Recap of 2025 Dairy West Meeting: Dairy Promotion and Nutrition Programs
Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Dairy West meeting in Boise Idaho. It was a great couple of days chatting with dairy producers from Utah and Idaho! This kind of dates myself, but the last time I attended this meeting was about 10 years ago and it was organized by The United Dairymen of Idaho (UDI). Since then, UDI has become a partner with Dairy West to expand the market reach of Idaho’s dairy industry.
Dairy Promotion
Dairy West is a non-profit organization based in Meridian Idaho. Dairy West is dedicated to dairy promotion in Utah and Idaho. It represents dairy farm families and focuses on enriching communities through nutrition education and support of sustainable initiatives.
Breakout sessions included finance and promotion highlights, farm safety, international trade, and beef-on-dairy.
Politics Are Part of Your Plate
You may be surprised to know that 1 in 8 Americans use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to provide food for their families. Dairy West is involved in SNAP through the Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act of 2025. This program matches dollar-for-dollar SNAP purchases of milk, cheese, yogurt, and cultured dairy products. The intent is to improve access to nutritious dairy products for families participating in need.
School Lunch requirements are set up by the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure that school meals are nutritious and balanced. Dairy West supports school nutrition programs by providing grants, educational materials and resources to expand school nutrition programs, and ensure that students receive those nutrient dense meals. Reducing sugar in flavored milk and fighting to be able to provide students with full fat milk are an example of the impact Dairy West has made on school lunch.
WIC is a special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children. It provides free healthy food and nutritional education to those in need. Dairy West’s partnership with WIC ensures that WIC participants are offered a variety of dairy products to help meet their nutritional requirements during various life stages.
Direct Benefit to Dairy Farm Families
The marketing and promotion done by Dairy West improves milk sales both locally and internationally for Idaho and Utah dairy farms. The organization works locally on marketing campaigns to promote the sale of local dairy products and to ensure that Idaho dairy products are well represented in global markets. By consolidating the efforts of both Utah and Idaho dairy farmers Dairy West makes it easier to navigate international milk markets.
It was great to be brought up to speed on Dairy West and understand the contribution it makes to community nutrition programs and their influence on the sale of milk sourced from Idaho and Utah. I always enjoy meeting new people and seeing old friends! Next time you crack the door to the dairy section of your grocery store remember to look for local dairy products and support the farmers from your own community!
Written by: Mariah Gull, M.S.