Local dairy farmer, pork producer to speak at chamber luncheon

Nevada Daily Mail

Lynda Foster's family is like many of the Nevada/Vernon County Chamber of Commerce members -- they work hard, track their investments and take pride in the product they produce. But unlike the typical local business, their most important asset is cows. The Fosters are dairy farmers and are the people behind the wholesome dairy foods consumers enjoy.

Foster is looking forward to speaking at the Nevada/Vernon County Chamber of Commerce meeting on July 9. The meeting begins at noon. She will share how today's dairy farmers provide the milk for dairy foods. "A great deal has changed even in the past few years but one thing hasn't -- we love what we do. Dairy farmers across our area differ in size and production styles, but we all share a passion for producing high-quality, wholesome milk."

Lynda and Gary Foster own Foster Dairy near Fort Scott, Kan. Along with their son and his wife, they take care of the 150 dairy cows and approximately 1,000 acres they farm.

Foster points out that caring for the land is an important priority. Because their family lives and works on the farm, they take seriously their responsibility to protect land, water and air. In addition, cow comfort and health is carefully monitored, assisted by experts such as veterinarians. Because of this commitment at the dairy farm, people can count on wholesome dairy foods produced while sustaining the environment, she said.

To learn more about the people behind the product -- dairy farmers and the milk they produce, visit www.midwestdairy.com or www.dairyfarmingtoday.org.

Midwest Dairy Association is a non-profit organization that provides consumers with information about the nutrition and wholesomeness of dairy foods, and conducts research and promotional programs. Programs are financed and directed by more than 13,000 dairy producers in nine states -- Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and eastern Oklahoma.

A presentation about the pork industry also will be offered, by local pork producer Steve Brier.

Titled "The Pork Industry: More Than Just the Other White Meat," the speech by Brier will showcase the industry's rural economic impact plus on-going programs to enhance the nutritional quality of pork, to protect the environment and to treat livestock humanely. Due to new technologies and management systems, U.S. pork producers have trimmed pork's fat content 31 percent since 1983.