Enjoy tasty dairy treats and take part in fun run with former Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson and MSU mascot Sparty at 19th annual event
What: The 19th annual Great Dairy Adventure consumer education day
- Milk is a locally produced product, and it's produced 365 days a year by Michigan dairy farmers. It travels from a local dairy farm to the grocer's refrigerator case within 48 hours. Milk and dairy foods are some of the safest and most tested food products in the United States.
- New events planned for this year's Great Dairy Adventure include two "Dairy Fun Run" events for kids and adults of all ages. The first "Dairy Fun Run" will take place at 10:15 a.m. and be led by MSU mascot Sparty and the 12:15 p.m. run will be led by former Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson.
- There will be free samples of milk, cheese and yogurt produced using milk produced by Michigan farm families.
- Attendees will pose with family and friends at a "selfie" milk mustache photo booth and with MSU athletes who will be on site for autographs and to pose for photos.
- In addition to learning how milk travels from a local farm to one of Michigan's 90 dairy processing plants to your local grocery store, school or institution within 48 hours of leaving the dairy farm, there will be a series of interactive displays and hands-on activities including the "I milked a cow!" booth presented by the MSU Dairy Club, visiting one-on-one with MSU large animal veterinary students during hands-on activities with cows, experimenting with dairy recipes and creating craft projects, petting baby calves, and touching and smelling the feeds that cows eat.
When: Wednesday, July 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Where: Michigan State University (MSU) Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education
4301 Farm Lane, East Lansing, MI
(Enter through the main entrance on the north side of the building)
Who: More than 1,500 people, including children, teenagers, parents, grandparents, families, educators, day care providers and summer campers will attend this free, family-oriented learning event organized by members of the state's dairy industry.
Why: The Great Dairy Adventure is an opportunity for children, families and educators to meet dairy industry experts, learn about the journey milk takes from farm to table, meet veterinarians and learn how they care for animals, and discover the importance of consuming dairy products as part of a complete and balanced diet. It's also a chance for local dairy farmers and the dairy industry to share information about the work they're proud to do 365 days a year in order to feed local families.
Michigan dairy industry facts courtesy of www.milkmeansmore.org
- Michigan's dairy industry provides jobs, employing local veterinarians, equipment dealers and farm employees. One dollar spent locally generates twice as much income for the local economy.
- Michigan is home to 412,000 dairy cows, representing approximately 1,800 dairy herds.
- The average dairy herd in Michigan has 217 cows. Just like businesses grow to support more families, herd sizes increase to allow the next generation to continue farming.
- All in the family: 97 percent of Michigan dairy farms are family-owned, many by multiple generations of the same family.
- Michigan ranks sixth in milk production in the United States. In 2015, dairy cows in Michigan produced approximately 9.61 billion pounds of milk.
- The average Michigan cow produces approximately 25,130 pounds of milk each year, or the equivalent of 2,922 gallons of milk!
- Michigan's approximately 1,800 dairy farms produce more than enough milk to supply the entire state. Surplus milk is exported to help meet demand in other states.
- In supermarkets and local farmers markets, you can find milk, cheese and yogurt produced by Michigan dairy farmers. When you buy Michigan dairy products, you not only "buy local" and support area farmersyou buy quality.
- Only 1.7 percent of the U.S. population produces food for all of us, plus millions worldwide.
7.19.2016
