#DairyAmazing in San Antonio
This weekend Daniel and I had the chance to go to San Antonio to attend the Dairy MAX #DairyAmazing Symposium. It was our first time in San Antonio, and it did not disappoint. The Symposium was a two-day conference for registered dietitians, physicians, and health professionals to share information about emerging research, challenges, suggestions, and recipes. We spent our two days at the conference at the Culinary Institue of America and even got to taste test some of their amazing food.You might be wondering why Daniel and I would attend a nutrition conference? Well Dairy MAX asked us to attend to share about our dairy farm and give everyone a little insight about where their milk comes from. I also had the opportunity to speak at dinner on Friday to the group about modern agriculture. And wow, what an experience it was! The questions I was asked and the feedback I received was overwhelming. The biggest takeaway from the dinner was that most people picture a farmer as an old man in overalls and that the modern farmer and their farm might look a little different than they expect. But through technology and innovations, we are more sustainable than ever before.
As we were wrapping up the last day, Daniel said it best that it felt like we actually made a difference! People were so thankful that we came and shared our story with them. Since we were able to spend the full two days with the group, we had more time to talk and connect with everyone. We answered a lot of questions and we asked all of them even more! Sometimes in the online world, it can feel like there is a constant attack on dairy producers and farmers. But in real life, talking with real professionals, people were excited to learn about dairy farming. And their love of dairy and the nutritional value our products have to offer was pretty #dairyamazing!
Benefits of Dairy Nutrition
While I hope that everyone left knowing a little more about dairy, I think we may have left learning the most about dairy. Probably sounds surprising. But after our milk leaves the dairy and is bottled or turned into cheese or yogurt, I really don't know that much about the science behind milk and it's nutritional value. I know milk is a superfood and one of the healthiest foods you can eat. But I didn't really understand the science behind it until this weekend. And I know we only scratched the surface with learning about dairy nutrition in our two days. But here are some of my favorite facts about dairy. Milk's protein is one of the highest quality proteins available. You have to consume 30% more plant proteins to get the same value as the protein in milk. Our bodies also absorb the nutrients in milk better than almost any other food. That's pretty cool! We learned about cutting-edge research on the health benefits of full-fat dairy and weight loss and type 2 diabetes. And how dairy plays a key role in a sustainable food system. Also, dairy nutrition provides a big bang for your buck which is important when you are trying to feed your family a healthy diet on a limited budget. I could go on and on, but we would be here awhile. I left the conference feeling like I had a better understanding of the end product that we produce. And I hope everyone in attendance has a better understanding of the how that product is produced on our farm. 
Highlights from San Antonio
Some of our favorites from the weekend included our stay at Hotel Emma. The history of this hotel was incredible. And the decor fit perfectly in keeping with the time period. Cooking in the kitchen with the experts from the Culinary Institue of America was a learning experience. Our group cooked everything you see in the photo below and more. And it was so tasty! Daniel helped cook a lemon and yogurt pound cake that really stole the show. Unfortunately, he said it was a one-time thing. And lastly, we took in a little of the history of San Antonio with a riverboat ride from Riverwalk Casa Rio and a visit to the Alamo. I highly recommend both of those! 
Udderly #DairyAmazing,New Mexico Milkmaid