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ST. PAUL, Minn. - Dairy is present at the Minnesota State Fair in many ways - from the butterheads to the cows in the dairy barn. For runners, dairy is present in a different way: the annual Milk Run.
This year, runners participated in the 28th annual Milk Run, which starts on the Minnesota State Fair grounds, winds through the University of Minnesota-St. Paul campus and into the St. Anthony Park community before ending back on the fairgrounds.
"It's been a well known run for 28 years," said Barb Luehmann, industry relations manager for Minnesota for the Midwest Dairy Association.
Since its inaugural year, the milk run has had 1,500 runners - the maximum number it can have, Luehmann said.
"It fills up almost immediately," she said." If we could handle a larger crowd we would. It's an awesome run. "
Midwest Dairy Association helped get the Milk Run started in 1985.
"We thought 'How wonderful it would be to have something during the height of the 4-H and FFA dairy at the state fair. Let's have a milk run,'" Luehmann said.
MDA was a sponsor for the run until 2001. This year, the association is once again a sponsor of the event.
"We took a break, but now we're back again," Luehmann said about Midwest Dairy Association.
Princess Kay and finalists were present at the beginning to start the race and handed out chocolate milk to race participants at the end.
"It's a great way to tell the message of refueling with chocolate milk and it's nine nutrients," Luehmann said.
Running has also gained in popularity recently, Luehmann said.
"With the health perspective of running and refueling with chocolate milk, it all fits together at the Milk Run," she said.
Luehmann said the run has also been popular for dairy farmers and others in the industry to run. Princess Kay finalist, Laura Rosenhammer, participated in the event this year along with finalist Laura Mesenburg's parents, Amy and Dan.
"The Milk Run gives the dairy industry more visibility state-wide," Luehmann said. "What better way to get people to notice milk than one of the biggest events of the year - the Minnesota State Fair."
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