Moos Recommendations. Vol 1: Skimm This + The Brew Crew

You know what millennials love doing? Swapping podcast, newsletter, news and social media account suggestions to try and seem smarter than one another. So, I’m going to start topping all of you and put mine in a BLOG POST. Hah!

There is no formal cadence (for now) but when I find something and deem it worthy, I’ll share it with all of you! Let’s start with how I get the majority of my ‘not cow’ news.

Skimm This – Podcast

This podcast comes out by 5 pm every week night (except holidays) and ranges from 10-15 minutes long each episode. I listen to this and feel all caught up on the world’s latest drama… and not offended by any political bias, which is really hard to come by.

The Brew Crew – Newsletters

Sorry Milwaukee, I stole your baseball team’s gang name, I think.

Morning Brew. This newsletter is a little long, but worth the read. It’s got some spunk and seriously witty writers. This covers all things happening from stock prices, politics, pop culture, sports, how Elon Musk is planning to take over the world… it’s fun. Subscribe here.

Retail Brew. Listen, you don’t have to be a brand snob to love a publication highlighting the latest moos on swag. It’s fun to keep up on your favorite big time brands and stores (hi, Target!) and how their business is impacting everyone around them… including you! Subscribe here.

I’ve Got Moos For You. Vol 50.

Summary of June 2019 stories. (Happy 50th!)

June was National Dairy Month and it was kicked off with World Milk Day on June 1. People celebrated allllllll over the place alllllll month long. You can check out posts on social by searching the hashtag #nationaldairymonth and #worldmilkday – enjoy!

Pizza Hut and their 18,000 stores aren’t afraid of change – after 40 years, the Original Pan Pizza is getting a new cheese blend and the pizza biz is swapping in a different pan that’ll give the people what they want… a crispier crust. Yup.

Katie from Cow Comfort Inn Dairy was on Good Morning America with Laila Ali talking about dairy farming and proper nutrition for kids…. check out their segment!

When someone says Taco Bell is giving away free tacos because of a Golden State Warriors win during the NBA Finals & you’re not sure if you should believe them or not… It was true! From 2-6 pm on June 18, participating locations gave errrrbody a free Doritos Locos Taco. Proof here.

“It takes a village to milk a cow.” This Dairy Carrie blog does a great job showcasing all of the different people who help farmers run their business!

Mark Zuckerberg is back at it again. On June 18, Facebook revealed Libra. Libra is their blockchain-based (secure) cryptocurrency, and people are saying it’s the “new and improved” bitcoin. Rumor has it, that it will be up and running in 2020. This would change the way people pay for things (food, clothes, literally anything) in a big way, especially across international borders because you would be able to send and receive money without paying the typical (large) fees. There are 2.7 BILLION people in Zuck’s target market…. This is something worth paying attention to.

P.S. If you’re as lost and confused on cryptocurrency as I am, listen to the June 18, 2019 episode of the “Skimm This” podcast for some learnin’.

Do you know what role animal agriculture plays in climate change? Insight here.

How does dairy farming support women’s empowerment? Find out!

The Forbes Ag Tech Summit happened June 26-27. New Mexico Milk Maid talked about the environmental impact of US Dairy. This article featuring her highlights how collaboration and partnerships often lead farmers to be more sustainable. Like dairy farmers and peanut farmers working together to provide bedding for animals while also eliminating food waste. Farmers. Are. So. Cool.

Also, our US Secretary of Ag was there. He closed out the event talking about how he is living his motto as our country’s leader of food, farming and all things ag… “Do right and feed everyone.” Check it out.

Interested in getting whole milk back in schools? Check out what Pennsylvania dairy enthusiasts are doing in an effort to get it done, here.

 

 

 

I’m 5 years in & got 5 lessons out

I just hit my 5-year anniversary. Ah! I’ve spent five years working in the dairy industry, focusing on building my marketing and communications career and skillset. It’s been full of your typical highs and lows, but there are five major lessons that I’m going to share with you. For anyone who is interested in my endless 27 year old wisdom, that is.

Why didn’t they tell me to fix my collar before they took this… 

 

1. Be coachable. This is HUGE ADVICE. Don’t tell my dad, but I stole the “be coachable” line from him. While this is from a high school basketball game, it can be applied to almost any situation. You need to be able to take criticism without getting offended. Don’t take it as a personal attack! More often than not, it is coming from a place of positive intent. If you disagree with feedback, that’s ok, too! Just discuss your opinion in a non-condescending or passive aggressive way so that everyone understands. This is a two-way street!
2. Be real with yourself. I have finally come to terms with the reality of “You can be amazing at a few things or average at a lot of things.” I’m not sure if that’s an actual quote, but you get what I’m saying. Here’s how you can be real with yourself: As you grow and develop, find a focus and passion that you have. Ask yourself, “What am I really good at in this role, that I also enjoy doing?”  This self awareness will allow you to be a better team contributor, if  you’re putting energy and effort towards your answer. There is only so much time in a day, and we all have to spend it wisely.
3. Growth and leadership isn’t always upwards. Becoming a leader or getting a promotion doesn’t always mean getting a more important title. It actually might not come with an on paper promotion for a while. You are a leader to someone at all times, and upward growth could start with more responsibilities and influence in a horizontal direction.
4. Don’t make work your life. Work should be exciting and fulfilling, but it shouldn’t be your whole world. What are your other priorities and hobbies? Family, friends, your kids, volunteering in the community, training for a big race? Realizing what else is truly important in life will help you put ‘work projects’ back into perspective, and might even make you stress less!
5. You’ve gotta do the dirty work first. The attitude of ‘I’m too good for this’ or ‘I don’t have time for this’ when you’re first starting off is very dangerous. In fact, I’d go as far as saying it’s sometimes toxic. All tasks, even the small (and sometimes annoying) ones, have an impact on the success of a business. If you can show your energy and commitment to the things that need to be done, but no one wants to do, you begin earning the trust of the people above you. Trust earns you a spot on the big-time, fun and ‘cool’ projects. 

Bonus tip (because having a #6 ruined my title): Find your people and have fun. Very corny, very true. A team makes all the difference. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing… there will be crappy, awful days. Make it a priority to build your tribe of supporters and people you enjoy being around. For Pete’s sake, you’ll spend enough time with them and at work, it better not suck!

 

 

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That’s all for now… This is what keeps me confident and dreaming bigger. Check back in after another five years, and we’ll see how I’m feeling!

I’ve Got Moos For You. Vol 49.

Summary of May 2019 stories 

On birthday 27, the 2nd post in my Progressive Dairyman blog series highlighting female entrepreneurs went live! With help from Rachel Hollis’s latest book ‘Girl, Stop Apologizing’ + the ladies of Milking R – The Rucks Family, we’re talking about why you should stop needlessly apologizing. If you over use the word ‘sorry’ …. Stop it! Knock it off! Read more about why we need kick this awful habit OUT THE DOOR and tips how to do it!

Hey Pennsylvania.. there are three ice cream “trails” for you to follow this summer! Check out a great list of delicious treats and win yourself a T-shirt while doing so… win-win!

May was National Beef Month. Social media was flooded with delicious recipes, from bloggers like Eat Farm Love.

Are you a cheese lover? If so, this gal posted 45 recipes you need to see.

I’m talking a lot about food. This is a video from Tasty on how cheese is made. Nomz.

On June 5, McDonalds brought 4 international favorites to their menus. Did anyone try the Stroopwafel McFlurry from the Netherlands?! Count me in on this.

“Chobani has stepped up to pay off the lunch debt of students in a Rhode Island school district that generated controversy by giving out cold sandwiches rather than a hot meal.” Full story + tweet from CEO Hamdi Ulukaya here.

Why eat a candy bar when you could drink the low fat, high protein (14 grams) and extra tasty version? I can’t decide which is better, snickers or twix… anyone got an opinion that can help me decide?!

Who knew pasta salad needed a bacon upgrade? Though now that I say it, it makes a lot of sense….. of course it did!

 Fruit salads with cheese? Who’s gunna test this out at a summer picnic?

Taco Bell is opening their own taco inspired hotel and resort. This is nacho average vacation destination! Will you visit here?

It’s official… Morning Brew is my favorite way to keep up with the world. If you need a new morning newsletter check it out here.

I’ve Got Moos For You. Vol 48.

Summary of April 2019 stories

The World Health Organization dropped their endorsement of the EAT-Lancet diet. Gian Lorenzo Cornado, Italy’s ambassador to the UN, had a lot to say why the UN group doesn’t support this “radical” and “drastic” movement against animal ag:

“A standard diet for the whole planet, regardless of the age, sex, metabolism, general state of health and eating habits of each person, has no scientific justification at all,” Cornado wrote. “Moreover, it would mean the destruction of millenary healthy traditional diets which are a full part of the cultural heritage and social harmony in many countries.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association have made it crystal clear that they want kids drinking more milk and water, and less sugary drinks like soda. They’re proposing we make “better labels” and create a sugar tax, and I just threw away the diet coke left in my fridge. Woof.

American Dairy Association North East has made it possible for over 14,000 students to go on farm tours without ever leaving the classroom. Now that’s #undeniablydairy! Interested? Check it out.

The dairy industry is good for delicious food and a healthy U.S. economy…. AKA providing 978,000 on farm jobs + 1.98 million jobs indirectly. How bout that!

As a Pennsylvania gal, I can confirm…. we are the best at chocolate milk! This guy said so.

Earlier this month (April 2019) Fairlife announced their plans to build a processing plant in Arizona. Chocolate milk lovers, this one might be for you..

I’ve Got Moos For You. Vol 47.

Summary of March 2019 stories.

It was International Women’s Day this month. Watch this video and read this article that shares great social media posts from the day of celebrating!

What do you get when you mix sustainability and millennial dairy farmers? Delicious cheese and a great story. This Forbes article dives into one life that represents our US dairy industry really, really well.

There are a lot of good stats in this video. What stood out to me was that the average person uses a looooot of water each day (80-100 gallons… YA, YIKES!) while farmers are using 1 gallon of water up to 4x. After that water has been used, it’s ultimately helping to create fertilizer for the fields that are growing crops. You catch that? Check it out, pretty mind blowing when you really pay attention…

On National Oreo Day, we got meet an oreo cow… yes, a real thing.

As someone who deals with being lactose intolerant but still wanting the health benefit of dairy foods, I get excited about any type of innovative product that is lactose free. I also shop for groceries with convenience as a top priority.

THEREFORE, I’m pretty intrigued in Amazon offering Happy Belly, lactose free milk, right to my door. Has anyone tried this yet?! Or do we prefer shopping at the local grocery stores?

“The Happy Belly milk can currently be ordered through Amazon Fresh, Amazon’s grocery delivery service, with a 64-ounce bottle of lactose free whole milk going for $3.29.”

People are making milk and Coca Cola cocktails… how do we feel about this?

SnowWhite by LG is like a Keurig for ice cream. However I’ll predict the downfall to an “ice cream Keurig” is the likely “recommended” serving size… am I right?

Hey Google… where’s the closest Costco? I NEED to spend $2.35 on this new churros and frozen yogurt dessert.

The Dairy Pride Act is an effort to make food labeling less confusing for consumers. AKA if it’s not a dairy product, it shouldn’t be labeled as one. Check it out.

Here is a resource to find Berkey Creamery ice cream places other than campus. One arboretum swirl for me, please!

The dairy industry creates a lot more than delicious milk... big time things like jobs and positive influences on local and global communities. Look at these stats!

I’ve been trying to meal prep more often. I think I’ll make this for breakfast this week.. and the next week…. and the next… Nothing says “oh my gawd” like this banana cake with cream cheese frosting.

The #corntroversy continues. MillerCoors is suing Anheuser-Busch after they insinuated Miller and Coors used corn syrup in their ingredients, and Budlight did not. The real question is…. who cares?

Be thankful if you are living in a safe, dry home. Many are not. These floods are heart breaking. Companies like Culver’s are giving back, too.

I’ve Got Moos For You. Vol 46.

Summary of February 2019 stories 

Sometimes (all the time) self diagnosing yourself isn’t the best option. Are you really lactose intolerant? If you’re not, why deprive your body of nutrient rich dairy products? Read more into it, here.

“Al Horford is one of the most respected players in the NBA, and while relatively quiet, is a key leader on the Celtics.” He also loves chocolate milk after a game or workout. How about that! This is why.

Bud Light offended a lot of people with their super bowl-sized ad taking a dig at other light beers using corn syrup. Well, after seeing how (what we millennials call) butt-hurt everyone got over this #corntroversy, Coors Light took advantage of the opportunity and made a #ToastToFarmers saluting crop growers and stating they were still proud of ALL their ingredients. Cheers!

Food labeling has always been a point of controversy… why call something, something it isn’t? Or at least, that’s how Chobani sees it. They say more here.

Hey New York, there’s a new cheese brand in town! Dairy Farmer of America (DFA) + 8 farm families started Craigs Creamery, and products will be hitting several states along the east coast. Nomz shared here!

Who says tinder is just for humans? #Tudder is now helping cows find their perfect match. Seriously, check it out.

Some say pizza is a healthier breakfast option than cereal… one person saying it is enough for me to be on board! They said it here.

Celebrities have some power, and sometimes they use it for good. Like the time Sia convinced Pizza Hut to donate pizza to the homeless. This is what she did.

Any headline that reads “wine pairing” is enough click bait for me. Click here for Mediterranean wine and dairy pairings.

“They got the meme treatment” is equal parts hilarious and “holy shiz this is literally how we handle serious politics” … in summary, the Green New Deal wasn’t exactly a win with some people. Cow fart jokes found here.

If you’re tired of pizza getting cold, buy a pizza pocket hoodie! Let’s be real though… who is eating pizza slow enough to need this? Not me.

Dairy nutrition is body and budget friendly! Here’s why your wallet will thank you.

I’ve Got Moos For You. Vol 45.

Summary of January 2019 stories 

Also, a 2019 summary already… “holy shit?!” is right.

It’s no secret Mike Rowe is a supporter of dairy farmers. Fun story about “Blanca” who was a “super model” with “notable assets” … I don’t wanna give it away, but this story is UDDERLY unique. If you don’t have Spotify, search for the episode where you listen to podcasts, Episode 121 of “The way I heard it” by Mike Rowe. Love this style of story telling… keeps you guessing until his end reveal of who/what the story is about!

 

“Eating healthy is so expensive.” I’ve Got Moos For You … it doesn’t have to be. 

“Dairy milk can help save you moolah! The average American household spends about 10 percent of their budget on food — nearly $80 a week for groceries, according to Milk Life. If consumers purchased milk each week, they would spend an estimated $628 annually. This is much lower compared to the $1,222 that would be spent on purchasing almond milk. In comparison, Dairy milk would save consumers nearly $600 each year!”

 

If Lil’ Bill can be born 7.9 pounds and make it, you can stick to your 2019 resolutions. I’m serious.

 

Byrne Dairy has big plans… $125 million kind of plans.

“New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced the groundbreaking of a $24 million expansion at Byrne Dairy’s Ultra Dairy plant — the first phase of the company’s $125 million plan to expand and create nearly 250 jobs in Onondaga County, N.Y.” Read more here.

 

8 oz of dairy milk or 38 oz of kale….. whatcha gunna choose?

 

Ever heard of the “Milkshake Guy”? Or do you live under a rock? (Or maybe you’re not in Pennsylvania, which would be fair.)

Learn about the man behind the most delicious milkshakes ever here.

 

Confused by food labels? Me too. Doesn’t sound like we’re alone! A lot of consumers are like, “wait, what?” When in the grocery store, look for real dairy products… the nutrient content of milk wannabes isn’t even close to the real thing.

 

She said it best… “The truth is if every American adopted a plant-based diet we would only reduce our carbon footprint by about 2%. But what people forget to mention is that with a plant-based diet we would have to increase the production of synthetic fertilizers.” New Mexico Milkmaid.

 

Chobani and their 2,000 employees have made yogurt and #dairy foods cool again over the last decade. Read how Hamdi Ulukaya turned it into a $1.5 billion dollar company.

 

Being kind is cool. Raising over $10k for food banks is no problem for this Dairy Princess trio!

 

I know what song I won’t be able to get out of my head now…. Watch the #TalkToMe music video here!

I’ve Got Moos For You. Vol 44.

December 2018 summary of stories. 

Apparently, #cheesecoffee is a new (literally) hot trend… not sure if I’m on board with this one… are you?

Another point for dairy on the ‘healthy diet’ board. This time, in the land down undah! Check out this Mediterranean diet focused article promoting dairy in a healthy lifestyle.

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) is an organization that assists U.S. dairy farmers by exporting dairy products. In 2018, the group topped over 131 million pounds in export sales of dairy products. Sharing dairy love all over the world!

U-S-A! U-S-A! The U.S. might just be the best cheese makers out there… the 89 medals speak for themselves.

Turns out, people will do or say anything for fame… or the chance at a Netflix documentary about how their life became very, very strange #fakenews.

President Donald J. Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill. Also, Trump’s signature is the first time (since 2002) a farm bill has been approved in the same year that the previous farm bill expired. Woo!

Gelato vs ice cream, explained… you’re welcome.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently kicked off a 12 month donation plan to food banks. 12-15 million gallons of fluid dairy milk will be donated over the next year. Milk is the most requested, but least donated, food at food banks. This could help!

Harrison Phillips has a lot of accomplishments on his list, like playing in the NFL and drinking a gallon of milk every day. The Buffalo Bill’s defensive tackle swears by chocolate milk as his go-to recovery drink. He also announced his team granting $5,000 to an elementary school so they could ” expand the school’s breakfast program and enhance its physical education program.” What a guy!

The world’s best cheese, a very prestigious honor, is from a Norwegian farmer. With 12 cows. It beat out 3,471 fierce competitors from 41 other countries… how does one apply to be a judge?

Students at Mizzou (who has earned the nickname mizz-moo), if you’re not taking big life event/milestone pictures with a dairy cow, you’re the one doing it wrong… seriously.

No #sundayscaries here, just late night grilled cheese cravings. Nomz.

Early December was been buzzing with recent changes to school lunches… Secretary of Ag Sonny Perdue officially returned low-fat (1%) flavored milk as part of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. Supporters are happy that kids are not only getting a nutritious add, but also a tasty one. National Milk Producers Federation is hyped.

Meat and dairy don’t sound too scary... this Canadian based article explains why they believe that you should include both in a health conscious diet.

Michigan State University charged $10 for 30 min on cow snuggling. Why? So students can de-stress during finals. While students are there they also learn about the school’s dairy cows at the Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center.

A Dairy Wonderful Life!

It’s a dairy wonderful life! I shared my family’s favorite holiday movie, and a snack to go with it in my latest PA Dairymen’s Association blog. Check it out here.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!