or equipment. Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali paid a visit to the school to award the grant and to participate with Spring Hill students in an Ultimate NFL Physical Education Class, which included a series of PLAY 60 activity stations. Spring Hill Elementary has been a Fuel Up to Play 60 school since the 2009-2010 school year.

Other Kansas Updates:

Another Health and Wellness program manager serving your area, Steph Cundith, contributed a blog article to National Dairy Council’s The Dairy Report titled “National School Lunch Week (Oct. 10-14) Gives Us Reason to Celebrate.” The blog highlighted the importance of the School Lunch Program in helping children meet the Dietary Guidelines and encouraged conversation with students about where foods come from.