Unity – it may be the most important concept for dairy farmers today. I’ve seen farmers come together for each other in times of crisis, usually because of weather, fire or personal catastrophes, and it’s always inspiring.

I’d like to talk about cantaloupe. Specifically, a 2011 situation when a cantaloupe operation in Colorado was the focus of a deadly food safety crisis.

Dairy has nourished our country’s youth for decades in schools. In fact, milk has long been the only product mandated to be served with school meals.

What country leads the world in cheese exports and has received international recognition for high quality? The answer, of course, is the United States.

From kids having a glass of ice-cold milk with their favorite cookie to grandparents offering milk with their grilled cheese sandwich on brisk fall days, milk has a storied history among American families. And while times have changed over the last 50-plus years, milk remains a staple in 94 percent of U.S. households today.

I was a big Green Bay Packers fan as a kid growing up in the 1960s. Quarterback Bart Starr was my hero, and I did a few book reports on him as well as Coach Vince Lombardi.

Consumers are inundated with confusing messages about the foods they eat, ranging from how it’s produced, who produced it, its environmental impact and whether it’s good for them. Thankfully, most consumers still seek authenticity and have a sincere curiosity about their food and the story behind it, including wanting to know the people who brought it to their tables.

My father, Harold Sr., was an eternal optimist. He was a true believer in serving your community and industry. Every day was a good day for him, and he worked to help ensure a brighter future for the next generation of farmers.

There is a growing appetite for Western-style food in the international diet, and the dairy checkoff is working to put U.S. dairy on menus far beyond our borders.

Consumers today are seeking more from the companies and industries that produce the food they purchase. They want assurances the land, animals and employees are taken care of and the products they purchase have a positive societal impact.