October is Cheese Month and Pork month, so take advantage of our coupon. The bottom of our newsletter offers some recipes for you to try with your families.

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The Riverloop Public Market in downtown Waterloo is now open. The market sells locally grown produce, fresh meats, fresh baked goods and Hansen's dairy products.

By shopping the Riverloop Public Market, you will be supporting responsible farming practices and sustainable local economy. Check it out!

Hansen's Farm Fresh Dairy Outlet in Cedar Falls is carrying new, all-natural beef and pork products from Grass Run Farm. The Spring Grove, Minn., farm produces and markets beef and pork from local, sustainable family farms with the goal of giving everyone access to affordable pasture-based meats. We've tasted all the products we are carrying and think they are delicious. We hope you do, too!

The cows are 100% grass-fed, 100% drug and hormone-free, and are fed a completely vegetarian diet with no animal byproducts. The animals graze on untreated pastures. The Outlet is carrying New York strip steaks, ribeyes, top sirloins and ground beef (85% lean).

Grass Run Farm also distributes "Fresh Air" Pork. The pigs are raised confinement-free in the fresh air, humanely treated, and fed a completely vegetarian diet with no animal byproducts. The meat is 100% drug free, with no antibiotics or hormones, and 100% preservative free - no nitrites, nitrates, or MSG. The Outlet is carrying uncured bacon (now), peppered bacon (very soon!) and small hams (very soon!).

Moo Roo (Waterloo):
Kids, get your costumes and come to Moo Roo from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29. Guess the number of candy corns in a jar, enter a coloring contest and receive a special prize for wearing your costume, plus much more!

Plus, if you wear a costume to Moo Roo any time between Friday, Oct. 28 and Monday, Oct. 31, you'll be given a special surprise!

Outlet (Cedar Falls):
Kids, wear your costume to the Outlet on Halloween and get a free mini cone in vanilla, chocolate, or a twist.

We had one big CA$H COW winner in September! That means in October, 2 jugs will have $300 written under the label (look inside the jug at your label when it's empty). Remember, there are still 5 jugs EVERY WEEK marked with a $5.00 prize, so keep your eyes open! View details here on our web site.

September $250 winner: Holly Rouse, Cedar Falls

September $5 winners: Becky Uhlenhopp, Waterloo; Annette Wilson; Eric Jordan, Waterloo; and a Grundy Center customer.

The removal of chocolate milk from school cafeterias across the country recently has prompted national attention.

Midwest Dairy responded to defend the nutritional benefits of chocolate milk. White and flavored milk have the same nine essential nutrients important for kids' health. A recent study found that flavored milk accounts for less than 3.5 percent of the added sugar intake in children ages 6 to 12 and less than 2 percent in teens, with only 20 more calories than white milk. Studies also show that when flavored milk is not offered as a choice in schools, milk consumption drops an average of 35 percent. Kids drink less milk and get fewer nutrients if flavored milk is removed from their choices.

"We believe there are better ways to trim calories and sugars from school menus than removing nutrient-rich foods like chocolate milk," Midwest Dairy said in a statement.

Checkoff organizations have felt strongly about this issue and continue to promote chocolate milk on behalf of the dairy industry and producers. If white milk doesn't appeal to your children, encourage them to drink chocolate milk so they still get those vital nutrients.

The Blue Ridge Orchard will again be providing apples for the Outlet in Cedar Falls. Their supplies are limited, due to weather and wind, so you'll need to get them while they last.

October's Cow of the Month is 4-year-old Venus. She has produced 38,000 pounds of milk in her lifetime. She has had 3 calves, all heifers: Velvet, Valentine and Violet. Two of three of her calves have been Red and White, even though Venus is Black and White.

Venus has been a very good cow for us. When she was born, there were only two "V" cows on the farm. We always name the daughter with the same initial as her mother, so if no heifers were born, the V family would be in danger of extinction. Thanks to Venus, there are now six V cows.

The first time Venus calved she contracted an infection in one teat, so only three of her quarters gave milk. Thankfully she got all four quarters working again after the second baby. She is now producing 13 gallons of milk per day and looks great. The V family lives on!

Grilled Cheese Sandwich Variations:
When I was a kid, our neighbor Bernice made the best grilled cheese sandwiches in the entire world: two slices of white bread, three slices of American cheese singles, and a lot of butter on each side of the bread. My husband Eric, on the other hand, loves his grilled cheese sandwiches on rye bread with cheddar cheese and mayo. Everyone has their own "perfect" grilled cheese, but here are a few ideas for new flavors...why not throw a Grilled Cheese Party and invite friends over to make (and share!) their own creations?

1. B(L)T - Add bacon and tomato to your favorite grilled cheese
2. Jalapeno Popper - cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and jalapenos
3. Sweet and Salty - butterkase, blue cheese, and pear or apple slices
4. Caprese - fresh mozzarella, parmesan, pesto, and tomato slices
5. Grilled Cheese Dessert - cream cheese, cheddar, or brie with fruit preserves
6. Buffalo Chicken - shredded chicken, buffalo wing sauce, cheddar cheese, and blue cheese
7. California - avocado slices, swiss or muenster cheese, tomatoes, and cucumber slices
8. Pizza - mozzarella, marinara sauce, and pepperoni
9. Tuna - aged swiss, oil-packed tuna, and pickle relish
10. Monte Cristo - ham and swiss in the sandwich, then soak the whole thing in an egg/milk wash before you fry it

Mexican Shredded Pork (Slow Cooker) Serves 8
Adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe

5 pounds boneless pork roast, trimmed of fat
Salt and pepper for seasoning roast
2 yellow onions, chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
1 (15 oz.) can green or red enchilada sauce
2 (4 oz.) cans diced green chiles
2 (14 oz.) cans diced tomatoes with green chiles (Ro-tel)
1 beef bouillon cube (or 1 teaspoon beef bouillon granules)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon black pepper

Cut the roast into 3 or 4 large chunks and put it in the crock of a slow cooker. Add the onion and garlic. Stir in the rest of the ingredients, cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours. Remove the meat, shred it into bite-size pieces and set aside, covered with foil to keep warm. Pour the liquid and ingredients from the slow cooker into a large saucepan and bring it to a boil on the stove. Boil for 20 to 30 minutes until it has really thickened up (be sure to stir frequently so it doesn't burn). Put the meat and sauce back in the slow cooker. Stir it up and turn the heat on the slow cooker to high to heat the mixture back up. Great on tortillas, taco shells, or even hamburger buns. Serve with a LOT of shredded Cedar Grove cheddar cheese, and sour cream, tomatoes, avocados, or lettuce.