The cows came home to Associated Pediatricians on Sunday, June 23 to celebrate Dairy Day as a part of National Dairy Month. Children and their families gathered at the Valparaiso office for a fun afternoon full of sweet treats and exciting surprises from some four legged farm friends.
Nurse Practitioner Kim Minich and her family, who are dairy farm owners, brought their farm to the office for the event. The day included activities such as petting and viewing calves, enjoying ice cream treats from Valpo Velvet, fun giveaways, and exciting toys for kids.
One of the highlights of the event was the opportunity for children to see the practitioners in a friendlier, more approachable light. Pablo Bukata, owner of Associated Pediatricians, wholeheartedly agrees.
“When you're in the office the kids are sick, afraid of getting shots, running a fever, and you don't get to engage with them as much,” Bukata said. “When you have an event like this, they get to see you differently. I don't have a computer, needle, or stethoscope with me, so you can interact better. It's great to have community events like this, and we always look forward to them.”
These events continue to support and give back to the community while emphasizing the significance of dairy to children.
"At Associated Pediatricians, community outreach is very important to us,” Minich said. “Being involved in the community helps keep our communities healthy. Since June is National Dairy Month, we decided to put a fun spin on it by highlighting the nutritional benefits of dairy. We made it enjoyable by bringing in baby calves and organizing activities for the children."
Introducing cows provided an opportunity for children to learn about dairy production and gain an appreciation for the dairy industry.
“Our patients are going to be able to have hands-on experiences with the calves, like bottle-feeding and petting them,” Minich said. “Many kids haven’t learned yet where their food comes from, so we're trying to connect the farm aspect to the farm-to-table idea for them. I think our patients are going to enjoy the event. We’ve partnered with the Indiana Dairy Association, and they’re helping us out by bringing lots of items for us to give away, which will make it even more fun.”
Associated Pediatricians strive to host events like this to enhance community outreach efforts.
“We have a whole team approach here as everyone in the group contributed ideas, and we all agreed on the best ones and made improvements together,” Bukata said. “It's fantastic because these are her cows, and she partnered with the American Dairy Association. It's great to have this collaborative effort. I might not know much about cows, but this teamwork makes the event special.”
Associated Pediatricians’ primary focus is the well-being and development of the children involved, as shown by events like this.
“Our pediatricians here are constantly finding ways to engage kids and keep them healthy,” Minich said. “It's not just a business for them; they truly care about the kids in Northwest Indiana. When I suggested the idea, many of our nurses and staff instantly supported it, and many nurses signed up to help. Overall, everyone is excited about it, and it’s a new and exciting way to keep kids engaged.”
For more information on Associated Pediatricians, please visit its website associatedpediatricians.com.