Hastings Farm, the Connecticut Milk Promotion Board and the Connecticut Department of Agriculture invited members of the media to a special National Milk Day farm tour and milk toast at Hastings Farm in Suffield, Connecticut. The event offered an up-close look at modern dairy farming, highlighting how local farm families care for their cows and produce fresh, high-quality milk for their communities. National Milk Day is celebrated annually on January 11; this year, it fell on a Sunday, so the event was held on the preceding Friday.
(l-r) Jaime Smith – Dept. of Agriculture, Rebecca Eddy – Dept. of Agriculture, State Representative Tami Zawistowski, Seth Bahler – Dairy Farmer, Arthur Spielman – Dairy Farmer, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Jon Hermonot – Dairy Farmer, (mostly hidden) Susan Hastings and State Senator John Kissel celebrate Milk Day with a milk toast.
National Milk Day commemorates the introduction of home milk delivery in glass bottles in 1878. In addition to its historical significance, National Milk Day underscores the vital role dairy plays in our daily lives. Connecticut is home to more than 80 dairy farms, with our state’s dairy industry supporting nearly 5,000 jobs and contributing $2.2 billion annually to the state’s economy.
During the event, attendees were guided on a farm tour by the Hastings family with an opportunity to see the cows, learn about daily routines, and hear firsthand how the Hastings family manages a multi-generation dairy farm that has been in operation for more than 100 years. The event concluded with remarks by Susan Hastings of Hastings Farm, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, State Senator John Kissel, State Representative Tami Zawistowski and Representatives from the Connecticut Milk Promotion Board and Connecticut Department of Agriculture followed by a milk toast.
National Milk Day is an opportunity to celebrate the hardworking farm families behind one of Connecticut’s most nutritious and locally produced foods — milk — and to share the care, dedication, and innovation that go into dairy farming today.