In the world of sports, there’s a magic ingredient behind the scenes that’s been fueling athletes long before the stadium lights shine at game time — real dairy milk. The Dairy Alliance, a nonprofit group supported by dairy farm families in the Southeast, is once again championing this powerhouse through their “Milk’s Got Game” campaign. This year, they’re featuring SEC football stars Gunner Stockton and Talyn Taylor of Georgia, and Jake Merklinger of Tennessee, along with their all-important teammates — their moms.
Revolutionizing Milk as a Sports Drink
Joanne Engelhardt-Risko, vice president of Strategic Marketing at The Dairy Alliance, highlights the benefits and growing impact of real dairy milk in sports nutrition, positioning it as a powerful and reliable choice for athletic performance and recovery.
“Real dairy milk fueled these athletes while they were growing up, and it continues to power their routines today,” she explains. The campaign not only spotlights dairy milk’s continuing evolution but also celebrates the significant role moms play — the original champions who made sure milk was always a part of their children’s nutrition.
A Family Connection from Farm to Field
With heartfelt testimonials from athletes like Gunner Stockton and their moms, the campaign captures the authentic bond between family, nutrition and athletic performance. Stockton reflects on how his mom, Sherrie, always included milk in his diet — fueling both his practice sessions and game days. Jake Merklinger of Tennessee mirrors this sentiment, acknowledging how his mother recognized the importance of real dairy milk early on.
Samantha Craun and Jennifer Glover, two dairy farmers from Tennessee and Georgia, respectively, stress the intrinsic connection between their farms and families nationwide.
“From our farms to your family, milk has always delivered the nutrition and strength to fuel athletes on the field and at home,” they share, underscoring milk’s unwavering legacy.
Engelhardt-Risko says moms play a special role for nutrition with the family.
“When you really think about it, moms were the first coaches,” she says. “Milk was always there when you connected with your children, and pairing mom with their SEC athletes made it very authentic — very powerful. Most of all, it made it very, very personal, and we made that connection with our consumers.”
The Campaign’s Impact and Reach
Launched in September, the “Milk’s Got Game” campaign is already making waves, boasting millions of impressions and expanding its influence to celebrities across different sports. The robust presence across platforms, from social media to press interviews, underlines its success and widespread resonance.
“Were over 97 million impressions to date,” Engelhardt-Risko shares, noting the goal is getting to more than 200 million total impressions.
Celebrating Community and Authenticity
At its core, the campaign transcends beyond the star-studded athlete line-up. It’s a celebration of family and community. It honors the dairy farmers whose dedication fuels this initiative, keeping milk’s powerful and nutritious story alive for future generations.
“We’re honoring the people who really make this happen, and that’s our dairy farmers in the Southeast,” Engelhardt-Risko says. “It’s their farms, their families, that allow us to do this. And that really is the basis for this whole campaign. It highlights how milk really continues to be powerful and nutritious, and it’s still and will continue to fuel our families now and into the future.”
From the quiet moments at the breakfast table to the roaring crowds in the stadium, milk’s role is as timeless as it is vital. The “Milk’s Got Game” campaign reminds us all that the cornerstone of an active lifestyle, athletic performance and family connection begins with a glass of milk — and the loving hands that pour it.
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