NEWS

16 county dairy groups earn promotional awards

Ray Mueller, Correspondent

Madison — Dairy promotion groups in 16 Wisconsin counties have earned financial awards of $500 to $1,500 from the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board for the activities that they conducted earlier this year. Three counties were recognized for two different activities each.

Dairy promotion groups in 16 Wisconsin counties have earned financial awards of $500 to $1,500 from the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board for the activities that they conducted earlier this year.

A total of $17,250 was awarded for this year's incentive program. All county and regional dairy promotion groups and other entities carrying out dairy promotional activities are invited to submit entries, including media coverage and photos, describing those activities.

Suggested activities for those entries are educational events and promotions involving schools, county June Dairy Month on-farm breakfasts, the WMMB's dairy impact program, online or social media ventures, community-based events or promotions, and other activities devised by the groups.

Multiple winners

The 2016 multiple winners included Brown County ($750 for its “Food Camp” and $500 for its “Festival of Trees”), Shawano County ($1,500 for its dairy industry “Agvocate” campaign in the social media and $750 for its “Brunch on the Farm”) and Dane County ($750 for its hosting of dairy farm tours in cooperation with FFA chapters and $500 for its educational stations and tour during its annual breakfast on the farm).

Earning $1,500 each for special activities of choice were Sheboygan County for its multiple event exhibitions with its life-size fiberglass Ayrshire cow Addie, Taylor County for its recipes with butter campaign, and Vernon County for its “Teaching the Importance of Dairy” promotion. Other $1,500 winners were Pierce and Buffalo counties for their on-farm dairy breakfasts in June.

Winners of $750 each were Wood County for its “Celebrating Agriculture” community promotion, Washington County for its “Celebrating Families” promotion, Fond du Lac County for its “Agriculture Showcase” event, and Jefferson County for its dairy breakfast.

Receiving $500 each were Rusk County for its farm tour for 4th grade students, Monroe County for its on-farm dairy breakfast, Juneau County for its barn dance/pizza party, and La Crosse County for its cheese tasting promotion at a wine bar.