More than 200 students and nearly 100 educators participate in student ambassador event.

Krissa Welshans 1, Feedstuffs Editor

July 19, 2018

2 Min Read
Fuel Up to Play 60 summit promotes dairy, healthy living
Dairy Management Inc.

The 2018 Fuel Up to Play 60 Student Ambassador Summit was held in Atlanta, Ga., this week to help encourage youth to lead healthier lives and to promote agriculture’s role in society. Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by the National Dairy Council and National Football League (NFL), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

This year’s summit brought together approximately 215 students and 92 educators from 46 states to exchange ideas and participate in workshops and activities. The event provided students and educators with leadership and communications training opportunities to enhance their program engagement in the upcoming school year. Additionally, customized activities deepened participants’ knowledge of agriculture, specifically dairy farming and where their food comes from.

Dairy farmers Marilyn Hershey from Pennsylvania, Michelle Schilter from Washington, Brad Scott from California and Jason Brown, also a former NFL player, participated in a panel discussion moderated by Fuel Up to Play 60 students on the topic of “Nourishing Communities: The Role of Farmers in Feeding The World.”

All of them touched on the current disconnect between the agriculture industry and consumers and emphasized how important agriculture is to feeding the world.

Brown noted that a huge proportion of the population is very disconnected from farms and lacks knowledge of where food comes from.

“If we’re going to correct the situation of hunger and making sure that no child is food insecure, we have to place an importance on our local farmers,” he said.

The speakers provided their perspectives and insights on the important role farmers play in communities and in feeding the planet. Hershey, Schilter, Scott and Brown described their farms, their motivations and misperceptions about farmers and farming. Additionally, they emphasized the need for attendees to help advocate for agriculture.

“We’re calling on every single one of you to help us make a difference, because we’re truly going to need it in the coming years to feed a growing America,” Brown said.

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