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Miss America is new face of Indiana milk promotion

By MEGGIE. I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — She loves Holstein cows, chocolate milk, family traditions and country living. She’s Miss America Katie Stam of small town Indiana, and she recently stepped into a role as the dairy industry’s new spokesperson.

With big city dreams, Stam grew up living and working on her family’s Holstein dairy farm in southern Indiana, and as many girls do - dreamed of one-day being crowned Miss America.

And after Stam was crowned Miss Indiana in 2008, her dreams went into fast forward with the Miss America competition on the horizon in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada. While standing in the top three, Stam said she was “in complete and utter shock” when host Mario Lopez called her name aloud as the new Miss America. She had just become Indiana’s first-ever Miss America.

Despite her new-found fame, Stam said she never has lost sight of her roots and her heritage, growing up on a Hoosier dairy farm, spending her summers at the county fair showing her calves as a 10-year 4-H member.

“So when the Miss America office staff sat down with me right after I was crowned I discussed the organizations that were close to my heart and Dairy Council was one of those,” said Stam, who grew up on her grandfather’s 80-cow Holstein dairy farm in Seymour, Ind. “So when the Dairy Council contacted me, I was ecstatic. Tell me when and where and I was ready to be there.”

Deb Osza, executive director of Milk Promotions Services of Indiana and Indiana Dairy Council said that she learn about Stam’s farm background from her dentist, “yes, her dentist.”

“When I learned about Katie’s dairy farm background and her love of milk and continued interest in the dairy industry I got pretty excited about the possibility of joining forces with her to promote milk and milk products and the farmers who produce them,” said Osza. “We are very proud of Katie and her accomplishments and very proud to know that she will help shine a light on the commitment and dedication of dairy farmers to producing wholesome, nutritious products and caring for their animals and the land throughout her reign as Miss America.”

According to Osza, while in Indianapolis earlier this month, Stam participated in a photo and video shoot and recorded messages for use by the American Dairy Assoc. of Indiana. The photographs and videos featuring Miss America will be used to help educate children and others about the importance of including milk, cheese and yogurt in their diets and to be active every day, she explained. The images and recordings will also be used in advertising and promotion materials.

“My role in this sponsorship will be to be a face on a program that people can relate to as a way to get the message out easier,” Stam said.

Stam will communicate two different messages under the new sponsorship: the importance of consuming 3-a-day of dairy products and supporting local family dairy farmers.

“For children and young adults, they are in most need of calcium because of their growing bodies and since milk offers nine essential nutrients, it’s very important to include it in your daily diet,” said Stam. “It’s easy to look at dairy products and all their nutritious value, but they also are great to eat. My favorite is cheese. It’s great, I could eat so much of it.”

Also, Stam said she loves the message of “helping to preserve the lifestyle of the small family farmer as I wish we could’ve in my family.”

According to Stam, her grandfather sold the dairy herd nearly nine years ago after he found out he was ill with cancer.

“My parents kept a few cows so I took cattle to the fair every year and in fact we still take open entries,” she said. As a 10-year 4-H member and growing up on a dairy farm, feeding baby calves and helping with chores, Stam said she grew a great deal of independence and developed “tremendous work ethic and discipline.”

“This has helped me every single day and made me the person I am today,” she said, adding that in her role as Miss America she travels 20,000 miles a month, changing locations every 18-36 hours.

“Growing up in a dairy farm family, Katie Stam, Indiana’s first Miss America, knows the value of hard work and dedication,” said Osza. “Katie is a wonderful role model for girls and people of all ages, and we are confident that she will set a good example and remind us to drink our milk every single day.”

For details or to follow Stam’s commitment to Milk Promotions, visit www.indianadairycouncil.org

7/8/2009