Dakota Farmer

Slideshow: Raise a glass of milk or dish up a bowl of ice cream to honor farmers in the dairy industry.

Kevin Schulz, Editor

June 10, 2022

6 Slides

June has long been designated as Dairy Month, and what better way to honor the hardworking men and women of the dairy industry than to raise a cold glass of milk, slurp down a thick milk shake or enjoy a sundae with all the toppings.

Dairy cow numbers and dairy farms may not be what they once were in South Dakota and North Dakota, but the industry is still active in the states.

Along with the slideshow, here is a list of facts from midwestdairy.com to help you enjoy June Dairy Month:

  • On average, Americans consume about two servings of dairy each day.

  • Most people live within 100 miles of a dairy farm, and dairy farms can be found in all 50 U.S. states.

  • Researchers have found that cows listening to classical music produce more milk.

  • Dairy’s contribution to total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions is just 2%, and the carbon footprint of a gallon of milk has been reduced by nearly two-thirds in the last 60 years.

  • Vanilla, cherry and pistachio were the original three flavors in Neapolitan ice cream, in honor of the Italian flag. Obviously, the combo has since been switched to the strawberry, chocolate and vanilla.

  • An Italian noblewoman first introduced ice cream to the French in 1553. Chocolate was the first flavor introduced, inspired by hot chocolate, about 50 years before vanilla was invented.

  • Ice cream was first served in the United States in 1744 in Maryland.

  • Long before she was the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher’s work in chemistry helped perfect soft-serve ice cream.

  • To pass the time, American fighter pilots in World War II attached pairs of 5-gallon cans of milk and cream to their planes. The cans were fitted with a small propeller that spun the mixture as the planes flew, and the higher altitudes froze it. By the time they landed, ice cream was ready.

 

 

About the Author(s)

Kevin Schulz

Editor, The Farmer

Kevin Schulz joined The Farmer as editor in January of 2023, after spending two years as senior staff writer for Dakota Farmer and Nebraska Farmer magazines. Prior to joining these two magazines, he spent six years in a similar capacity with National Hog Farmer. Prior to joining National Hog Farmer, Schulz spent a long career as the editor of The Land magazine, an agricultural-rural life publication based in Mankato, Minn.

During his tenure at The Land, the publication grew from covering 55 Minnesota counties to encompassing the entire state, as well as 30 counties in northern Iowa. Covering all facets of Minnesota and Iowa agriculture, Schulz was able to stay close to his roots as a southern Minnesota farm boy raised on a corn, soybean and hog finishing farm.

One particular area where he stayed close to his roots is working with the FFA organization.

Covering the FFA programs stayed near and dear to his heart, and he has been recognized for such coverage over the years. He has received the Minnesota FFA Communicator of the Year award, was honored with the Minnesota Honorary FFA Degree in 2014 and inducted into the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame in 2018.

Schulz attended South Dakota State University, majoring in agricultural journalism. He was also a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and now belongs to its alumni organization.

His family continues to live on a southern Minnesota farm near where he grew up. He and his wife, Carol, have raised two daughters: Kristi, a 2014 University of Minnesota graduate who is married to Eric Van Otterloo and teaches at Mankato (Minn.) East High School, and Haley, a 2018 graduate of University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She is married to John Peake and teaches in Hayward, Wis. 

When not covering the agriculture industry on behalf of The Farmer's readers, Schulz enjoys spending time traveling with family, making it a quest to reach all 50 states — 47 so far — and three countries. He also enjoys reading, music, photography, playing basketball, and enjoying nature and campfires with friends and family.

[email protected]

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