Dairy Judging

 

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Video Transcript

Chuck Denney (UT Institute of Agriculture)
Buttermilk is most definitely an acquired taste. While not for everybody, there are lots of people who like it, and others who are really good at making it. That’s who’s being honored here at the dairy judging competition at the Tennessee State Fair. Dairies compete for flavor, consistency, and quality in a variety of categories.

Doug Rouch (Broadacre Dairies)
“Buttermilk and chocolate milk. Personally we think we have the best chocolate milk in Tennessee already, but we’re down here to try to prove it.”

Chuck Denney
UT Extension and food safety experts with the Institute of Agriculture have a hand in the judging. This is a decades-old tradition to name the best of the best.

George Kilgore (UT Extension)
“This is all of the dairy products from around Tennessee. All the dairies are represented here for this State Fair. We’ll be judging the cheeses, buttermilk, the cottage cheese. My favorite, of course, is the ice cream that will be judged here.”

Chuck Denney
Today’s dairy processor in Tennessee is likely involved in more ventures other than just churning out gallons of white milk. Dairies say this diversity of products is a way to stay marketable in modern times.           

Daryl Gaw (Purity Dairies)
“The broader range of products that you can offer a customer, obviously the better service you can provide for that customer. So that’s key for us.”

Chuck Denney
Dairy farmers are now getting very low prices for their milk while their operating costs are at record highs. On average, Tennessee has been losing about one dairy farm per week for several years in a row. But its hoped we may be close to bottoming out in terms of farms leaving the dairy business.
The ones that remain appear to be in it to stay. Experts believe a healthy dairy industry is vital for our rural Ag economy.

John Sanford (TN. Department of Agriculture)
“It helps keep our farmers in business, and helps folks who want to buy local - buy local. So it’s a two-way street, and it’s very good for both.”

Chuck Denney
These days ‘Got dairy?’ has a whole new meaning in terms of what’s offered at the store. Can the Tennessee dairy business flourish through diversified products? You be the judge.

END

NOTE: Among the big winners in the competition - Mayfield Dairy in East Tennessee who won several awards for its ice cream.