The Dairy Alliance brings Tennessee farm stories to state fair

The Dairy Alliance is using the Tennessee State Fair to spotlight three local dairy farms through an interactive booth, virtual reality and product sampling. The effort is designed to help fairgoers see how Tennessee dairy farms operate and why they matter to local communities.

Why it matters: - The Tennessee State Fair gives The Dairy Alliance a public stage to connect consumers with local dairy farm families. - The campaign aims to show how dairy farms support Tennessee communities through food, jobs, education and local involvement. - The booth is designed to turn dairy farming into a hands-on experience for fairgoers, not just a product on a shelf.

What happened: - The Dairy Alliance brought its “From Our Farm to Your Family” campaign to the Tennessee State Fair in Lebanon, Tennessee. - The fair is being held at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center, also known as the Wilson County Fairgrounds. - The nonprofit is highlighting three Tennessee dairy farms: Lee Family Farm, Sweetwater Valley Farm and Davis Brothers Dairy. - Visitors can stop by an interactive booth to learn about the farms’ daily work and community ties. - Sweetwater Valley Farm cheese is also being featured at the Pick TN Products Display.

The details: - The booth includes a virtual reality experience that takes visitors inside the featured farms. - The experience also includes a “Chill Like a Cow” display, interactive trivia and campaign swag. - Farrah Newberry, chief executive officer of The Dairy Alliance, said dairy farm families provide nutritious dairy foods, local jobs, community support and public access to their farms. - Steve Lee said Lee Family Farm is a five-generation family operation dating to 1889. - Steve Lee and his three sons milk about 350 Holstein cows twice a day. - Lee Family Farm hosts a Fourth of July celebration, supports church fundraisers, joins local projects and lends equipment and labor for community building. - Sweetwater Valley Farm has been part of the Philadelphia, Tennessee, community for more than two centuries. - Sweetwater Valley Farm has grown from farmland into a dairy farm, farmstead cheese operation and destination for locals and visitors. - The farm’s “Seed to Sandwich” story shows how it cares for cows, turns milk into cheese and serves that cheese at its farm café. - Mary Lyndal Harrison said the farm wants to build transparency and trust by showing the work behind high-quality food. - Sweetwater Valley Farm also creates jobs, supports local businesses, welcomes visitors and serves as a gathering place for families. - Davis Brothers Dairy focuses on connecting people with dairy farming and giving back to the community. - Sam Craun supports local food banks and takes part in school tours, career days and agricultural education events. - Craun said farming involves daily sacrifice and is a way of life rather than a traditional career.

Between the lines: - The campaign blends education and marketing by using immersive tech, tastings and storytelling to make farm operations more relatable. - The emphasis on transparency suggests the dairy industry is trying to strengthen consumer trust by showing how food is produced. - Each farm highlights a different angle of rural life, from multigenerational family operations to tourism and community service.

What’s next: - Fairgoers can continue visiting the Dairy Alliance booth during the Tennessee State Fair. - Visitors can learn more about The Dairy Alliance at the company’s website or follow @TheDairyAlliance on Facebook and Instagram. - The Dairy Alliance will continue promoting dairy foods and industry education across eight Southeastern states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

The bottom line: - The Dairy Alliance is using the state fair to turn local dairy farming into an interactive story about food, family and community.