The American Dairy Association of Tennessee would like to share some recent dairy checkoff happenings throughout the state. If you have any questions or need promotional materials please contact me.
Denise Jones djones@sedairy.org or 270.970.4792.
Great American Milk Drive Provides Milk to Families in Need
As part of the Great American Milk Drive, the ADA of Tennessee has partnered with grocery store chains and milk processors across the state to raise funds and secure milk donations for families in need. Kroger, Walmart, Circle K and Houchens IGA/ Save-A-Lot have joined the effort and are hosting in-store donation programs throughout September at 348 stores. A kick-off with Price Less Foods IGA, Prairie Farms and the ADA of Tennessee was held on September 13 at the Price Less IGA in Johnson City. WXBQ 96.9 radio was on-site to promote the event with a live remote, fun games, radio spots and giveaways. WCYB-TV Channel 5 Tri-Cities and WJHL-TV News Channel 11 came out to see how milk can be donated to food banks. September is Hunger Action month and you can help a family enjoy milk on their table if you click here to donate.
 
Photo: Participating in the Johnson City GAMD event are, from left, John Mitchell, Prairie Farms; Mark Farmer, ADA of Tennessee; Peanut Wright, Prairie Farms; dairy farmers David and Margret Saylor, Sayland Dairy; and Denise Jones, ADA of Tennessee.
Dairy in the Media
ADA of Tennessee staffer Laura Marbury shared dairy-packed back-to-school breakfast and lunch ideas on Moms Everyday on WVLT-TV in Knoxville. She encouraged parents to make sure their kids are eating dairy every day and are involved in the Fuel Up to Play 60 program at their school. Click here to watch the segment.
 
Photo: WVLT-TV Whitney Kent (left) and staffer Laura Marbury (right) talk about quick and easy ways to include dairy in back-to-school meals and snacks. 
Summer Feeding Programs in Haywood County Help Move More Milk
More children were able to drink milk this summer due to the summer feeding sites in Haywood County. Both breakfast and lunch were served at all sites and more meals were served this summer than in 2015. A total of 27,419 meals were served-and all of them included milk! The ADA of Tennessee supported these USDA Summer Feeding programs with an equipment grant that purchased 20 rolling coolers to keep their milk ice cold.
 
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.