We’re blogging about ‘30 Days of Dairy’ as part of National Dairy Month. This carnival is hosted by National Dairy Council and you can see a list of those participating in the carnival at the bottom of this post or find the full list here.

“Keep Youthful – Drink Milk” was the original National Milk Month campaign, which kicked off in 1937. Entire communities across the country, both rural and urban, have embraced it and celebrated in various ways. Some Dairy Month activities include: dairy food demonstrations, parades with bands and floats, cow visits at zoos, cow milking contests, dairy farm tours, or free milk and ice cream cone offerings at local businesses. In more rural communities, you might see cattle shows and princess contests with coronation ceremonies. Visit a creamery, grocery store or local bank in one of these small towns, and you might see a dairy princess delivering smiles with local dairy samples.

The collaboration between farmers and other community members is the basis of what June Dairy Month is all about – celebrating the wonderful products and contribution of dairy families nationwide.

Just because you don't live in a town that has these traditions, doesn't mean you can't celebrate. As a staff, we celebrated by playing a very creative game of Dairy Jeopardy. I am proud to announce that I was on the winning team, however my individual contribution was lacking -- my mind went blank when under the game pressure!

See if you know the answers to these Dairy Jeopardy questions:

• What are the number of children that get adequate calcium? "Only one out of ten teenage girls and four out of ten teen age boys get adequate calcium."
• What are four commonly eaten choices from the milk and milk products food group? "Milk, cheese, yogurt and milk-based desserts"
• What is an excellent sports recovery beverage? "Chocolate milk"
• What is the amount of global green house gas emissions caused by dairy production? "Global dairy herds account for 4.1 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions"

You can test your dairy knowledge by taking the new Bone Up on Milk, ten-question quiz and see how you do.

Share with us your fun ideas for celebrating National Dairy Month.

Happy Dairy Month!

Maureen Bligh, MA, RD

Project Manager

Here's the latest list of bloggers in the National Dairy Council blog carnival:

- June is Dairy Month FUN!, Two Maids a Milking
- Dairy Farmers Party, Spotted Cow Review
- Food Art: June is Dairy Month,  Food Art
- June is National Dairy Month, Wellness News at Weighing Success
- June is National Dairy Month, Dietitians Online
- MyPlate Week, Day 3: Delicious Dairy, Nutrition Lately
- Introducing... MyPlate!, See What's Happening at Dial Dairy Farm!
- Black and White Days Dairy Show and Childhood Memories, Dairy Farm Family