Jaime Mowry from Mowacres Farm, LeRoy, N.Y., New York Dairy Ambassador Gabby Taylor and Associate Ambassador Annika Donlick participated in recent Fuel Up to Play 60 events hosted by ADA North East that helped nearly 200 students learn about the importance of including milk and dairy, along with 60 minutes of exercise, as part of a healthy lifestyle.

The trio joined a FUTP60 Touchdown Event with the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y., where they talked about how farmers take care of their cows and land to help the more than 80 students who attended make the connection to where their food comes from – and to build trust in dairy.

“The students thought it was great when they realized I’m one of the dairy farmers who produce the Upstate milk that they drink in the Buffalo schools,” said Mowry. “It went a long way to help build trust in dairy!”

ADA North East pitched the story about the FUTP60 event to the local media in Buffalo, and they turned out to cover the story. We’ve gotten nearly 30 news hits, about 250,000 traditional media impressions and more than 600,000 potential online reach. Read one of the media stories.

Emceed by former Philadelphia Eagle and dairy advocate Jason Avant, the high-energy celebration also featured current Bills player Isaiah McKenzie, and was designed to reward students for participating in Fuel Up to Play 60 from September to April, and for scoring a program “touchdown” for their schools.

Touchdown status is earned by completing all three steps of the program by April 1.

The second recent FUTP60 event was held in Harlem, N.Y. As a follow-up to a February 2022 recruitment effort for the program in New York City District 5 schools, ADA North East hosted an in-person event at the PS 175 School for more than 100 students and local school and city officials. The event celebrated participating schools and highlighted what FUTP60, the country’s largest in-school health and wellness program has to offer, including healthy meals that include dairy and 60 minutes of physical activity.

ADA North East invited former National Football League players and dairy advocates Amani Toomer from the New York Giants, and Tony Richardson from the New York Jets, to encourage participants to get involved in FUTP60.

The event included student physical activity stations, including a farmer education section led by ADA North East Industry Relations Specialist and New York dairy farmer Kelsey O’Shea, and training sessions for educators.

“Connecting with students in person allows us to help them make connections between the farm and the food on their lunch plates,” said O’Shea.