11/28/08 Dairy Checkoff extends partnership with NFL

Washington Ag November 28, 2008 Teaming up to reach kids is the aim of a Dairy Checkoff partnership with the National Football League. That partnership was recently renewed for five years. One aspect of the NFL partnership is "Fuel up to Play", a new program that works with kids to encourage fitness and nutrition, including dairy. Tom Gallagher, CEO of Dairy Management Inc, which manages the national Dairy Checkoff, says the powerful partnership with the NFL teams and their players is a win for dairy producers as the NFL brings star power to the effort. Gallagher: "Those players bring excitement to kids about nutrition and about physical fitness. So, we're able to take the goodness of milk and tap into the equity that the NFL has already established with the children and really motivate them to drink more milk." Gallagher notes that NFL players promote dairy consumption with the kids throughout the year, helping form lifelong dairy consumers. The Big Bend Resources Conservation and Development Council will seek approval for its 2009 annual plan during the annual meeting coming up December 12th. That will be at the Circle T in Ritzville from noon to two p.m., and the meeting and luncheon is open to the interested public. I'm Bob Hoff.