Northern Indiana Dairy Trail Gets Grant
NORTHERN INDIANA — The Northern Indiana Dairy Trail has received a $10,000 grant from the Indiana State Department of Agriculture to help local dairy farmers tell he story of modern milk production to the public.
The Livestock Promotion Grant, announced Feb. 16, will fund marketing and advertising efforts designed to attract large crowds for 11 open houses in June and one final event in October. Dairy farmers in six norther Indiana counties — Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Marshall, Noble and st. Joseph — will host farm tours and explain how they and their families work to produce a wholesome product for consumers.
“On behalf of the Northern Indiana Dairy Trail Steering Committee, we would like to thank the Indiana State Department of Agriculture for supporting this project,” said Jerry Goshert, chairman of the NIDT steering committee. “The Livestock Promotion Grant will help us spread the word about the wonderful things northern Indiana dairy farmers are doing at their farms.”
The Northern Indiana Dairy trail is one of the 15 nonprofit organizations to receive Livestock Promotion Grants. the grant program supports projects that foster growth within the Hoosier livestock industry.
The Northern Indiana Dairy Trail kicks off on Saturday, June 18, with open houses and bicentennial celebrations at six area dairy farms. A week later, on June 25, farm tours will be offered at five more family-owned dairies.
The final event of the Northern Indiana Dairy Trail is a bicentennial torch relay celebration and open house on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at a dairy farm near Middlebury.
“The 12 host farmers will talk about what’s important to them: cows, communities, environment and families,” said Kelly Heckaman, Purdue Extension educator in Kosciusko County and coordinator of the dairy trail’s educational activities. “These topics are also important to Hoosier families and consumers, and each tour will offer opportunities for visitors to talk one-one-one with the good people who produce milk.”
There is no cost to attend the Northern Indiana Dairy Trail. All of the tours will be offered from noon to 5 p.m. The public can learn more at dairytrail.com.