The Dairy Difference: Advocating for Better School Meals With Smart Swaps (Sponsored Podcast)

The Dairy Difference: Advocating for Better School Meals With Smart Swaps (Sponsored Podcast)

Author: Progressive Dairy editors December 11, 2025 Duration: 19:21

DMI’s Katie Bambacht, Vice President of Nutrition Affairs at the National Dairy Council, speaks with DMI’s Scott Wallin about how the checkoff is working directly with schools to improve school lunches (with dairy being front and center) by collaborating with the School Nutrition Association.

Katie explains that nearly 30 million students participate in school meal programs daily, with dairy providing significant nutrients, while emphasizing the critical role of school meals in addressing food insecurity and improving academic performance.

She also covers the "Made with School Lunch" campaign, which aims to change perceptions of school meals, and the "Smart Swaps" initiative, which helps schools meet evolving USDA standards while maintaining dairy offerings.

The discussion also touches on the potential of whole milk in schools and future projects with the School Nutrition Association.

To learn more about the national dairy checkoff and your local dairy checkoffs, please visit dairycheckoff.com.

Host and Guest:

Host: Scott Wallin, Vice President of Farmer Communications & Media Relations, Dairy Management Inc.

Guest: Katie Bambacht, Vice President of Nutrition Affairs, National Dairy Council

This episode is sponsored by Dairy Management Inc.


For those who live and work in the world of milk production, the day doesn’t stop for a deep dive into industry news. That’s where the Progressive Dairy Podcast comes in, extending the trusted editorial voice of the magazine into an audio format you can take anywhere. Hosted by the Progressive Dairy editors, this series is crafted specifically for U.S. dairy producers and the network of professionals who support them. Think of it as a conversation with well-informed colleagues, breaking down the latest trends, operational strategies, and business insights that matter at the farm gate and beyond. You’ll hear straightforward discussions that translate complex topics into actionable advice, whether the subject is herd health, market dynamics, sustainability practices, or technology adoption. Released every other Tuesday, each episode is designed to fit into a busy schedule, providing a dose of relevant information during a morning commute or an afternoon walk. It’s more than just a business podcast; it’s a practical resource built on the same foundation of reliability that readers have come to expect, now available for your ears instead of your eyes. Tune in to stay informed and connected to the pulse of the dairy industry.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Progressive Dairy Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Robotic milking with dairyman Jacob Twohey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:40
In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Walt Cooley is joined by Jacob Twohey of Twohey Dairy. Like 95% of farms in Olmsted County where they dairy, their farm is family-owned, and Jacob represents the nex…
Bonus episode: What is the Real Producer Exchange? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:16
Introducing the Real Producer Exchange – a new, interactive experience where we go live, face-to-face with producers who are tackling the same challenges you face every day. It's your chance to get real answers from real…
Beef-on-dairy research with Tara Felix [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:03
In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Matti McBride is joined by Tara Felix, associate professor and beef extension specialist at Penn State University. Felix has been feeding dairy steers and beef-on-da…
One Big Beautiful Bill and what it means for dairy with Danny Munch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:10
In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, learn about the dairy provisions included in the One Big Beautiful Bill. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Economist Danny Munch joins host Kimmi Devaney to discuss…