When Jenna Albers graduates from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in May, she plans to become an elementary school teacher, and her dairy farm roots are intertwined with her career.
Albers is a Midwest Dairy ambassador and said it is a natural extension for her future path.
“It is a leadership and educational opportunity that supports and advocates for the dairy industry, and it’s definitely important,” Albers said.
In events she has attended, and through social interaction, she finds consumers who have been misled or have misconceptions about the dairy industry, whether it is about the care of the animals or quality of milk, Albers said it is important to address questions head on, and the Midwest Dairy program is an example where she and other ambassadors make a difference.
Consumers will ask about the nutritional value of plant-based milk, as an example, and Albers said it is important to discuss nutritional and health benefits of drinking milk and dairy products.
During the past summer’s Nebraska State Fair, Albers was able to present in front of more than 1,000 elementary school-age children who came from rural and urban backgrounds, but they all had a natural curiosity about how milk is produced and ultimately winds up being consumed.
Albers said her program included a milk parlor with a cow, and ambassadors explained to the students how the milk is processed and eventually ends up in a grocery store.
“We were able to educate them, and we could see their faces while they were listening and how the light turns on for them when they understand,” Albers said. “A lot of them had no idea how we get milk from a cow to the grocery store. It was definitely my favorite event because I could help to educate them because they are going to be the next generation coming up.”
The ambassador program dovetails with her preparation to be a teacher. She has honed her leadership, professional and communication skills, and that will benefit Albers as an educator.
Growing up on a dairy farm has taught her the importance of hard work, planning ahead and working with others, she said.
Albers is from Randolph, Nebraska, which is about 20 miles from Norfolk and borders South Dakota and Iowa. Her grandfather started the dairy farm, and it continues as a family operation now known as Burbach Countryside Dairy.
The operation milks about 200 cows a day, and as part of its niche, milk is put in glass bottles and distributed in the region.
The Dairy Ambassador program offers students in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota a unique opportunity to engage with their communities, enhance their leadership skills and promote the nutritional benefits and sustainability of dairy farming. Participants have been actively involved in various events, from state fairs to educational workshops, where they share dairy’s story and foster trust between consumers and farmers.
The Midwest Dairy Association, St. Paul, Minnesota, represents more than 4,000 dairy farms to 41 million consumers across a multi-state region, including the High Plains. Midwest Dairy works on their behalf to build dairy demand by inspiring consumer confidence in products and production practices.
The programs are supported by the dairy checkoff. For every 100 pounds of milk sold, dairy farmers pay 15 cents toward the checkoff to fund promotion and research efforts. The checkoff is overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and milk producers.
Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or dbergmeier@hpj.com.
