Today is the second day of the Eau Claire Farm Show and, like the first day, there will be plenty to learn and see.
One farm show presenter of note is the Dairy Pricing Association, where association representatives are distributing free chocolate milk while mixing in the idea of allowing whole milk back into school lunch programs. The representatives are following a recent social media push to support federal legislation to allow that whole milk back into the school programs.
Federal school-lunch nutrition standards a few years ago had cut anything but skim milk from the lunch programs — though, under those guidelines school districts could petition for allowing 1 percent or 2 percent milk (including flavored milk) into the petitioning districts’ programs. The petitions had to be backed by surveys done within the districts’ schools.
More recently, however, the guidelines were shifted to allow 1 percent and 2 percent milk (including flavored milk) to be served without the districts having to petition for that right. But those who prefer whole milk want more.
Federal legislation has been proposed to allow the return of whole milk to the programs. U.S. House of Representatives Bill 832, known as the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, and Senate Bill 1810, known as the Milk in Lunches for Kids act, were introduced last year and have been sitting in committees. The Senate bill’s co-sponsors include Sen. Ron Johnson, R-WI. The House bill’s co-sponsors include Wisconsin Republican representatives Glenn Grothman, Mike Gallagher and James Sensenbrenner; and Democrat Ron Kind. Since-retired Wisconsin Republican Sean Duffy also co-sponsored the House bill.
The Senate bill has been read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; the House bill is in the Education and Labor Committee.
The Dairy Pricing Association representatives at the farm show are asking people to sign their petition to send to Congress in support of the bills, saying parents and children should have the choice of what milkfat levels are in the milk children drink in schools.
Beyond that issue, discussions about planting, March weather, maple-syrup tapping and the latest equipment are going on at the show, which from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Chippewa Valley Expo Center, 5150 Old Mill Plaza, Eau Claire.
Be sure to stop and say “hello” to Bob and me, too!
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