Celebrate World School Milk Day!
Join Dairy Council of California in celebrating World School Milk Day on September 30! This special day is an opportunity to raise awareness of milk in school meal programs and highlight the important role milk plays in supporting children’s nutrition, health and learning. Bring the celebration to your school with engaging resources and activities that build dairy and agriculture literacy while showcasing the nutritional benefits of milk and dairy foods. Explore the toolkit!
Dairy Council of California joined partners at the Secretary of State’s building for the second annual Fueling the Future: Student Success event, bringing together policymakers, school nutrition leaders and agricultural partners to celebrate the important role California agriculture plays in supporting student health and academic success.
The event highlighted the power of partnership in advancing California-produced foods in school meals and underscored the essential contributions of California dairy farms and cattle ranches in providing nutrient-rich milk, dairy foods and beef that help students learn, grow and thrive.
We are grateful to the partners who made this event possible and demonstrated the impact of collaboration in nourishing students and strengthening local communities: California Cattle Council, California Beef Council, California Department of Education, California School Nutrition Association, Placer Union High School District, Vacaville Unified School District and the California State Legislature.
Continuing the conversation about agriculture and its impact on our lives, California students in grades 3–8 are invited to put their creativity to work through the Imagine this... Story Writing Contest. Students can explore an agricultural topic, conduct research and create an original story—real or imagined—that brings the importance of agriculture to life. Winning stories are illustrated by California high school art students and published in the annual Imagine this... Stories Inspired by Agriculture book. Learn more about the contest.
The Mobile Dairy Classroom is back on the road, bringing California dairy agriculture to life for students across the state. From meeting a real dairy cow to discovering where milk comes from, this no cost farm-to-school program offers an engaging, hands-on experience that connects students to agriculture, nutrition and the journey from farm to school.
“We’re excited to visit classrooms, inspire curiosity and help students see, learn and experience dairy agriculture firsthand,” said Efrain Valenzuela, Director of Agriculture Education. Please visit the Dairy Council of CA website to sign up.
Looking for fresh ideas to bring more variety to school lunch menus? New lunch recipes from Smart Swaps feature global flavors students love, from Cuban-inspired sandwiches and fish tacos to Mediterranean-style bowls and fun, flavorful smoothies. Each recipe is easy to follow and designed with school kitchens in mind. Explore new lunch recipes built around global flavors that match what students are craving.
2026 California Agriculture in the Classroom Regional Conferences, September 12, September 26 and October 10. Dairy Council of California staff will host a hands-on Make “N” Take workshop, share dairy agriculture and food literacy resources, connect with teachers and explore new ways to help students understand where their food comes from.
California Grains Conference,October 13, 2026. Dairy Council of California staff will highlight the broader farm-to-school movement, cross-commodity partnerships and how collaborations such as the upcoming PBS series The Great Food Quest, launching in October 2026, are elevating California agriculture, nutrition education and school meals.
California Farm to School Summit, October 15, 2026. Dairy Council of California staff will join partners in celebrating California’s thriving farm-to-school movement and the connections among agriculture, nutrition education and school meals.
California School Nutrition Association Annual Conference, November 12–14. Join Dairy Council of California staff and school food service directors for the panel Dairy in the Modern School Meal: Translating Nutrition Science, Policy Updates, and Student-Centered Practices into Action on Thursday, November 12 at 8:45 a.m. Connect with us in the exhibit hall at booth #103.
Let's Work Together
Have questions, ideas or want to collaborate?
Contact Rajwinder Kaur, MPH, Community & School Engagement Project Manager, at rkaur@dairycouncilofca.org.
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