Cooperative Enters Race with Vessel Dubbed Udderly Local
Update July 19: Hi-resolution pictures of Organic Valley's participation in the event can be viewed here.
As the boats jockey for position along the shores of Seattle's Green Lake at the Bafflegab Milk Carton Derby on July 7, a crew of Washington organic farmers will be at the fore, manning their craft looking for a win, as "Udderly Local," Organic Valley Cooperative's sea-faring vessel, makes a bid for first place.
Part of Seattle's annual summer Seafair Festival, the 34th annual Bafflegab Milk Carton Derby takes place on the southwest shores of Green Lake from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 7. Organic Valley will make its debut with a boat modeled after a Viking Ship. In the place of a Viking warrior at the ship's prow will be a hand-carved wooden cow's head. The 24-foot vessel is being crafted by Port Townsend general contractor and occasional boat builder, Douglas Milholland. Many of the cooperative's 32 local farm families will take part in the competition, which offers more than $10,000 in prizes to winners in both race and show categories.
"I am drawn to the energy and values of cooperatives, so when Organic Valley approached me to build their boat, I was happy to oblige," says Milholland, who lives by the cooperative spirit—shopping at a local food co-op, living in co-housing and working for a cooperative construction company.
Local Organic Valley farmers will be pitching in to help on race day. Farmers Andrew Dykstra and sons of Burlington, Gerrit Van Tol and his son of La Center, and Samantha Styger of Chehalis all know their way around a pasture and a cow parlor and they are wagering that the world of milk carton boat racing isn't so far removed—hard work, but rewarding in many ways.
Organic Valley Steps Up to Milk the Competition in the Team Challenge
After the Organic Valley team of farmers finishes the derby, they will be rolling up their sleeves to take part in the on-site "Team Challenge" boat build that takes place at 2 p.m. on race day. Organic Valley has donated 2,500 empty, sealed NW Pastures milk cartons to be used by all of the on-site teams. Teams each have 45 minutes to use provided materials to build a boat that will then be launched and paddled, sink or float. Six teams of four builders will be put to the test with Organic Valley farmers paired up with two PCC Natural Market employees.
Once the boats cross the finish line, supporters and racers can quench their thirst and sate their appetites at Organic Valley's booth, where local farmers and their families will serve samples of milk, chocolate milk and cheese to all Seafair participants.
Hi-resolution pictures of Organic Valley's participation in the event can be viewed here.
Organic Valley Family of Farms: Independent and Farmer-Owned
Organic Valley is America's largest cooperative of organic farmers and is one of the nation's leading organic brands. Organized in 1988, it represents over 1,000 farmers in 29 states and one Canadian province, and achieved $334 million in 2006 sales. Focused on its founding mission of saving family farms through organic farming, Organic Valley produces more than 200 organic foods, including organic milk, soy, cheese, butter, spreads, creams, eggs, produce and juice, which are sold in supermarkets, natural foods stores and food cooperatives nationwide. The same farmers who produce for Organic Valley also produce a full range of delicious organic meat under the Organic Prairie Family of Farms label. For further information, call 1-888-444-MILK or visit www.organicvalley.coop, www.organicprairie.com and the cooperative's farmers' website, www.farmers.coop.
