Press Releases

Dairy Promoters Gather at Annual Training Seminar

PHILADELPHIA (September 1, 2006) - Dairy princesses from across Pennsylvania recently attended the Annual Dairy Princess Training Seminar at Lycoming College. The seminar gave county princesses and alternates from across the state the opportunity to learn about the dairy princess program and the importance of dairy promotion.

To help the princesses receive the best training, several industry professionals volunteered their time and expertise to the help young dairy promoters.  Included in this were Alexa Stoner and Cindy Weimer, both staff members of Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, and Melissa Osgood from the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Inc.

The three spoke about the importance of the dairy checkoff program and how the checkoff has helped increase per capita consumption of milk to 592 pounds today, compared to the 522 in 1983, when the national dairy checkoff was created. They also spoke about what local dairy promotions are going on in the region, including promoting the new 8-ounce re-sealable plastic containers of milk at Burger King and the strong partnership with the National Football League (NFL).

Stoner, Weimer and Osgood also helped the young dairy promoters by teaching them how to handle tough media or consumer questions through a “Straight Talk on Dairy” session.  Here princesses were presented with several talking points and then asked to test their skills through mock situations.

Throughout the next year, the dairy princesses will visit schools and attend events and meetings, as well as write newspaper articles spreading the word about the importance of dairy products and the dairy industry. The dairy princess program is a strong method of communication, used to convey the health benefits and versatility of dairy products to consumers and their families at the grassroots level.

Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and American Dairy Association & Dairy Council, Inc are proud to be the main financial contributors of the Pennsylvania Dairy Princess Program.

The Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program, Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and American Dairy Association & Dairy Council, Inc. the local planning and management organizations funded by dairy farmer checkoff dollars. They work closely with Dairy Management Inc.™ and are responsible for increasing demand for U.S. produced dairy products on behalf of area dairy farmers.