We Dare(y) You To Check This Out

By Sarah Correll

Ever wondered where your milk comes from? Do you know how cows are raised? Who cares for dairy cattle, and what are their farms like? Which dairy recipes are the farmers’ favorites? The American Dairy Association of Indiana has featured a dairy a day for the entire month of June. Check out some highlights below or click here to see all 30!

 Crosby Dairy Farm

Greensburg, Indiana

Talk about a legacy, the Crosby family has been milking cows for nearly 100 years! The also raise their own feed and run a veterinary business. Busy folks!

 Oneeda Farms

Syracuse, Indiana

The Hibschman family has a great ice cream recipe and quality cattle! Their pedigreed cattle have won top prizes, and the family is dedicated to their cows!

Mayhill Holsteins

Fountain City, Indiana

The 2013 Indianapolis 500 Milkman calls this farm his home. Duane is committed to helping youth- his children showed cattle, and now he judges shows that help young people develop responsibility and a passion for agriculture!

Knollbrook Farm

Goshen, Indiana

It began with a couple of newlyweds, four cows, and a dream. This farm now has 90 cows and offers fall tours to show everyone what the reality their dream has become!

Kleine Dairy Farm

Cedar Lake, Indiana

  

A cow of a different color, this family milks Holsteins (the black and white cows) and Brown Swiss. They also raise corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, and pumpkins!

Purdue University Dairy Farm

West Lafayette, Indiana

Agriculture involves a lot of research, and dairy is no exception! The Purdue Dairy Farm is home to about 460 cattle and research about milk production, nutrition, and more. Take a virtual tour here!

While June Dairy Month is wrapping up, your interest in where your milk comes from doesn’t have to! Check out the cows at your county fair, keep up with the Kelsays at twomaidsamilking.com, and stay in touch with the American Dairy Association of Indiana blog.

#DairyGood Table Talk!

By Sarah Correll

A group of our favorite Indiana bloggers is celebrating June Dairy Month with us!  Some of them are having a ball with ice cream, one got a little cheesy with cheese making, and one is feeling a bit like a cow herself…  

Check out their dairy month adventures in the links below!

 Homemade Ice Cream Play & Freeze, Bargain Briana

Did you know Indiana ranks second in ice cream production? Briana had a great time making ice cream with her kids!

Royal Recipe: Delicious BLT Dip, The Queen of Free

The Queen of Free tested out- and loved- a new dip recipe! It includes Greek yogurt and cream cheese and is shared on her blog!

I Scream, You Scream, Fencerow to Fencerow

Where do you find the best sundae in Indiana? Jeanette talks about two of her favorite ice cream shops!

Summer Cool Down, Everyday Mom’s Meals

If you’re looking for a simple and refreshing summer treat, look no further! Krista combines to summer staples in this strawberry ice cream recipe.

Where I Feel Like a Dairy Cow…, Katie Unscripted

Did you know chocolate milk is the official refuel beverage of IRONMAN? Katie talks about her own fitness plans, and how dairy fits into them, in this post!

That’s So Cheesy!, Design Her Momma

Have you ever thought about making your own cheese? Emily shares her adventure in mozzarella cheese making!

June is Dairy Month, Alarm Clock Wars

Cookies and cream? Mint? Blackberry? Chocolate or vanilla? Marybeth chats about her favorite homemade ice cream flavors here!

Looks like everyone is having a #DairyGood June!  How are you celebrating?

Dairy Adventures of an Intern

By Michelle Mendoza, Ball State Dietetic Intern 

Summer is just kicking off and what a better way to celebrate summer, then to celebrate June Dairy Month with a cool, refreshing serving of your favorite ice cream. I think that there are fun and easy ways to get your three servings of dairy into your regular diet every day. Three easy ways to get dairy products into your diet are the standard milk, cheese and yogurt.

It’s starting to heat up outside so I think that it’s time to get creative and mix up your standard favorites. An easy way to keep cool this summer could be a homemade fruit yogurt pop. Mix in your favorite summer fruits and yogurt in a blender and put into an ice cube tray and now you have fun frozen yogurt pop treats.

If you want to get adventurous then you could try blending up a kale smoothie for a nutrient rich breakfast or snack. You will need fresh kale, flax seeds, non-fat plain Greek yogurt, berries (any kind), milk and a banana. Blend all these ingredients together and add ice if desired. You can now enjoy a fun green nutritious summer kale smoothie. This is a great way to get protein, vegetables, grains, fruits and dairy into your diet. If you want to try another way to eat cheese instead of string cheese, you could sprinkle some cinnamon over freshly sliced apples and complement them with low-fat cottage cheese. Together this will help maintain your blood sugar levels since it has the protein from the cheese and the carbohydrates from your fruit. This summer try to spice up your life and snacks with a little help from the dairy fairy.

I think that it is really important to support your local dairy farmers and a simple way to do that is to go to the grocery store and buy milk. From my time at the dairy council, I’ve learned that the milk you bought in the grocery store today was in a cow only 2 days ago. These dairy farmers work really hard to get you a fresh, tasty product from the farm to your table in no time. The local dairy farmers usually sell their milk to a milk company and they choose the company based on the best deal they can get for their product. If you are a Hoosier and you haven’t been to your local dairy farm, I highly encourage getting in touch with the nearest dairy farm and taking a tour. You will be amazed with how much work is put into these farms. As a dietetic intern I think that it is really fascinating to see both sides of the food industry. I’ve gotten to experience food from the nutrition side and now I have had the opportunity to see where the food comes from and the process that it goes through before coming to your grocery store. Dairy is a very important component of nutrition by providing 9 essential nutrients. By simply including dairy into your daily routine three times every day this June you are now celebrating June Dairy Month at your home!

Michelle Mendoza is from Phoenix, Arizona and is a student at Ball State. Her first dietetic internship rotation was with the Indiana Dairy Council. She previously spent her time working with dialysis patients and kidney outreach. After a few weeks at the Dairy Council, she has developed a greater appreciation for dairy farmers and the dairy industry.

Dairy Good

By Sarah Correll

The American Dairy Association of Indiana continued their June Dairy Month celebration this week. 

 

  

They shared the stories of seven more dairy families along with a good helping of family recipes!

 

Rauscher Farms

Huntingburg, IN 

The Rauscher brothers are committed to making their farm the best it can be by breeding the best cows they can.  They use genetic data to pair bulls with cows on their fourth generation farm.

 

Kelsay Farms

Whiteland, IN

Just a short drive from Indianapolis, the Kelsays milk 500 Holstein cows and raise 2200 acres of crops.  They offer tours of their farm and are very active on social media!  You can find them on Twitter (@KelsayFarms), Facebook (Kelsay Farm Tours and Two Maids a Milking), or Amy and Liz’s blog!

 

Seven Hills Dairy

Goodland, IN

Henk and Linda, the owners of this farm, moved to the United States from the Netherlands in 1996 to start this farm.  They now work alongside their 22 employees to manage over 4,000 cows and heifers.

 

Weaver Dairy Farm

Bennington, IN

 The Weaver family has long been a part of their local community.  They have farmed since 1944 in Switzerland and Ohio counties and find commitment to the community very important.  They find time to serve on the school board, fair board, and numerous other boards when they aren’t busy with their 130 cows.  Click on the image above to see Linda Weaver’s Mac & Cheese recipe- no one knows cheese like a dairy farmer!

 

Stockwell Farms

Hudson, IN

Passion for producing healthy, nutritious milk lies at the heart of this farm family.  The Stockwells value the health of their 450 cows and work hard to ensure that the cows are safe and comfortable.  Three generations of Stockwells have worked on the farm, and they look forward to continuing production well into the future!  You can find them on Facebook!

 

Schwoeppe Dairy Farm

Huntingburg, IN

 The Schwoeppes have a beautiful farm, and they would love to share it with you!  Darren and Sam are the fourth generation to work on the farm.  They milk 93 cows and raise 150 acres of hay alongside their parents and children. You can find them on Instagram and Twitter @SchwoeppeDairy!

 

Have You "Herd"?

By Sarah Correll

It’s June Dairy Month!  The American Dairy Association of Indiana is featuring a different dairy each day this month.  

Here’s a recap of the first five!

Wagler Farms

Morgantown, Indiana

This farm was formed when Henry and Frances moved to the area to help start a church.  62 years later, the farm is still in the family with their sons in the lead.  They care for and milk about 600 cows in Brown County.

Obert Legacy Dairy

Fort Branch, Indiana

This sixth generation Gibson County farm has had dairy cows since 1956.  Six members of the Obert family work alongside their nine employees to milk 700 cows and produce 1000 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay.  The family is involved in 4-H and showing cattle and offer free tours of their farm.

Troxel Dairy Farm

Hanna, Indiana

The Troxel Dairy Farm began in 1950 with Phil and Mary Troxel.  Phil had a stroke while his son, Tom, was still in high school.  Tom changed his class schedule to ensure that he would be able to care for the cows.  The family’s third generation is now working on the farm, and the family milks 140 cows.

Crystal Valley Dairy Farms

Middlebury, Indiana

The Yoder family has been milking cows in Middlebury, Indiana for almost 40 years.  Mike and Rhonda, along with several employees, milk over 400 cows and raise about 500 young cattle each year.  They also host field trips and educational programs with local schools.

Kuehnert Dairy Farm

Fort Wayne, Indiana

This farm was established by the family in the 1890s and is now being operated by the fifth and sixth generation of Kuehnert dairy farmers.  They milk 200 registered Holsteins and show their cattle at the local, state, and national level.

After a recent trip to Jamaica, a nation with very little dairy production, I’m especially thankful for all of our dairy farmers!  Check out this site to see all of the featured Indiana dairies and to find a farm near you!