State Senator Patty Ritchie welcomed dairy industry leaders to the State Capitol Wednesday for “Dairy Day,” a celebration of one of New York’s leading industries. 

The event, which is taking place during National Dairy Month, was once a tradition in Albany, and this year, Senator Ritchie, who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, joined with Assemblyman Bill Magee, who chairs the Assembly Agriculture Committee, to sponsor its return.

“As Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and someone who grew up on a dairy farm, I’m proud to sponsor the return of Dairy Day at the State Capitol,” said Senator Ritchie.

“This is a great chance to spread the word to my colleagues, as well as visitors about how important dairy is to our agriculture and rural economies—especially in the rural regions I represent.”

On hand for Wednesday’s celebration were producers of dairy products—including milk, yogurt, cheese and others—from across the state, as well as representatives of various agriculture groups that help support the industry.

Established in 1937, National Dairy Month started out as “National Milk Month,” an event held to promote drinking milk.  Since that time, the observance has grown into an annual tradition that helps to celebrate our state’s 5,000 dairy farms and all the fresh, nutritious foods and drink they produce. 

(Attn. photo editors: Pictured in the above photo with Senator Ritchie from left to right are Chip Pratt, Aileen Randolph and David Grusenmeyer from the New York Farm Viability Institute)