A Day on a Dairy Farm

I was recently invited to spend the day with Milton Beard on his farm, Blackjack Ridge Dairy in Santa Fe, Tennessee.  Like most dairy farms, this is a family business for the Beards.  Milton is a second generation dairy farmer.  He grew up on Blackjack Ridge, named by his father after the Blackjack oaks that line the property.  Milton’s son Chris and daughter Renee have also chosen to dairy farm there and when I pulled up to the barn I was greeted by their children, who were spending the summer helping grandpa out.

The land and the family remain the same, but the farm has grown with time and evolved with technology.  Blackjack Ridge is now a 24-hour milking operation, sending their supply to producers on a daily basis.  When I arrived that morning, Milton and Renee were viewing data collected from a special software program to make sure their cows weren’t being over or underfed.  “Did you know they have apps for dairy farmers?” Milton asked me as he whipped out his phone.  He showed me how he can type in a cow’s number and see everything from how much milk she’s produced to how many calves she’s given birth to.

But don’t let all of the technological advances fool you, Blackjack Ridge Dairy is still a farm and Milton gave me the grand tour.   We drove around the rolling pastures in his pickup truck and visited the “parlor” where the cows are milked.  Milton even let me drive a tractor he was using to aerate the fields before planting corn.  After a full morning we stopped by Fly’s, the local grocery where Milton and his workers eat lunch together every day and later that afternoon I helped Renee bottle feed the calves.

I am so grateful to the Beard’s for taking time out of their day to show me how a dairy farm works.  As we celebrate June Dairy Month, I encourage you to get to know your local dairy farmers and learn more about where your milk comes from!

Laura Marbury, MS, RD, LD

Dairy Packs Power: Celebrating June Dairy Month 2013

Happy June Dairy Month!  Dairy Packs Power is our superhero theme as we salute the real superheroes, our southeastern dairy farmers who are dedicated to providing wholesome dairy foods. Together, milk, yogurt and cheese are packed with nine essential nutrients including calcium, vitamin D and potassium.  These unique combinations play a key role in building strong bones, muscles and teeth.

In celebration of June Dairy Month, get to know the dairy case defenders: milk, yogurt and cheese.  Children of all ages can enjoy these power- packed dairy superheroes and their delicious and nutritious superpowers.

MILK: Milk contains calcium and vitamin D which help build bones of steel. A study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, classifies calcium as a super nutrient because it may help defend against the risk of obesity, osteoporosis, hypertension, and some cancers.  Milk also packs a powerful punch by providing high quality protein to build muscle, along with potassium and magnesium to help maintain a healthy blood pressure.

 Lactose Intolerant? This super beverage can transform to meet the needs of any diet.  Lactose-free milk is real cow’s milk without lactose, the natural milk sugar, and it contains the same great nutrition as regular milk.

YOGURT: Yogurt is an excellent source of calcium and protein and can protect us with probiotics, live and active cultures that aid in digestion and boost our immunity by fending off harmful bacteria.

Yogurt can also come to the rescue for those with lactose intolerance.  The live and active cultures in yogurt help break down the lactase for easier digestion.

CHEESE: Cheese is the mighty super hero.  An ounce of low fat cheese has as much protein as an egg, is the #2 source of dietary calcium and averages less than 60 calories and 4 grams of fat. It not only tastes great, it is convenient, portable and versatile.

Like the other dairy superheroes, cheese is not an enemy for those with lactose intolerance.  Cheeses such as cheddar, Swiss Monterey Jack and Mozzarella are naturally low in lactose.

Power up your day with milk, yogurt and cheese. Visit our website for June Dairy Month news, recipes and activities.

Laura Buxenbaum, MPH, RD, LDN

Dairy Farmers are Truly Dedicated

Every June, America celebrates National Dairy Month. Recently I had the opportunity to see two dairy farmers in action- Zach Myers and Will Gilmer. I did not see them tending their cows on their busy dairy farms but as dedicated business men, telling their story to health professionals and consumers. Sharing what happens on a dairy farm and how milk comes to market is becoming increasingly important as Americans are so far removed from agriculture, yet continue to desire to know where our food comes from.

Zach Myers and his wife Sybil have a Holstein dairy farm in North Carolina. Zach studied dairy cattle nutrition science at the Michigan State University and serves as a board member for the Southeast Dairy Association.  Zach traveled to Galax, Va., and spoke to the Healthy Communities Action Team about dairy farming and the importance of dairy foods for health and wellness.

Will Gilmer has a dairy farm in Alabama and, along with his father, has been producing high quality milk for more than 55 years in Lamar County. A graduate of Mississippi State, Will is an unusual dairy farmer because he is very active on Twitter and gives his followers a daily update on herd happenings. He is also a natural when it comes to television interviews; Will recently appeared on WAKA in Montgomery to discuss June Dairy Month and his farm.

As a dietitian with more than ten years experience in the dairy industry, it is an honor to represent dedicated dairy farmers like Zach and Will. As we end June Dairy Month, I want to say thank you to all the dairy farmers across the Southeast for providing  safe and wholesome milk  for our families.

Mary Martin Nordness, MA, RD, LD, CHES

Lights, Camera, Action!

June was a busy month with June Dairy Month activities happening all throughout the Southeast. Kids, cows, milk, and farmers all celebrating Pour One More during our 30 days of dairy spotlight.

The Tennessee June Dairy Month kickoff luncheon drew more than 200 attendees from the University of Tennessee Extension, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Tennessee Farm Bureau and dairy farmers from throughout the state. Check out my onsite Pour One More radio interview with Farm Bureau reporter Lee Maddux.

Midday Show at WPSD-TV in Paducah

I also had the opportunity to accompany Billy Travis, a Caldwell County Kentucky dairy farmer, on the Midday Show at WPSD-TV in Paducah. It was a great opportunity to talk about the health benefits of dairy, share recipes, and offer tips on how to get more dairy in your daily diet.

Tony White, dairy famer from Marshall County Tennessee, and I appeared on the morning show at radio station WJJM-FM. Tony talked about how Marshall County is in the top six ranking dairy counties in Tennessee. He also shared his pride in dairy farmers as they take care of their cows and their land, many of whom live right on the family farm.

What a great month to honor the nation’s dairy farmers. The dedication of dairy farm families is evident in the hard work they do each and every day to produce a wholesome and safe product for consumers.

Tony White, dairy famer from Marshall County Tennessee, at the radio station WJJM-FM.

How did you celebrate June Dairy Month?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tracy Noerper, MS, RD, LDN, SNS

A Step Back in Time

What was farm life like in the 1800’s? I recently found out when I took a step back in time at the Burritt Museum in Huntsville, Ala. More than 200 families came out to celebrate Dairy Day in this 19^th century village complete with barnyard animals on top of Monte Sano Mountain. Children were able to see milking demonstrations, taste homemade ice cream and churn butter. My grandson Sam found that “real” butter with fresh herbs is delicious on a cracker.

How life has changed! Refrigeration then was a stone springhouse under a shady tree. Most kitchen chores like churning were performed on the front porch in hopes of a cool breeze. Today, most of us are so far removed from dairy farming that we forget where our milk and other dairy products come from. Celebrate June Dairy Month by reading about dairy farming in your state. This year’s theme is Dairy Makes Cents, which reminds consumers of the economical value of dairy foods. When budgets are tight, families can maintain healthy habits and stretch their grocery dollars by using milk, yogurt or cheese with nine essential nutrients in recipes. On hot summer days, my family enjoys a Garden Veggie Pizza.

I plan to take time this month to say thank you to my Alabama dairy farmers for the delicious wholesome food they provide. 

Mary Martin Nordness, MA, RD, LD, CHES