State fairs provide summer stage for dairy promotion

For many families, summer means vacations, backyard barbecues and trips to the state fair. For dairy farmers, state fairs also provide one of the year’s biggest opportunities to connect with consumers and share dairy’s story.

This summer, Midwest Dairy will represent dairy farmers at eight state fairs across the region: North Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Kansas. With millions of attendees across the region, these events allow dairy farmers’ checkoff investment to build trust, answer questions about modern dairy farming and create positive dairy experiences that can influence purchasing decisions long after the fair ends.

State fairs offer a unique setting to meet consumers where they are and provide an inside look at modern dairy farming, animal care, the nutritional value of dairy and the role dairy plays in local communities. They also highlight the traditions and experiences that make dairy a memorable part of every fair visit. Through dairy princess programs, live demonstrations, educational exhibits, butter sculptures and popular dairy treats, millions of fairgoers will have opportunities to learn more about dairy farming and enjoy dairy products.

The season begins at the North Dakota State Fair, July 17-25, where Midwest Dairy sponsors dairy shows and the popular milk and muffins breakfast.

From Aug. 13-23, checkoff staff will be active at the Iowa, Illinois and Missouri state fairs.

At the Iowa State Fair, fairgoers can meet the newly crowned Iowa Dairy Princess and Princess Alternate — who are crowned Aug. 12 — see the famous butter cow and visit the Dairy Goodness Barn to enjoy a new flavor of the fair ice cream shake. The fair attracts more than a million visitors annually and offers numerous opportunities to showcase Iowa dairy farmers and their commitment to caring for cows, communities and the environment.

In Illinois, Midwest Dairy supports the ag day breakfast, activities in the Dairy Building, the iconic butter cow display and the state’s flavor of the fair offering. The Illinois flavor of the fair will be announced during the state fair press preview day Aug. 6; this year’s butter cow will be unveiled Aug. 12. While enjoying the flavor of the fair and checking out the butter cow in the dairy building, be sure to check out how “Dairy Does More” with our new dairy discovery trail, which features three interactive stops that showcase how dairy supports nutrition, sustainability and animal care.

At the Missouri State Fair, visitors can stop by the air-conditioned Gerken Dairy Center to enjoy their favorite ice cream along with grilled cheese sandwiches. Visitors can learn about dairy farming through milking demonstrations that are held twice a day, and then they can head to the Ag Building to see an exhibit on what a dairy cow eats.

The focus then shifts to the Minnesota State Fair, Aug. 27-Sept. 7. One of the fair’s most beloved traditions begins Aug. 26 when the 73rd Princess Kay of the Milky Way is crowned. Throughout the fair, visitors can watch Princess Kay and the finalists have their likenesses carved in butter, enjoy dairy trivia and prizes, watch live milking demonstrations and sample Minnesota’s flavor of the fair. More than 1.5 million people attend the “Great Minnesota Get-Together” each year, making it one of the region’s premier opportunities to engage consumers.

Also running Aug. 28-Sept. 7 is the Nebraska State Fair, where live dairy cattle breed displays, live milking demonstrations and Nebraska’s largest classroom help students and families learn more about agriculture and dairy farming.

In South Dakota, Sept. 2-7, Midwest Dairy will support South Dakota’s largest classroom, scavenger hunts, dairy cattle shows and the Dairy Bar, which serves malts and ice cream.

The season concludes Sept. 11-20 at the Kansas State Fair. Visitors can learn about dairy and agriculture through interactive exhibits in Agriland, try their hand at milking a fiberglass cow and see educational messages featured at the popular dairy bar. New this year will be the Hall of Dairy Breeds display in the dairy barn.

Farmers can follow along through Midwest Dairy’s Facebook live events at www.facebook.com/midwestdairy, where interns and staff will share behind-the-scenes looks at fair activities across the region. Flavor of the fair features for Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Missouri will be announced in August.

State fairs are more than summer traditions; they are one of the largest consumer engagement opportunities supported by dairy farmers’ checkoff investment each year. Every butter sculpture, dairy treat and educational exhibit helps Midwest Dairy build trust in dairy farming, strengthen dairy’s reputation and create positive experiences with dairy products among millions of consumers across the region.