What is The New York Animal Agriculture Coalition?
Many of us use dairy products without giving them a second thought. Behind every glass of milk in New York is a farmer, and a cow who made it happen.
Did you know that there are over 3500 dairy farms in New York? These farmers work hard to ensure that the entire state has access to farm fresh and sustainable milk and dairy products. If you’re interested in the world of dairy, you should know what The New York Animal Agriculture Coalition (NYAAC) is.
Not familiar? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. NYAAC is one of our partners, and the work they are doing is crucial not only to dairy farmers but to the public. Whether you love milk and dairy products, or cows in general, NYAAC is a wealth of knowledge.
As a not-for-profit 501c3, NYAAC works to provide credible information and encourages others to understand and appreciate animal agriculture, especially dairy farms. Let’s take a look at what they do and how they’re helping the dairy industry.
An Overview of NYAAC
To start, NYAAC is an organization focused on transparency between dairy farmers and consumers. It’s farmer founded and funded and operates as a non-profit. The main goal is to make the public aware of the truths surrounding modern animal agriculture. Many people consume dairy products, but don’t know anything about the dairy industry in New York. NYAAC is working to change that.
According to their website, the mission of NYAAC is:
To enhance the public’s understanding of and appreciation for animal agriculture by fostering a dialogue with consumers, engagement with farmers, and cooperation among members of the industry.
NYAAC spends a lot of their focus specifically on dairy farms in New York because of the size of the dairy industry. Along with the mission, their vision is to foster a culture of understanding, trust, and a positive image of animal agriculture. NYAAC works hard to support family-owned and operated farms and spread awareness of how those farms fit into the New York food system.
Not only do they support farmers, but the organization puts on events that the public can attend to learn more about the dairy industry. They want to provide only credible information from reliable resources so that everyone is on the same page.
Their website also showcases some of the family-owned farms that they work with to put faces to the dairy farm industry. This is helpful in bridging the gap between the farmers and consumers. There are even pictures of some of the cows!
Core Values of NYAAC
NYAAC prides itself on having solid core values incorporated into everything they do. Those values include:
Integrity
The organization is committed to following ethical principles in all actions across the board, They also hold all farms they support to this standard.
Care
The NYAAC wants the public to know that the farmers behind dairy have compassion for every aspect of their farm. Animals, employees, food safety, the environment, and communities are all taken into consideration and treated with compassion every single day.
Respect
Humans and animals alike are treated with the courtesy, kindness, and respect they deserve.
Openness
The NYAAC values two-way communication between dairy farmers and the public. This allows for openness when sharing and acknowledging ideas and differences. This is a pillar of what the organization stands for.
Credibility
Only transparent and accurate information about animal agriculture should be shared. They also shed light on inaccurate information to ensure people have an understanding.
Helpfulness
The agricultural community needs a strong voice, and the NYAAC is here to provide it. This organization serves as a credible resource to create personal connections between dairy farmers and consumers.
Resourcefulness
They are staying up to date with technology, improving connections and resources for dairy farmers to better advance what they’re trying to do.
What Does NYAAC Do Exactly?
Simply put, NYAAC is providing a place for family-owned dairy farms in New York to connect with the public. This gives farmers a way to be active in their communities and spread awareness about animal agriculture.
Along with sharing valuable information, they help dairy farms maintain safe conditions for the animals as well as their employees. This organization was especially helpful to farmers when the COVID-19 pandemic created a need for additional safety regulations and adaptations.
Since dairy farms in New York are family businesses, it’s as much about the people as it is about the animals. NYAAC works to provide both a safe space and make the public aware of how hard these farmers and cows are working.
The Dairy Cow Birthing Center
Along with other informational events throughout the year, NYAAC hosts the Dairy Cow Birthing Center. It takes place at the NYS Fair in Syracuse. They work with six farms who provide the cows that will give birth at the State Fair. During the duration of the State Fair, they welcome hundreds of thousands of fairgoers who have the opportunity to witness uddermiracles but more importantly, they have the opportunity to meet and visit with NY dairy farmers.
The Dairy Cow Birthing Center gives farmers an incredible opportunity to connect with consumers to help others understand what is happening on the farm, straight from the source - the farmer.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is that NYAAC is essential to the promotion of the New York dairy industry.. Without them, many family-owned farms may not have the resources they need to continue to share the great stories behind every gallon of milk.
Their website showcases the farms of New York and what they’re all about. You can also find dairy-themed activities and recipes! You can also check out their YouTube channel for more information.
