"You can call me Al" in Kansas

Midwest Dairy interns Alan and Megan show that they love dairy

It's been about a year since my last post. This blog began as my way to share my experiences last summer with family and friends.

Now, this blog serves a different purpose--a documentation of what and where I am thinking and learning. Here's a brief update of what I've been up to so far...

On May 25, 2011, I began interning with Midwest Dairy, a non-profit organization that promotes the dairy industry for 10 states, several of which I have already traveled to, such as Nebraska, Illinois, and Missouri, not to mention the state in which I primarily work, Kansas, in the Overland Park office. I was fortunate to find a great family to stay with, and their home is just 6 miles from the office.

Here's just one short article that I wrote for the Ozarks Farm & Neighbor, a Missouri agricultural publication: bit.ly/mygtNd

When I'm not in the office, I'm traveling. I went to Kansas City and Springfield for two different division board meetings, as well as a KC T-Bones and STL Cardinals baseball games, as we sponsor both teams. So far, I've made two trips to Nebraska and interacted with consumers at Prairieland Dairy's open house and a dairy farm tour at the Temme's. I've also made it up to the Quad Cities area in Illinois to assist with an IL school nutritionist dairy farm tour at Bohnert's Jersey Farm. It's been especially worthwhile to make clear a few of those misconceptions about dairy farms.

Most people don't know that 98% of dairy farms are family owned and operated.

Also, I'm working with my superviser now on a few independent projects. It's an exciting time to be working to promote the dairy industry, and it's already one-third complete.

I hope the best for each of your summers, my friends. Check back for another update soon.

Alan