[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 71 (Thursday, June 4, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S5657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CELEBRATION OF JUNE DAIRY MONTH

 Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate 
National Dairy Month and the great history of the dairy industry in our 
nation. As many of you know, even before the inception of National 
Dairy Month, in 1937, Wisconsin was historically the national leader in 
milk and cheese production. Even today, Wisconsin leads the nation in 
cheese volume and variety, offering more than 300 varieties, types and 
styles of cheese.
  Mr. President, during June Dairy Month, we celebrate America's dairy 
industry and Wisconsin dairy's proud tradition and heritage of quality. 
It provides Wisconsin's dairy farmers a special time to reflect on 
their accomplishments and those of their ancestors, and to look forward 
to continued success in the future.
  As I mentioned, Mr. President, Wisconsin was nicknamed America's 
Dairyland in the 1930s, but it became a leader in the industry soon 
after the first dairy cow came to Wisconsin in the 1800's. This year's 
celebration of National Dairy Month, is especially important for the 
people of my home state of Wisconsin because this is also the year we 
are celebrating our sesquicentennial--150 years of Wisconsin statehood. 
Dairy history and the state's history have been intertwined from the 
beginning. Why, before Wisconsin was even declared a state, Ms. Anne 
Pickett established Wisconsin's first cheese ``factory'' when she 
combined milk from her cows with milk from her neighbor's cows and made 
it into cheese.
  Other Wisconsin dairy firsts include: the development of Colby cheese 
in 1874, the creation of brick cheese in 1875, the first dairy school 
in America- established in 1891 at the University of Wisconsin at 
Madison, the first statewide dairy show in the U.S. in 1928, and the 
creation of the world-record holding 40,060 pound, Grade-A Cheddar 
cheese in 1988. And Wisconsin also can claim one of the best-tasting 
inventions in the history of dairy industry: the creation of the first 
ice cream sundae in 1881.
  Wisconsin cows produce more than 22.4 billion pounds of milk a year, 
nearly 90 percent is processed into cheese and other products. 
Wisconsin leads the nation in the production of cheese and are the top 
producer of many varieties including Cheddar, American, Muenster, 
Brick, Blue and Italian--not to mention the ONLY U.S. producer of the 
famous Limburger cheese variety. Also, Wisconsin buttermakers produce 
nearly 25 percent of America's butter supply.
  National Dairy Month is the American consumer's oldest and largest 
celebration of dairy products and the people who have made the industry 
the success it is today. During June, Wisconsinites will hold nearly 
100 dairy celebrations across our state, including dairy breakfasts, 
ice cream socials, cooking demonstrations, festivals and other events. 
These events are all designed to make consumers aware of the quality, 
variety and great taste of Wisconsin dairy products and to honor the 
producers who make it all possible.
  I am proud to honor this great American tradition--proud to honor the 
dairy producers not only in Wisconsin, but also those across this great 
nation.

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