World Dairy Expo 2011

Dairy producer board members attended the 2011 World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis., Oct. 4 to 8. Each day, board members helped booth visitors complete the dairy checkoff quiz, which helped fellow dairy producers learn more about checkoff programs and partnerships that are helping increase demand of and sales for dairy products.

Dairy producers continue their long-term commitment to children’s health and wellness by partnering with the National Football League^® to create Fuel Up to Play 60, an in-school program that encourages physical fitness and a healthy diet, including low-fat and fat-free dairy products. Visitors also had an opportunity to show their support for the program by wearing NFL jerseys and posing with other props for photos.

Visitors to the dairy checkoff booth could receive a coupon for free ice cream for posting or tweeting a positive dairy message on their favorite social media website. They were also encouraged to join myDairy, a program that helps dairy enthusiasts share their positive dairy stories with friends and followers online.

Dairy producer board members also talked with media at the show to help share results from dairy checkoff programs with producers who were not able to attend the show. One popular topic was how targeted partnerships like those with Domino’s Pizza^®, McDonald’s^® and HP Hood^® LLC are growing sales by revitalizing the pizza category, creating new dairy-friendly products in foodservice, and helping bring consumers with real or perceived lactose intolerance back to the dairy aisle.

Dairy producers participated in a seminar, Leading the Conversation, sponsored by Dairy Management Inc.™ Jane Hillstrom and Michele Ruby led the interactive session that helped producers and industry leaders develop their skills to better connect with their neighbors, communities and consumers about dairy farming and dairy foods.