SEC Football Stars Partner with The Dairy Alliance to Promote Milk's Performance Benefits

The Dairy Alliance, a nonprofit funded by dairy farm families in the Southeast, has launched the latest season of its Milk's Got Game campaign featuring University of Georgia football players Gunner Stockton and Talyn Taylor along with University of Tennessee quarterback Jake Merklinger. The campaign showcases how real dairy milk's nutritional properties support athletic performance, recovery, and hydration for active lifestyles.

Joanne Engelhardt-Risko, Vice President of Strategic Marketing at The Dairy Alliance, emphasized the campaign's focus on dairy milk as a powerful sports drink. "Real dairy milk fueled these athletes while they were growing up, and it continues to power their routines today," she stated. "With this year's Milk's Got Game campaign, we're spotlighting the evolution of real dairy milk as a powerful sports drink that helps athletes recover, stay strong, and perform at their best."

The campaign highlights that each serving of real dairy milk contains 8 grams of high-quality protein, positioning it as essential for fueling strength, recovery, and hydration from practice to game day. The initiative also celebrates the role of mothers in establishing dairy milk as a foundational component of athletic nutrition, with Engelhardt-Risko noting that "if the best young athletes in the country trust dairy milk to power their game, it's because their moms do too."

University of Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton shared his personal experience with dairy milk, stating, "Growing up, my mom always made sure milk was part of my everyday routine. It gave me the nutrition needed for practice and helped me push harder on the field. Even now, dairy milk plays a central role in my life, keeping me fueled and hydrated through every game." His mother, Sherrie Stockton, added, "Since his first steps, it's always been real dairy – high-quality protein and real hydration."

Georgia wide receiver Talyn Taylor echoed similar sentiments, saying, "Real dairy milk gave me the edge when I was training as a kid, and it still makes a difference for me now. My mom knew the importance of it early on, and I rely on it to stay strong, bounce back, and perform at my best." Tennessee quarterback Jake Merklinger also emphasized milk's role in his athletic development: "From the start, real dairy milk played a huge role in keeping me energized and ready to go. My mom made sure it was part of my routine growing up, and it's still one of the best ways for me to recover after workouts and stay game ready."

Dairy farmers from the Southeast region expressed pride in supporting the campaign. Samantha Craun, a Tennessee dairy farmer, stated, "We are proud to join The Dairy Alliance to support the Southeast dairy industry and highlight how Milk's Got Game." Jennifer Glover, a Georgia dairy farmer, added, "From our farms to your family, milk has always delivered the nutrition and strength to fuel athletes on the field and at home."

The Milk's Got Game campaign underscores the connection between family, nutrition, and athletic performance, emphasizing that success on the field often begins with nutritional foundations established at home. For more information about The Dairy Alliance and their initiatives, visit https://thedairyalliance.com.