Dairy donations helps area kids, farmers

It is dairy times two in the Medford School District as area businesses and individuals are working together to connect area families with Wisconsin dairy products.

Two weeks ago, a group of businesses donated hundreds of gallons of milk and cheese. When word got out about the program, Medford agriculture teacher Lisa Kopp was contacted by groups wanting to do it again.

On Wednesday, the school received 500 gallons of milk, 500 blocks of Mullins cheese donated by the Taylor County Dairy Promotion Committee and Mullins Cheese, and 500 one-pound blocks of Grassland Dairy butter. The items will be distributed to families in the Medford School District through the food delivery program. Each school day, district staff members deliver more than 1,000 meals to area students to ensure that they have a nutritious meal while school is out due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to the dairy products that are being distributed to area families, the dairy effort which is using the tag #MissionDairy will be delivering dairy products to area food pantries. Kopp said they will be donating 795 gallons of milk and 795 one-pound blocks of butter to the three food pantries in Medford. These items will be handed out over the next week.

Sponsors for the program include two anonymous retired dairy farmers, Thrivent, Meyer Manufacturing, Taylor Credit Union, Medford Veterinary Clinic & their Retired Dairy Veterinarians, AgCountry Farm Credit Services and the Medford FFA.

Not only does this effort get nutritious dairy products to area families, but is also raises awareness and support for Wisconsin’s dairy farm families who are being hit especially hard.