For all of you doubters out there, Farming is COOL!

So, I have been thinking a lot about advertisements, seeing as the Superbowl is coming up, and I’m wondering what makes them successful, and what hinders them. Why do we sometimes laugh so hard we are crying at those Doritos commercials, or are amazed by the beautiful Clydesdale horses in the Budweiser ads,  and other times, we are like meh, whatevs.

I have had many conversations with farmers, Ag teachers, and fellow Ag enthusiasts alike about how we need to do a better job of promoting agriculture. The truth is that a lot of consumers just don’t know what modern farming is. They trust the old farms like in Charlotte’s Web with a handful of pigs, cows, and chickens. What we need to advertise is how modern farming doesn’t have to be scary. It’s fun and exciting, innovative and also traditional, and its producing the food we all eat. It’s about time that everyone knew just how cool farming is!

Here is an advertisement from the Organic Yogurt Company, Yeo Valley in the UK. Their extremely successful commercial and advertisement campaign is accredited with dramatically increasing their product sales, and revolutionizing the name of Yeo Valley across the world!

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SERIOUSLY, you guys all need to watch this, its a rap about FARMING! So worth your time! Yeo Valley Advertisement <——- So cool!

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You can look up more pictures and information about Yeo Valley HERE It’s a truly incredible story. And the singers in this commercial are actual farmers! All of them are employed by Yeo Valley and routinely work with the cows and the yogurt company! Here you can look at the production of the commercial.  Making of the Video!

Some people thought that this commercial was risky, trying to depict something so “country,” as a rap. However, I personally love it. This is extremely creative, its memorable, shows modern Ag in a positive lights, and even if people don’t like it, it certainly starts a conversation!

So yeah, I knew that you all knew farming was cool! Go home an enjoy some good wholesome Diary products : )

-Sarabeth

Sources:

http:// www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=wTeLGESY5tc

http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOHAUvbuV4o

A lot of girls growing up dream of being a Princess. One pictures pink dresses, lots of twirling, and a Prince.

So this is the story of how my sisters and I were crowned as Princesses!

A little girl gasps as she see’s my sisters and I in the grocery store. “Mommy, look, LOOOK it’s a real princess!” The mother smiles and nods, “great sweetie, keep up,” but as they walk past the eggs to the Dairy products section of the store, the mom stops as well. “Oh my.”

This is a typical response to consumers seeing us in our “princess get up!”  Now, as a girl more comfortable in muck boots and T-shirts, it’s a bit strange getting ready for a promotion, but it’s fun to dress up every now and then right? What girl doesn’t have a nice dress, some heels, a tiara, and a sash in the closet?

Lindsay and I in our tiaras!

Ok, so I guess I should explain this now! My family is a part of the Pennsylvania Dairy Princess and Promotion Services, Inc. or PDPPS, which sounds kinda’ ridiculous, but is actually very neat. Who better to tell children to eat their 3 servings of Dairy products every day than a real life princess? And this is exactly what the PDPPS does.

We visit elementary schools to talk to children about the importance of consuming at least three Dairy products a day. This is why I can name all of the essential nutrients in milk. Which, in case you wanted to know are Protein, Vitamins A, B12, B6, and D, Riblofavin, Niacin, Thiamine, Pantothenic acid, Folate, Magnesium, Phosphorous, potassium, Zinc, Selenium, and of course Calcium! Whew, that’s a mouthful. It is very important to the organization to gear some promotions to children, because drinking milk is so important to skeletal growth, and starting healthy habits. Visit here to learn more about nature’s most perfect drink! //http://www.healthyeating.org/Milk-Dairy/Milk-Infographic.aspx

PDPPS also visits grocery stores to talk to consumers about Dairy products, and answer any questions they have about the Dairy Industry. We can also visit popular events like the Pennsylvania Farm Show, or local events like 5-K’s or town celebrations and parades. It is a great chance to talk to consumers about all facets of agriculture, and where milk really comes from. Check out the PDPPS website at http://www.padairy.org/ Fun fact, last years alternate State Dairy Princess went to my High School!

My mom did such an incredible job taking my sisters and I to these events, and making sure that we were warm enough during parades, looked sharp and professional all the time, and made sure to answer everyone’s questions. Not to mention, she can make a mean milk punch! Sounds gross,but is actually quite delicious! Try it sometime: http://recipehelpers.com/non-alcoholic/99272-pennsylvania-milk-punch.html

Favorite questions from events: 1) Where is the Dairy Queen

2) Does chocolate milk come from brown cows?

3) Why do cows smell so much?

The craziest part is that some of these questions were asked by adults too!

My sisters! Alysha, Lindsay, Jen, me and Amanda

I am retired from the life of royalty now, sigh, but guess what… I still get to tell people about how awesome milk is!

Have a wonderful day,

-Sarabeth

Like many Penn State Students, I wish we had had just one more week of break! I mean come on, two weeks is just not enough, but you see, I wanted another week off for one reason in particular. For the… drumroll please… PENNSYLVANIA FARM SHOW!!!!!!

The second week in January to many, may seem like just an ordinary week. Just the seven days after the first week of the new year. However, to anyone who has visited the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg PA, this is a week full of wonder. A week full of learning, fun, food, animals, plants, tractors, and entertainment. This is the week that Pennsylvania Agriculture comes to the Capitol. From the famous and highly publicized Butter Sculpture to the not as well known Christmas Tree contest, the Pennsylvania Farm Show promises something for everyone.

The 2013 Butter Sculpture focused on the PA Preferred Check-off Program. Food items that have this logo signify that it was produced in Pennsylvania. The sculpture showcases typical Pennsylvania Agriculture products including milk, eggs, (ironically butter!) wine, pumpkins, mushrooms, honey, trees and more.

The Farm Show provides a showplace for farmers to see the most up-to-date farm equipment, farming practices and farming needs while also providing all visitors with an educational showcase to learn about agriculture and how the products they consume are produced. With nearly one million square feet of indoor space, the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center invites all visitors, big and small, rural and urban. Originally built in 1917, the complex was built upon agriculture, and since then has not lost touch with it’s core purpose, “to provide a valuable forum for the improvement of the state’s agriculture industry.” (PA Farm Show website) The building hosts over 200 events a year, ranging from Car exhibits to the All American Dairy Show. However, by far the most popular event is the annual Farm Show that attracts visitors of all ages from across the state and across the Nation. This incredible Show exhibits the amazing diversity of Pennsylvania’s Agriculture.

This goat just wants so say… HELLO!

Visitors can enjoy the many delicious delectables in the food court. From the famous milkshakes, and fries, to the potato donuts and mushrooms, no one leaves hungry.  Across from the food court there are many things to look at including tractors and different vendors. Up the stairs is one of the three arena’s that may throughout the week hold events such as the Rodeo, Dairy Judging, and even the Pennsylvania FFA Mid-Winter Convention. Deeper into the Farm Show Complex, there are rooms full of pens of animals to walk past and look at. Sheep, goats, steer, horses, cows, pigs, bunnies, chickens, and so much more. Visitors can wander through these barns and see the owners feed the animals, bathe them, and take care of them. Learning is fun and expected at the Farm Show, with ample opportunities to pick up informational brochures and flyers. There are also rooms dedicated to the Fruits, Vegetables, and Plants of Pennsylvania. The diversity of this Commonwealth’s Agriculture is easily identifiable by the sheer number of different plants to look at. From large orange pumpkins, to sweet red apples, from ripe green zucchini to Pennsylvania’s famous mushrooms. Not to mention the plethora of wines, honey, maple products, eggs, and nuts.  Also, visitors can look at Pennsylvania’s world renown Christmas trees! There are also ample examples of the work of youth from throughout the state. The 4-H sewing clubs with their clothes and quilts. And of course, the many FFA members showing animals in the ring, and caring for them outside the arena. It is not hard to see the diversity of Pennsylvania’s number 1 Industry, Agriculture. From tractor square dancing (yes, it exists… and it’s pretty awesome!) to Horse pulls, the second week of January is a busy one in Harrisburg. And the best part is, you can attend this show, which is the largest indoor Agricultural Event in America, for free! I hope that you can all come visit the Pennsylvania Farm Show this next year, and see for yourselves the amazing diversity of agriculture in Pennsylvania.

Here is the official PA Farm Show Website: http://www.farmshow.state.pa.us/default.aspx, feel free to check it out, and both of the pictures in this post came from here!

Have a great weekend, and enjoy all of those delectable agricultural products 🙂

-Sarabeth