Kissimmee, Florida Joint Annual Meeting for Dairy

I love our national dairy annual meeting, and this one was wonderful too. There are so many fun people to see, and always more to meet!

We flew to Orlando and checked in to the Gaylord. Five minutes later we got on a bus to tour Sutton Ruck's farm in Okeechobee.

It was a two-hour bus ride, and we really went into an area that was rural with lots of open spaces. I've seen a lot of Florida, but it's usually places that are packed with people.  This was not! It was interesting seeing my first dairy farm in Florida - a rotary, no walls, no curtains, no waterers that need warming. Flush aisles instead of pushing manure.

Sutton makes his own ice cream, and we all got it - delicious. He also told me that they had 42 alligators in their retaining pond, and people pay him (a lot) to hunt them.

We rode back and on the way to our room I saw what a nice hotel the Gaylord is. It had a huge atrium and - in a surprising touch I have never seen before - there were live alligators in the lobby water! This fascinated me. There was also a giant ship, a castle, water with koi in it, water slides, a Halloween-themed section with creepy displays like dolls. It's like the creative directors were given free reign!

We went out to eat with everyone in Celebration, Florida, which was originally a city made by Disney. Patrick, who lives there, showed me that there are boxes on the streetlights, and on the weekends every hour leaves float out of them. There was water, and twinkly lights, and we had a nice time talking to everyone. Back at the hotel, we saw some friends we haven't seen in six years! 

Day two

I ran and it was so warm. Oddly, in this really busy part of Florida, there is a pasture of beef cattle across the street. I worked all day while Kris had meetings, and then at night we rode a bus to EPCOT.

Two Disney people greeted us, and they were as all Disney people are - friendly, warm, enthusiastic, and love their jobs! They talked about the partnership and how much they loved working on this project and elevating cheese.

Then it was time for the big event - Cheers to Cheese!

EPCOT has a giant event every year called the International Food & Wine Festival - and it brings in two million people. This year, Dairy Does More partnered with Disney to offer The Wedge: Cheers to Cheese. 

Not only do they offer three different kinds of macaroni and cheese (crab, 3-cheese, and cheesesteak), and a cheeseboard, but it's a whole interactive  experience!  

They walk through the history, let you choose your favorite cheese, show where cheese is used in all the countries in the park, and explain how it goes from farm to table. 

It was so inviting and fun, and people there and online are giving it great reviews. I'm so glad I got to see it.

We ran over with some friends to ride Soarin', which is a big screen that makes you feel like you're flying past beautiful scenes. They also pipe in scents, so that when you see a field of bison, you can smell them!

We walked through the park (so interesting to see all the people and different countries) and went to dinner in Germany. They had a three-person musical group on stage, and everyone sang along and lots of people danced. The buffet had German food but also macaroni and cheese and applesauce, which I figured every buffet in Disney had! We sat with fun people. I tried to ride another ride, but it took too long so I abandoned the line to watch the fireworks and water fountain show. 

As people all walked out, I was going in the other direction toward Kris, and you could really see how many people were there. Amazing! I hope they all love cheese.

We stayed up late seeing our old and new friends in the hotel lobby. 

Day three

They held general session, which is always really meaningful to me. Sutton Rucks (the farm we toured) welcomed everyone to Florida. John Larson (a friend) had all the Michigan dairy farmers stand since we are partnering with Florida on dairy promotion. Brian Rexing (we got to know him in Indianapolis) talked about how we all do this for our families. Barb O'Brien (outgoing CEO and a friend) talked about the past and the future of dairy. I also visited the dairy bar, where they provide you with every delicious dairy option and give you a sample of new dairy foods.

I worked during the day, and then afterward, I went to the pool with three other dairy farmer friends - Carrie, Karen, and Suzanne. It was so fun! The sun was warm, we went on the water slides, and we saw the most interesting pool worker. She had a trained hawk that she used to keep the birds away from the hotel pool. She told us all about being a zoologist, how she trained the hawk, what hotels they went to do to bird patrol, and her role. She brought the hawk over to see us and he perched right above my head. So interesting to see so close!

She had tattoos on her legs - a milk gallon and a cup of coffee. I asked about them, and she said her dad drinks a gallon of milk a day, and her mom drinks four cups of coffee, so she got them for her parents. I told her we were dairy farmers and we loved them.

I was walking to my hotel room and suddenly realized I was in the middle of something. On either side of me, lining the hallways, the employees of the hotel had all gathered and there were video cameras. I realized that this was NOT for me, and I quickly stepped to the side. Then, a dancing gingerbread man, followed by 50 people in Santa hats started coming down the hallway to thunderous applause. I was glad I got out of the way! I ducked into a hallway only to run into a team of acrobats dressed in full costume. 

"Can I go this way?" I said, gesturing to our elevators.

"If you hurry!" a woman whispered.

I don't actually know what any of it was for, but this hotel was lively. 

Then, a real highlight - the CHEESE RECEPTION! For this event, they fill the hall with cheeses that have been entered into the cheese competition, and we go around and eat all the sharpest cheddars we can find. I have been going to this event for years, and it is very special to my friend Carol Singerman and me. We love going together! Carol couldn't come the last couple of years, and it was great to be reunited. They also feature award-winning cottage cheese, butter, and provide fruit, meat, vegetables, and more. It is a sight to behold. I can only ever eat a little, because...we go out to eat afterward with the MMPA team! We had a great meal at Charley's, and I met the young farmers from our co-op (delightful) and talked with the other nice people that are a part of the organization.  

Also at the cheese reception I said hello to Kyndra Brown and Lolly Lesher, two dairy farmers who were just in a big video and photo feature. Both lovely people. Kyndra has a Got Milk? tattoo on her arm, rounding out the dairy tattoos for the meeting! 

Once again, we stayed up late seeing everyone in the hotel lobby. When that shut down, we went to a restaurant that was open even later. The hotel had a light show above the atrium, and it was a beautiful sight.

Day four

We went to the morning session and dairy bar, and then we had to leave. I met other women who are running the Every Women's Marathon sponsored by Team Milk in New Orleans, which is the next time I'll see a lot of these people.

We were able to get on an earlier flight so I could make it in time to celebrate Moriah's 50th birthday at Lake Ovid, which was alligator-free.

My absolute favorite part about the meeting is the people, since we know so many of them by now, and the people who go to these types of meetings are outgoing, friendly, and interesting. My second part is being inspired by the dairy industry and people's love of farming. 

My third is eating cheese, cottage cheese, and ice cream all day long. Just kidding, that's my norm.