Sara Jarnigan has been named the 2023 National Dairy Month Chairman for Hamblen County.

Jarnigan will be honored June 8 at the Tennessee June Dairy Month Kickoff Event at Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville. The event includes recognition from Brian Flowers, president of the American Dairy Association of Tennessee. The official kickoff celebration recognizes Tennessee 4-H members’ efforts to promote National Dairy Month in Tennessee.

Co-sponsored by The Dairy Alliance, the American Dairy Association of Tennessee, 4-H and the Tennessee Farm Bureau, National Dairy Month activities are designed to communicate the value of milk and other dairy products to Tennessee consumers. Chairpersons play a vital role in spreading dairy’s message in their communities.

“Being the National Dairy Month Chairman means I have the ability to raise awareness of the importance of dairy, to teach others facts about dairy and to promote my love, dairy cattle,” Jarnigan said. “In raising my dairy cattle, I have developed an overall love for the dairy industry. Our dairy farmers do so much for our country and are under appreciated.”

Sara, a sophomore at Morristown Hamblen High School West, is the daughter of Kevin and Renee Jarnigan. Jarnigan is a member of the Future Farmers of America, the Future Business Leaders of America and the Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachia. Sara is an active member of her 4-H chapter, focusing in dairy project areas and participating in speech, dairy recipe, poster and photography contests. She exhibits livestock and has received awards for showing her cattle.

“We wish Sara much success in her role of communicating the nutritional benefits of milk and dairy products to the people in Hamblen County,” said American Dairy Association of Tennessee president Brian Flowers. “Sara will appreciate the cooperation of the people there. Her interest and enthusiasm will result in a better-informed community from which all will benefit.”

Originally deemed “National Milk Month” by American grocers in 1937, National Dairy Month began to promote dairy consumption during peak milk production in the summer. Today, June’s National Dairy Month continues celebrating with the Southeast’s communities and companies through festivals, contests and even a special night dedicated to dairy farmers at the ballpark.

In 2022, there were an estimated 27,000 Tennessee dairy cows living on 130 dairy farms producing 57.4 million gallons of milk. The top three milk producing Tennessee counties were: Loudon, Bradley and McMinn.

This year’s theme, “Around the Dairy in Seven Days,” encourages families to make milk their first beverage choice due to its unique package of vitamins, minerals and nutrients that are an essential part of a healthy diet.

With local media and farm bureaus, dairy farmers will be working alongside The Dairy Alliance to engage consumers through social media, radio contests, T-shirt giveaways, events and more.