With humility and a focus on “doing the right thing,” dairy sustainability has frequently gone under the public radar.

Since its inception in 2002, the Professional Dairy Producers Foundation (PDPF) has been supporting growth and education for the dairy industry.

“A picture is worth a thousand words.” If that familiar saying is true, I can only imagine the number of words an in-person tour experience is worth. A whole book, perhaps? I’d venture to say that it’s especially true in the dairy industry.

Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) CEO Barbara O’Brien provided an overview of four “bold moves” the checkoff has made with farmer and importer directors representing DMI, United Dairy Industry Association and National Dairy Promotion and Research Board at their recent meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

Growth isn’t about learning new information, but unlearning old limits. With the educational landscape changing day by day, and even hour by hour, teachers and parents have been searching for creative, technology-driven programming that can meet them where they are at.

Checkoff food service partners continued to grow sales of U.S. dairy foods, and more domestic dairy headed into the international marketplace. There also were increased efforts to connect with the valued Gen Z consumer and dairy’s sustainability journey reached new levels.

We’ve all been there. You have an idea – one that’ll boost professionalism in our industry, help producers improve their operations or strengthen connections with consumers.

What does it take to achieve more than 700% growth in one year? Start with a great idea, add social media, add teachers looking for new ways to engage their students, and mix in a pandemic to make things interesting.