Here is a summary of some of the dairy promotion activities and events across the state in the past month. If you need information about events or materials, please contact Sarah-Baker Walker. swalker@sedairy.org
ADA of Georgia Partners with Georgia 4-H to Promote Dairy and FUTP 60
On August 11 the ADA of Georgia joined 243 4-H county agents from across the state for a Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP 60) kickoff celebration at Rock Eagle in Eatonton. Staffers introduced the FUTP 60 program, the partnership with Georgia 4-H and announced the new 1st Down competition. The 1st Down contest will begin this fall and asks 4-H students and agents to implement the first three steps of the FUTP 60 program at a school in their county in order to receive Falcon prizes. The partnership with Georgia 4-H is a great example of how we are working with other groups in the state to promote school dairy programs on your behalf.

Photo: Staffer Alicia Page greets 4-H county agents at the FUTP 60 exhibit.
Dairy Promoted at Taste of Health Event 
On September 8 the ADA of Georgia joined Health M Powers and Georgia Grown for a "Taste of Health" event in Atlanta. Health M Powers is a non-profit organization that promotes healthy eating and activity in schools. The ADA of Georgia provided dairy smoothie recipe cards and the Clarke County school district provided samples for over 150 attendees. This event was created in response to Agricultural Commissioner Gary Black's 20/20 Vision and Initiative which incorporates local foods into school district menus. 

Photo: Attending the Taste of Health Event are, from left: staffers Alicia Page and Sharon Rhodes; Commissioner Gary Black; Kelli Cook, Carrollton City Schools nutrition coordinator; Hillary Savage, Clarke County nutrition coordinator; Paula Farmer, Clarke County nutrition director; and Chef Carole Thrower, Carrollton High School Manager.
Family Physicians Get the Facts About Dairy 
On August 7 staffer Lanier Dabruzzi spoke at the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians board meeting in Gainesville on dairy myths and facts. Dabruzzi shared talking points about dairy with the 60 family physicians in attendance and provided educational materials for them to share with their patients. 

Photo: Staffer Lanier Dabruzzi presents dairy facts and myths to Georgia family physicians.
Cheese Promoted at Taco Mac Event 
The ADA of Georgia participated in a craft beer and artisan cheese tasting on August 4 at the Taco Mac restaurant in Roswell. The event is part of the Chain Leader Advisory Council initiative that is working to create more opportunities for restaurants to use cheese and dairy in their menu items. Local food bloggers, media representatives and Taco Mac patrons were invited to enjoy the beer and cheese pairings. Cheeses were sourced from local producers including Caly Road Creamery and Sweet Grass Dairy. The event was a great success with close to 200 attending!
Great American Milk Drive Brings Milk to Families in Need 
Georgia continues to lead the nation in milk donations to the Great American Milk Drive (GAMD) with over 1 million servings donated since the start of the program! Kickoff events are being held across the state with donation campaigns at Kroger, Ingles, Food Lion, and Walmart stores. Click here here if you would like to donate to a food bank in your area or share the link via social media.
UGA Sports Dietitian Attends Advanced Media Training
Jen Ketterly, dairy advocate and sports dietitian for the University of Georgia, participated in an advanced media training camp on August 11 at the Atlanta SUDIA office. The training focused on the role of dairy in the new Dietary Guidelines and ways to share dairy messages on television and in print. As one of our trained dairy advocates, Jen will be better equipped to share dairy messages in the media on your behalf. She has already done a lot of work on your behalf by working with the ADA of Georgia to get blenders for smoothies and chocolate milk coolers for UGA's athletic facilities. 

Photo: UGA sports dietitian Jen Ketterly (left) works with trainer Joan Horbiak (right) to learn how to present dairy messages in the media.
Milk Sponsorship at Olympic Games is a Big Success
White milk made a splash this summer as the Milk LifeĀ® campaign supported Team USA as an official sponsor of the 2016 Summer Olympic games. The Milk LifeĀ® campaign is part of the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) which is funded by the nation's milk companies. White milk was promoted through contests, in-store promotions, television, digital and print ads as well as social media.
With the support of Team Milk athletes and the entire dairy industry, Milk Life was listed among the top five brands for social media engagement during the Summer Games in Rio. Milk Life ranked #4, above Proctor & Gamble and just after Nike, Coke and United. With this high-profile media coverage and the support of industry partners, we're off to a powerful start in what is only the first year of the Olympic sponsorship. Click here to read more about the results of the sponsorship.