It may sound crazy, but the mustache may be the most powerful weapon you have in the fight against prostate cancer. Maybe you don’t want to talk about prostate cancer, but one in six men – or 8,000 U.S. dairy producers, not counting the tens of thousands of others who work in our industry – will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime.

The Movember Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, continues to challenge men to grow a mustache and women to support the Mo (slang for mustache) to raise awareness and funds for men’s health.

Movember encourages men, known as Mo Bros, to start Nov. 1 clean-shaven and grow their mustache for 30 days. This month many Mo Bros have become walking, talking billboards for men’s health.

The Movember Foundation estimates that each new mustache generates 2,413 conversations during the month that lead back to Movember, men’s health, prostate cancer and early detection.

Five dairy industry companies – DCC Waterbeds, Filament Marketing, Jaylor, Progressive Dairyman and Udder Tech Inc. – have jumped on board and given in-kind contributions, funds and pledges to “grow” in Movember as part of MoDairy in 2014.

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It’s a mustache party, and everyone’s invited
MoDairy is two things.

First, it’s an online network for dairy producers, friends and family of dairy producers, and members of the agriculture community to participate in Movember by growing mustaches and raising funds.

Second, MoDairy includes a coordinated campaign in the dairy industry to promote Movember and men’s health issues offline too.

Dairy producers, friends of dairy, anyone in the dairy or ag industry, or really anyone, is welcome and encouraged to join those supporting MoDairy online or off.

There are many ways to still get involved:

  • Commit to grow (or support) the Mo during Movember.

Mo Bros grow a mustache to create conversations about men’s health issues. Mo Sistas support the Mo and spread the word. Take advantage of your milk mustache and compete right alongside the Mo Bros.

  • “Like” MoDairy on Facebook and share the idea, the photos and the fun with other people.

Post your best mustache photo – real or pretend – on our wall! The photo with the most likes on November 30, the final day of MoDairy, will also receive a free print from Steel Cow.

Your mustache can be on you, your family, your calves, your equipment - anything really! Be creative and help us spread the word about the importance of men’s health.

MoDairy partners are donating $5 to Movember USA for every mustache photo posted on our wall.

  • Follow @MovemberDairy and the hashtag #Moovember on Twitter. PD

Movember is the largest non-government funder of prostate cancer research in the world. In its seventh year in the U.S., Movember is challenging men to grow and women to support the Mo to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues to combat prostate and testicular cancer and mental health challenges. In 2013, more than 219,000 Americans grew and supported the Mo, 9,000 more than the previous year. These participants raised nearly $23 million for the cause.