08/20/08 Trying to get the dairy story told

In this age of 24-7 news and the Internet misinformation about dairy foods, farmers and the dairy industry can spread quickly. That's why the managers of the national dairy checkoff have developed a new program called "Telling Your Story." Dairy Management Inc's Stan Erwine says the goal of the program is to equip dairy producers to speak up on their own behalf. ERWINE " And to communicate three essential messages on behalf of the dairy to the community, and that is one: dairy producers care for their animals; two: dairy producers care for the environment; and the third point would be communicating to consumers that dairy producers are committed to producing safe, nutritious dairy products" National and local dairy checkoff funded groups are working together to provide 'Telling Your Story" workshops across the country. New Mexico dairyman Loren Horton recently attended such a training session. HORTON " Just having everybody have some education on how to talk to people, how to present your family business in a positive light, presented in a way that consumers will understand. I think collectively as one sound voice, I think we can get our message out there." Horton says teaching the public about how dairy producers care for their animals, land and water will protect and build dairy sales. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott