Congratulations to Ranchito Avenue Elementary in Los Angeles, Fay Elementary School in San Diego, and Pioneer Middle School in Tustin, Calif.!  Each school is a recipient of funds awarded by Dairy Council of California for their Fuel Up to Play 60 initiatives. 

Fuel Up to Play 60 is a free school wellness program used in more than 70,000 schools nationwide.  Dairy Council is facilitating the program in California. 

We are thrilled to be involved not only because we are building awareness of and access to nutrient-rich foods on school campuses during breakfast and lunch, but we are also providing funds that support nutrition and fitness programs, as many of these programs are being cut due to California’s tight education budget. 

Total funding awarded to the three schools is $8,200.  The funds will be used for a variety of wellness activities that promote good nutrition and physical activity.  By supporting efforts like this, we hope to help create healthy habits that last a lifetime.

Applications for funds for the 2011-2012 school year are now being accepted from California schools that enroll in Fuel Up to Play 60.  Schools can learn more about eligibility requirements and find the Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60 application at http://www.fueluptoplay60.com/.  There are several application windows each year, so make sure to get your local school involved.

Launched by National Dairy Council, local Dairy Councils and the National Football League (NFL), in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Fuel Up to Play 60 program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. The program is now in its third year.

On a recent trip to the Midwest, I took the opportunity to visit Fair Oaks Farms in Fair Oaks, Indiana.  I had heard a lot about this place, specifically as a model for showcasing sustainable farming and agriculture’s role in providing for our food supply to the public.  I had no idea what was in store for me.

Fair Oaks is much more than a model, it is an educational farming amusement park.  This family-owned farm, which has 30,000 dairy cows located on 10 separate sites, conducts farm tours for school groups and families with three main goals in mind.  Show first-hand how dairy farming:

• Protects the environment;
• Cares for the dairy cows; and
• Provides high-quality products that are nutritious and good for you.

These messages came out loud and clear.  Between the bus tour that takes visitors to the free-stall barns housing nearly 3,000 dairy cows where we watched the milking process unfold, the lessons on how the farm uses manure to create renewable energy and the Birthing Barn where we actually witnessed the birth of a live calf (that was suspenseful!), Fair Oaks Farms takes great care to bring visitors into the working farm experience. 

Children were thoroughly amused at Mooville, a play area set aside on the farm that housed a 25-foot milk carton climbing wall (playfully called Udder Heights).  The Moo Choos, tractor rides, String Cheese Maze and the Dairy Air jumping pillow also entertained kids.

The Dairy Adventure educational hall displays interactive exhibits demonstrating life on the farm, how to milk a cow as well as the many nutritional benefits of milk and milk products – the osteoporosis climbing wall was a clever play on building strong bones.

The day rounded out with a visit to the cheese factory and gift shop where I watched cheese being processed and of course grabbed a few varieties of delicious cheeses to share with my family back home.

Fair Oaks is tailor-made for individuals who have never been on a working farm and quite frankly, have no idea how the food we eat gets from the farm to the dinner table.  I left feeling a strong connection to agriculture and an ever greater enthusiasm for milk and milk products.  If you are ever traveling through Indiana, Fair Oaks Farms is a must see!

Please share your experiences on the farm.

Jessica Northrup