Crowd of 5500 gets exposed to 97 Milk at baseball game

Whole milk education truthfully, wholesomely and sincerely

An older man in a bright yellow shirt promoting whole milk interacts with children and adults at a minor league baseball game, surrounded by food stands and event activities. — Ever-willing to talk to people about whole milk, Dan Martin really had no time to watch the game, which the Stormers lost 10:2 to the Staten Island Ferryhawks. *Photos by Renee Troutman*

By RENEE TROUTMAN

Special for Farmshine

LANCASTER, Pa. – People of all ages and walks of life enjoy attending a local minor league baseball game. Organizers of 97 Milk capitalized on that by participating in the 9th annual “Farm Show” night on Saturday, August 2, at Penn Medicine Park as the Lancaster Stormers took on the Staten Island Ferry Hawks. This is the second year 97 Milk has participated as a sponsor of the game during this particular event.

Dan Martin made friends with the Lancaster Stormers’ mascot. Up until last year, the team’s name was Lancaster Barnstormers.

Farm Show night has become known to feature farm animals, tractor and equipment displays, special activities for children, and vendors of many different agricultural enterprises. 97 Milk had a booth in a prominent location as baseball patrons entered the gates ahead of the start of the game. Dan Martin, Jr. of Bellvue, Pa. attended to the booth and greeted the public while also answering questions and passing out whole milk information. “The 97 Milk stickers are especially a hit with the kids,” Dan shared. “I ran out!”

Dan was happy to organize this community event for 97 Milk. “It’s good to have a presence. There’s value in meeting someone,” Martin said of the time he spent manning the 97 Milk booth.

“There were a lot of people who told me they drink whole milk, and that’s always encouraging,” Dan said. “Then there are people that tell me they drink 2%, and that’s okay, but I like to make sure to tell them whole milk is just 3.25% fat.”

The 97 Milk logo and website were repeatedly displayed on the Jumbotron at different times of the night. Attendance for the game, which ended with a fireworks show, was pegged at approximately 5500 people.

In recent decades, fluid milk sales have plummeted, but in just the past few years, per capita consumption of milk has risen, with the whole milk category now at 47% of all fluid milk sales. “I’d like to see that number hit 50% really soon,” Dan said. He’s certainly doing his part with 97 Milk to reach, engage, and educate consumers.

Dan thinks this type of promotional collaboration at sporting events is beneficial. He’d like to see 97 Milk be able to duplicate it at other minor league stadiums such as the York Revolution or Harrisburg Senators games.

With continued financial donations, 97 Milk can provide this kind of impactful outreach. Donations can be made online at 97milk.com/donate or mailed to 97 Milk, P.O. Box 87, Bird-in-Hand, PA 17505.

97 Milk is a 501c3 organization making donations tax-deductible.