The Ford Field players tunnel is tense with excitement. Team members gaze out at bright lights that beam down on thick football turf, awaiting the moment they’ll enter the stadium.
An announcer’s words soon fill arena speakers as the jersey-clad teams rush from the tunnel into the oval-shaped glory of 65,000 spectator seats.
But today, the players storming the field aren’t the Detroit Lions. They are youth from 34 elementary and middle schools throughout Michigan, and the game is “Fuel Up to Play 60,” a health initiative launched by the National Dairy Council, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and National Football League (NFL).
The event, presented by the Detroit Lions, Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS); Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD); Michigan State University Extension (MSUE), Michigan Fitness Foundation (MFF) and United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM), featured appearances by former and current Lions players, guest speakers, prizes, healthy snacks, and beverages including ice-cold, chocolate milk. “Fuel Up to Play 60” encourages youth to enjoy an hour of physical activity daily, while including fruits, vegetables and dairy in their regular diet.
FUTP 60 student ambassadors are encouraged to lean in and become change agents in their schools by finding unique ways to promote healthier lifestyles among their peers.
“I’m excited to be here with everybody today,” said Johnasha Smith, a fifth-grader at Stewart Performance Academy in Detroit.
Johnasha and eighth-grader Julius Hailey were among participants in player drills and on-field exercises coordinated by Lions tight end Cole Wick and athletic trainers. Stewart Performance team members were chosen to attend, based on their citizenship and in-class achievements.
“I liked the running back station,” said Julius, who plays football and basketball.
He and Johnasha supported the day’s “fuel-up” theme of nutritious diet for better physical performance.
“You’ll have more energy,” said Julius.
The day-long program featured a talk by long-time former Lions kicker Jason Hanson, who shared with the children memories of how fellow NFL players learned that “what” you eat has a direct impact on “how” well you play.
“What you eat matters,” says Hanson, who emphasized that whether students were “athletes” or “mathletes,” that good nutrition is a pre-requisite of great performance.
A dad of two teenagers, Hanson says cities like Detroit and Flint can overcome some of their community’s nutritional obstacles by making wiser choices.
“What I found is for youth, all over… was that it’s easy to eat convenience food, which are the real packaged, quick things,” Hanson said, following his breakfast presentation.
Choices like substituting soda with a glass of milk “can make a huge difference” in a young person’s health, Hanson said.
Along with discussing health and diet, “Fuel Up to Play 60” included an inspirational message from motivational speaker and entrepreneur Kevin Laue, who made his mark as a basketball player, despite a severe deformity in his left arm.
Students sat spellbound as he extolled his personal journey through a string of daunting personal challenges at home, in school, and on the court – – and his ultimate discovery that his greatest handicap was also his biggest asset.
“You guys matter,” he told the youth. “You guys are so significant, you have no idea.”
How you treat yourself matters as much as the way you treat others, according to the athlete and motivational speaker who encouraged kids to stand up for each other.
“What you do and say to them can be life-changing,” he says.
“I wanted to encourage you today to never give up. Nothing’s out of reach.”
While “Fuel Up to Play 60” stresses making nutrition and exercise fun habits, it was the hard work of Michigan’s dedicated dairy farmers that built the foundation of the event, says UDIM CEO Sharon Toth. A little-known fact is that Michigan is America’s seventh-largest dairy producing state.
Jim Reid, UDIM board chair, heads a 1,000-acre dairy farm in Jedo, Mich. north of Port Huron, where he’ll soon celebrate 180 years of family operation.
UDIM’s dairy health campaign targets youth leaders, who will help influence their peers in making positive choices, says Reid.
“Even though today you’ll see some dairy displayed, we’re looking at the entire package of nutrition, because this is a critical time for them,” says Reid.
Landrea Davis, science teacher at Stewart Performance Academy, says healthier food choices helped her become a better example for her students. Davis had already lost 60 pounds without exercising, before she underwent surgery and dropped 90 more.
“I eat more mindfully now,” she says. “I’ve shown them older pictures and they’re like, ‘That’s not you.’ I say, ‘Yeah, that’s me.’”
Known as Mama Bey while working with students at Detroit’s Timbuktu Academy, Becky Burton brought a team of youth leaders to Ford Field, youth who promote lifestyle habits at the campus.
“They do the announcements in the morning, and talk about healthy eating, getting sleep,” Burton says.
Along with youth educators, the Michigan State University Detroit Extension center attended “Fuel Up to Play 60.” Associate Director Patrick Cudney says events like the Ford Field program fit MSU Extension’s mission of serving communities that have particular needs, like food accessibility. Through its Health and Nutrition Institute, located at Focus: HOPE, and other programs, the extension centers provide education, research and community support in areas throughout the state.
Support from MSU, the Lions, sponsors, students and all participants in “Fuel Up to Play 60” helps UDIM continue its goal of raising dairy awareness and supporting the local industry.
“The dairy farmers are behind a lot of this,” says Toth, “and it’s been their dedication to promoting dairy for 100 years that makes it possible.”
Fuel Up to Play 60 participants prepare to lean in and lead added by E.B. Allen on
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