As summer brings new opportunities for learning and community engagement, we’re excited to share stories and resources that connect nutrition, agricultural literacy and healthy eating. In this edition, you’ll find engaging resources, inspiring stories and opportunities that celebrate dairy agriculture, nutrition and partnerships, helping communities learn and thrive throughout the summer months.
Through engaging visuals and simple explanations, learners explore how dairy cows are cared for, how milk is collected and tested for safety, and how dairy foods provide important nutrients that help support healthy growth and development. Explore the resource and the video component at DairyCouncilofCA.org/F2YM.
National Dairy Month is a time to recognize the important role dairy plays in nourishing people and communities. From providing essential nutrients to supporting local economies and food systems, dairy connects farms to families in meaningful ways. Check out a few ways we celebrated.
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This summer, we partnered with Lodi Unified School District to support student nutrition beyond the school year. Through the district’s non-congregate summer feeding program, our team volunteered alongside district staff to help distribute food boxes containing 20 complete school meals and milk to more than 3,800 students.
Summer feeding programs play a vital role in ensuring children continue to have access to nutrient-rich foods, including dairy, when school is not in session.
In addition to supporting meal distribution, we engaged families with educational activities that highlighted how milk gets from the farm to the school tray and the important nutrients dairy provides to support healthy growth and development. Special thanks go to Crystal Creamery for providing milk to students and families throughout the program.
A partnership with Hidden Valley Elementary, a recipient of Dairy Council of California’s Let’s Eat Healthy Community Grant, expanded Farm-to-School learning. Students and their families celebrated National Dairy Month with a visit to a working dairy farm. This hands-on experience strengthened understanding of sustainable practices in producing milk, building on the connections learned through the school’s programming. We are grateful to Hidden Valley Elementary and the Beretta Family Dairy for their partnership in fostering appreciation for dairy and the farmers who help nourish communities.
The Mobile Dairy Classroom kicked off summer at several summer meal events across California, bringing hands-on learning and fun to local communities. Families had the opportunity to meet a working cow, explore interactive exhibits and learn about California dairy farming and the role dairy foods play in supporting healthy lifestyles. These events provided an engaging educational experience while helping raise awareness of nutritious summer meal programs available to children and families.
Continue the learning — Reserve your Mobile Dairy Classroom assembly for next school year by visiting DairyCouncilofCA.org/MDC.
Three California high school students have been selected to serve on GENYOUth’s National Youth Council, bringing their voices and experiences to a national platform focused on youth nutrition, physical activity and wellness. At Dairy Council of California, we celebrate opportunities like this that elevate student voice and reinforce the importance of ensuring nutrition education is relevant, student-centered and grounded in real-world experiences.
The GENYOUth National Youth Council brings together student leaders from across the country to provide youth perspectives, support wellness initiatives and advance healthy school communities. Dairy Council of California is proud to celebrate these emerging leaders as they represent California on the national stage.
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School Nutrition Association’s Annual National Conference, July 12–14, 2026.
Agriculture Day at the California State Fair, July 18-22, 2026. Dairy Council of CA staff will be hosting an educational booth and supporting the Youth Culinary Challenge.
The Wellness Conference, July 22–24, 2026. Dairy Council of CA staff will be presenting at the Empowering Schools to Advance Student Health session.
Have questions, ideas or want to collaborate?
Contact Rajwinder Kaur, MPH, Community & School Engagement Project Manager, at rkaur@dairycouncilofca.org.
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