Celebrate June Dairy Month with Farm Tour
and Free Food at Plymouth Dairy Farms
June 30, 2010 – Le Mars, IA – To celebrate June Dairy Month, dairy farmers from across Northwest Iowa are inviting the public to a family-friendly event at Plymouth Dairy Farms near Le Mars. The event will include a dairy farm tour, free food and kids’ activities from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 30. The farm is located at 23505 K-49, about four miles south of Le Mars. The June Dairy Month Celebration is sponsored by the Western Iowa Dairy Alliance and Midwest Dairy Association, your Iowa dairy farm families.
“Dairy farm families work hard every day to provide wholesome, nutritious milk and dairy foods to consumers, while providing the best care for our animals and the environment,” said Kurt Wierda, Plymouth Dairy Farms manager. “We’re proud to open our doors to the public so they can see firsthand how milk is produced.”
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Guided tours will be given of the Plymouth Dairy Farm, including opportunities to see where cows are milked, where they are housed and fed, and how calves are raised. Following the tour, guests will enjoy a free meal of cheeseburgers and hot dogs grilled by Plymouth County Cattlemen members. Blue Bunny® ice cream treats will be provided by Wells Dairy in Le Mars, and cheese will be provided by Green Meadows Foods in Hull. A children’s activity area will also be available.
June Dairy Month is a great opportunity to celebrate the efforts of Iowa’s dairy farmers as they deliver a wholesome and nutritious supply of milk and dairy products and make a significant contribution to the state’s economy and rural communities. Dairy is the fifth largest agricultural business in Iowa, generating $795 million a year. There are about 1,890 dairy farms in the state, and about 99 percent of those dairy farms are family-owned.
Milk contains a complete package of nine essential nutrients. In addition to being an excellent source of calcium and vitamin D, it is a good source of potassium, protein and vitamin A. Dairy’s importance in building strong bones and maintaining a healthy weight has been reaffirmed in the Surgeon General’s Report on Bone Health, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, and MyPyramid. All recommend eating three servings of milk, cheese or yogurt daily for optimum health.
Plymouth Dairy Farms was founded by the Feuerhelm family in the spring of 2000. The first cows were milked on August 25, 2000. There are currently about 2,700 cows milked three times each day at the state-of-the-art farm. Plymouth Dairy is committed to using the latest technology, resources and
talent of employees in producing large quantities of high quality milk while protecting the environment and providing a positive way of life for its employees.
Western Iowa Dairy Alliance is a non-profit organization working as advocates for the dairy producer and all those who support this industry with commitment and integrity, allowing us to bring the very best, most nourishing products to market, every day. For more information, visit www.wiadairy.com.
The Midwest Dairy Association is a non-profit organization funded by dairy farmers to build demand for dairy products through integrated marketing, nutrition education and research. Midwest Dairy Association is funded by check-off dollars from dairy farmers in a nine-state region, including Iowa. For more information, visit www.midwestdairy.com.
June Dairy Open House