Florida’s dairy farmers know the value of hard work and determination and practice it every day. They also know the importance of being involved in, and giving back to, their community.

Both of these are reasons why Florida’s dairy farmers came to sponsor the most unique and longest-running sports awards program in the nation: the Florida Dairy Farmers High School Sports Awards (FHSSA).

Celebrating its 21st anniversary during the 2012-2013 school year, the FHSSA program has honored more than 5,000 of the state’s top athletes and coaches since its inception in 1992 and currently recognizes all 30 Florida High School Athletic Association -sanctioned sports.

Many of these winners have gone on to collegiate, professional and Olympic fame and include names like:

• Football stars Tim Tebow, Daunte Culpepper and Anquan Boldin

• Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte

• Major league baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez

• Basketball greats Vince Carter, Amar’e Stoudamire and more.

The program also sheds light and accolades on the smaller sports, coaches and athletes who put in a tremendous amount of work and are often overshadowed by the larger sports.

“That was the essence of the program,” said David Stirt, owner of Florida Sports News, Inc. and co-creator of the FHSSA program. “Football and basketball players always get attention; everybody knows who they are. But the swimmers, softball players, track athletes, volleyball players and so on now get equal recognition with all the bigger and so-called ‘major’ sports and all the athletes and coaches in the state have the chance to receive recognition for what they are doing.”

Perhaps even more importantly, the FHSSA program exemplifies Florida Dairy Farmers’ commitment to youth and gives a face to Florida’s dairy farmers.

At on-campus award ceremonies, dairy farmers from across the state present the athletic awards, allowing thousands of kids a chance to see the men and women who produce their food.

“Many kids are now three to four generations removed from the farm and do not know where their food comes from,” said Matt Lussier, Alachua County dairy farmer and president of Florida Dairy Farmers.

As these dairy farmers lead the assemblies in a “milk toast,” the program also emphasizes to young people the importance of keeping dairy a primary part of their diet.

“It’s a great way to reinforce the value of consuming milk and dairy products for optimum athletic performance, recognizing that these athletes would be influential to their peers,” said Michele Cooper, CEO of Florida Dairy Farmers.

And it has inspired coaches as well. “Six or seven years ago we started using chocolate milk within 45 minutes of our games to help rejuvenate the muscles and get them recovering quicker,” said Mike Pickett, St. Johns Country Day School soccer coach and 2012 Girls Soccer Coach of the Year.

The FHSAA program is a long-term investment by Florida’s dairy farmers in the state’s youth and in telling their story. The award is looked at by athletes and coaches as the Florida high school version of the Heisman trophy, and the 2011-2012 season has resulted in outstanding media attention for the program and its winners, each one mentioning the nutritious product and hardworking people behind it.

Click here for a complete list of winners throughout the program’s history. PD

For more information, click here to contact Aaron Wockenfuss, consumer communications manager.

PHOTOS
TOP RIGHT: Florida Dairy Farmers 2012 Mr. Football Randy “Duke” Johnson speaks with local media about his award during an on-campus awards ceremony at Miami Norland High School in Miami, Florida.

MIDDLE RIGHT: Football star Tim Tebow accepts the Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Football award in 2005 from dairy farmer Jim Frazel of Putnam County, Florida. Tebow attended Allen D. Nease High School in Jacksonville.

MIDDLE RIGHT: Florida Dairy Farmers representative Aaron Wockenfuss, Florida Dairy Farmers 2012 Miss Soccer Carson Pickett and Florida Dairy Farmers 2012 Girls’ Soccer Coach of the Year Mike Pickett.

MIDDLE RIGHT: Florida Dairy Farmers 2012 Miss Basketball Alexis Prince (left center) and Polk County dairy farmer Freda Pirkle-Carey (right center) lead the Orlando Edgewater High School girls basketball team in a milk toast at a Florida Dairy Farmers High School Sports Awards ceremony at the school.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Lake Highland Preparatory boys basketball coach Jeff Turner, Florida Dairy Farmers 2012 Mr. Basketball Joel Berry II and Volusia County dairy farmer Gerald Fieser celebrate with a milk toast. Photos courtesy of Florida Dairy Farmers.