Syracuse, N.Y. – In recognition of National School Breakfast Week March 4-8, American Dairy Association North East hosted an event in Annapolis, Maryland, to recognize the state’s successful school breakfast programs. The federally-funded programs make it possible for all students to have access to a nutritious breakfast every day – one that includes milk and dairy foods.
Dairy farmer Trisha Boyce of Chapel’s Country Creamery in Easton, Md., joined Maryland state officials, school administrators and anti-hunger advocates to discuss school breakfast programs and the direct connection between academic success and students that participate in the school breakfast programs. Strategies were evaluated to providing access to the 200,000 students who currently do not partake in school breakfast.
“As a Maryland dairy farmer, a registered nurse, and a parent, I know firsthand the importance of providing children with a nutritious meal to start their day off right,” said Boyce. “I’m proud of the role dairy farmers play in providing milk, cheese and yogurt for school meals, during National School Breakfast Week, and throughout the year.”
Former Baltimore Ravens player Qadry Ismail also participated in the event as part of ADA North East’s Fuel Up to Place 60 and National Football League partnership. He supported the messaging about starting the day with a healthy breakfast that includes dairy and incorporating daily physical activity.
ADA North East will be participating in several events to recognize March as National Nutrition Month.
Photo caption: From left to right are participants in the National School Breakfast Week event in Maryland: Scott Heckert, Food and Nutrition supervisor of Cecil County and President of MD School Nutrition Association; Kevin Large, Director, MD No Kid Hungry, Share Our Strength and Co-Chair for the Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in Maryland; Dr. John Gaddis, Superintendent of Somerset County and Superintendent of the Year for Maryland; Maryland dairy farmer Trisha Boyce; former Baltimore Ravens player Qadry Ismail; Tam Lynne Kelley, Program Manager, MD No Kid Hungry, Share Our Strength; Dr. Sylvia Lawson, Deputy Superintendent, Office of School Effectiveness, Maryland State Department of Education; and Jodi Risse, Food and Nutrition Supervisor of Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Photo caption: Easton, Maryland, dairy farmer Trisha Boyce shares the importance of dairy farming at the National School Breakfast Week event in Annapolis.
About American Dairy Association North East
American Dairy Association North East (ADA North East) is the dairy farmer-funded organization funded by participating dairy farmer’s checkoff investment to build demand and sales for milk and dairy foods throughout the local region. Representing nearly 12,000 dairy farm families in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New York, New Jersey and northern Virginia, ADA North East develops and implements local programs to drive milk and dairy sales at retail outlets and in schools. The organization also conducts consumer education about dairy through events, traditional and social media, and in collaboration with health professionals through National Dairy Council®. ADA North East works closely with Dairy Management Inc.™, the national dairy checkoff organization, to support nutrition research, national partnerships and developing export markets for dairy to bring a fully integrated promotion program to the region. For more information, visit www.americandairy.com.
