On Friday June 13 UAND members visited a farm in Elberta, Utah for a tour. A big thank you to Kristi Spence, dietitian with the Dairy Council for organizing the dairy farm tour! We had a fabulous time and learned a great deal about how milk is processed.
We took a minute to visit with Kristi and learn more about the purpose of a farm tour and the Bateman’s farm:
Farm Tour Goal:
As health professionals and dietitians, we are often asked about sustainability and on-farm practices and how these elements of our food system impact nutritional quality. Yet we receive very little in-school education about agriculture, so it can be challenging to know exactly how to respond. My goal in offering dairy farm tours for dietitians and health professionals is to introduce people to dairy farming and dairy farmers and to offer the opportunity to see first-hand what happens on a dairy farm and ask questions about food production. Our hope is that this experience will give you a glimpse into production agriculture and help you navigate dairy-related food questions in your own practice.
If you want more and a personal element:
I grew up in Los Angeles, not exactly on a farm, and I have loved getting to know our local dairy farmers – it has given me such insight into a world that I knew very little about and a much greater appreciation and understanding for where our food comes from.
Batemans Mosida Farm Facts:
This is a 3rd generation dairy farm with the 4th generation excited to come on board. The family started dairy farming in the 1970’s in West Jordan with just over 200 cows and has since moved locations, updated facilities and expanded. The dairy is run by 4 brothers and their father, and they are currently milking about 7,000 cows, which makes this the largest dairy farm in Utah. (The average herd size in Utah is ~450 cows). The Batemans employ almost 100 people in the local community, and they are committed to caring for their animals and producing the highest quality milk possible. The milk from this farm is currently being processed at the Meadow Gold Plant in Salt Lake City, the Kroger processing plant in Layton, and the Dannon plant in West Jordan. This blog post is from 2011 and the dairy has grown since then, but it does talk a bit about the farm.
Dairy Council Mission:
From farm to table, the dairy council of UT/NV works on behalf of local dairy farm families to share the dairy story. Nutritious, great tasting dairy foods begin with on-farm quality and care.
Thank you also to all who came – we hope to see you at future UAND networking events!