Students at Central High School in Martinsburg, Blair County, sampled more than 350 yogurt smoothies on Thursday, December 13, thanks to the Smith family from Dry Creek Farm, Martinsburg, and American Dairy Association North East (ADA North East).
A smoothie blender was donated by ADA North East on behalf of the Smiths, who were recognized as the organization’s 2018 Dairying for Tomorrow animal care winner. The purpose was to help the district promote healthier breakfast options in school that include dairy.
The school plans to sample new yogurt smoothie flavors weekly to determine the most popular among the students, then include them in the menu rotation. This week’s featured flavor was “Chunky Monkey,” a blend of fat-free chocolate milk, yogurt and bananas.
“Ensuring our students have access to healthy, great-tasting food is our top priority,” said Spring Cove School District Food Service Director Bob Shope. “By offering the yogurt smoothies, they have another nutritious choice to help boost success in the classroom and in extra-curricular activities.”
Dairy farmer Jennifer Heltzel from Martinsburg, Pennsylvania Alternate Dairy Princess Kara Stultz and Blair County Alternate Dairy Princess Victoria Longenecker, as well as several other Blair County promoters who attend the school, helped served the free smoothies to the students.
“We all have the same goal for our students, and it’s so exciting when our community can come together to help improve nutrition options in our schools,” said Heltzel. “As a dairy farmer and a parent whose kids go to this school, it’s a win-win for my family. It also feels great to know that other students now have access to more dairy options in school.”
The Dairying for Tomorrow awards recognize local dairy farmers and showcase on-farm practices that will help sustain the dairy industry now and into the future, and are given in three categories: animal care, community and consumer outreach and environmental stewardship.
For more information about the Dairying for Tomorrow awards, contact Callie Curley at [email protected], or at 267.549.0292.
About American Dairy Association North East
American Dairy Association North East (ADA North East) is the dairy farmer-funded organization funded by participating dairy farmer’s checkoff investment to build demand and sales for milk and dairy foods throughout the local region. Representing nearly 12,000 dairy farm families in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New York, New Jersey and northern Virginia, ADA North East develops and implements local programs to drive milk and dairy sales at retail outlets and in schools. The organization also conducts consumer education about dairy through events, traditional and social media, and in collaboration with health professionals through National Dairy Council®. ADA North East works closely with Dairy Management Inc.™, the national dairy checkoff organization, to support nutrition research, national partnerships and developing export markets for dairy to bring a fully integrated promotion program to the region. For more information, visit their website.