TRACY, Calif. (August 17, 2017) – Family, hard work and responsibility are all key themes that come through in “California Dairy Stories”, a new social media series launched today by the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB). The series, which captures short day-in-the-life moments from real California dairy families, was created to continue to connect consumers with the real people behind the Real California Milk seal.
Like life, it’s not all work and no play for the 1300 dairy families who farm in California. From tractor pulls to stroopwafels, the series of 12 short videos tell very personal stories of the families who farm in California and look to pass this tradition to the next generation.
Each moment demonstrates the variety of the dairy industry in California, which spans the state and is responsible for over 40 billion pounds of milk each year. For Tony Louters of Merced, who stepped away from a planned career as a CPA, going into farming means being able to spend time with his family, including daughter Alexis who is applying the values of hard work she learned on the farm to her studies as a speech therapist. Fourth-generation producer, Megan Silva, uses her early morning run to help prepare for the challenges of three business, 12 barns and three kids. And David Jones uses his lens as an amateur photographer to tell the story of California agriculture.
“Real California Milk is about real food from real people. These short slices of California dairy life not only help consumers connect with the California dairy families who put the food on their tables but also create a better understanding of how we share the same values and experiences,” said Michael Freeman, VP of advertising for CMAB. “We pass on family traditions, we squeeze fitness into our busy lives and our kids often aspire to go into the family business. For farm families, though, that family business is nourishing the world.”
The multigenerational story of family dairy farming in California is evident in each video vignette. From sharing traditional recipes to teaching the tools to become successful in farming, what comes through is the love of family, love of community and the gratitude for being in an industry that allows them to share the fruits of their labor with the world while continuously working to preserve the tradition of farming for the next generation.
As B. Van Beek of Dairyland Farms in Tipton, Calif. says, “We don’t inherit the land from our parents, we borrow it from our grandkids.”
“California Dairy Stories” joins the “Growing Up Dairy” social media series that debuted last year and depicts dairy kids sharing the love they have for raising livestock and helping on the farm. All videos can be viewed at RealCaliforniaMilk.com or on YouTube @realcaliforniamilk. They will be shared out through the Real California Milk Instagram, Facebook and Twitter channels.
Dairy products made with California milk can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies they are made exclusively with milk produced on California dairy farms. California produces more fluid milk, butter, ice cream and nonfat dry milk than any other state. The state is the second-largest producer of cheese and yogurt.