WHITELAND, Ind. — Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee recently traded his pigskin for a calfskin, so to speak. He joined students from Clark Elementary School at Kelsay Farms to celebrate June Dairy Month and to get them moving through the Fuel Up to Play 60 program.

It was "game on!" when McAfee tried his hand at bottle-feeding a calf – a skill evidently not on the Colts’ drill list. After a few minutes of coaxing, the 6-foot-1, 240-pound McAfee was a little more comfortable with the task at hand and the calf settled in for a feeding.

The familiar blue-and-white Colts jerseys dotted the crowd of onlooking students, teachers and parents while a few boys hugged their footballs, ready to be signed. After climbing out of the calf pen McAfee asked the students, "What’s the most important meal of the day?"

"Breakfast!" shouted one young man.

"Right," McAfee said, then added, "and I love your haircut." The boy beamed.

McAfee is a spokesman for Fuel Up to Play 60, an in-school nutrition and physical activity program sponsored by the NFL and National Dairy Council in collaboration with the USDA. The program is designed to engage and empower youth to take responsibility and action for their own health by making positive changes.

Students learn to "fuel up" on nutrient-rich foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. As a result, 14 million students at schools across the country made better food choices and got more physically active at school last year.

McAfee, 28, spoke with students about the importance of good nutrition by building healthy eating habits now that will serve them well in their adult lives. Eating a well-balanced meal is the ticket, he said. "As long as you have the mindset to get healthy, you can do it. Remember to drink your milk and eat plenty of vegetables."

After the pep talk came the words the kids had been waiting for: "Let’s play." They swarmed from the barn out to the pasture where McAfee led them in some running games and impromptu football drills.

The students toured the Kelsay Farms, which hosts farm tours and agritourism events throughout the year. They learned ways the Kelsays – representative of other Hoosier farm families – produce wholesome, nutrient-rich food while maintaining their commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainability and animal welfare.

To top off the morning, students celebrated June Dairy Month with an ice cream social sponsored by the American Dairy Assoc. Indiana and Dean Foods.

McAfee sent the students off with one more bit of encouragement before the huddle broke: "Remember to play happy, have fun, and you’re going to be healthy."