(LAS VEGAS, Nev.) -
October 07, 2019Clark County School District (CCSD) students are now receiving milk produced in Nevada as a part of their school lunch program. CCSD, in partnership with Governor Steve Sisolak, the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA), the Dairy Council of Nevada and Southern Nevada Health District, will celebrate this news during National School Lunch Week.
“I am thrilled to see both students and Nevada agriculture benefitting from this important initiative to incorporate Nevada-produced milk into school lunches,” Governor Sisolak said. “This is an outstanding example of how public-private partnerships can benefit Nevada families and our economy – and it’s a great way to begin National School Lunch Week!”
Moonique, the NDA’s mechanical milking cow, will visit Ethel W. Staton Elementary School in Las Vegas during lunch on Tuesday, Oct. 15 (10:50 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.) to help teach students about how milk gets from cows in Amargosa Valley, Nev. to students in CCSD.
“Ensuring our students receive a healthy meal helps ensure they are learning in the classroom,” Dr. Jesus F. Jara, CCSD Superintendent, said. “CCSD serves more than 160,000 lunch meals a day to students and each one is served following national nutrition standards.”
According to the Dairy Council of Nevada, approximately 216 million ounces of local milk will be provided to CCSD students this school year. Representatives from the Dairy Council of Nevada and Southern Nevada Health District will also be in attendance.
“Nevada dairy farms are essential to the economic health of Nevada,” Libby Lovig, general manager for the Dairy Council of Nevada, said. “In the 2019-2020 school year, all milk coming to CCSD from our local Nevada farmers helps to extend the economic reach.”
About the Nevada Department of Agriculture
The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) promotes a business climate that is fair, economically viable and encourages a sustainable environment that serves to protect food, fiber and human health and safety through effective service and education. The NDA includes divisions of Administration, Animal Industry, Consumer Equitability, Food and Nutrition and Plant Industry.
About Clark County School District
Established in 1956, the Clark County School District (CCSD) is the number one choice for families and students. We educate 320,000 students – offering a variety of nationally recognized programs, including Magnet Schools, Career and Technical Academies, and Advanced Placement programs. Through these programs – plus our online secondary school and our open enrollment offerings – we offer the best choices to meet individual student needs. As the nation’s fifth-largest school district, we have the ability to provide additional services such as a school police department, adult education courses, and innovative community partnerships with Vegas PBS and The Public Education Foundation. CCSD educates approximately 70 percent of K-12 students in Nevada and works closely with community partners and business leaders to educate the workers needed to strengthen our economy.
About the Dairy Council of Nevada
The Nevada Dairymen represent the hard work and dedication of Nevada’s dairy farm families. The organization endeavors to provide its dairy-farmer investors with a return on their investment and enhance the financial stability of Nevada’s dairy industry while driving demand for locally-produced dairy products through coordinated marketing, dairy image and nutrition programs.