While the Virginia High School League and many major universities have recognized chocolate milk as the preferred post-workout and competition drink of choice for several years now, sometimes getting that drink can be hard. With prices on everything higher than usual, teams and groups have had to find creative ways to fund necessary equipment and supplies. For the Pulaski County High School track and field program, that support was found in a grant from the Southwest/Southland Dairy Farmers Chocolate Milk Grant for the 2023 Winter season.
“We are excited to share this opportunity to show how chocolate milk is the ultimate recovery beverage for athletes,” the award notification stated. “Your team is being awarded a total of $1,250 to go towards the purchase of chocolate milk from the vendor of your choice.”
Chocolate milk is considered by many as the original energy drink. With 13 essential vitamins and nutrients, it can restore energy and rebuild muscles. After workouts, chocolate milk is an excellent recovery drink for athletes.
Grants were made available for teams in producer funded areas, including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, North Carolina, Arizona, southern New Mexico, southern Nebraska, and Virginia as a part of the “Team Up with Chocolate Milk” program.
“We are very pleased to receive this grant and are confident it will be an asset to our athletes,” PCHS Track and Field Head Coach Mark Carper said. “The importance of proper nutrition, hydration, sleep, stretching, and recovery cannot be overstated. Supplying our athletes with this incredible post-workout drink will help their bodies recover quicker and grow stronger. We are very thankful for the support from the Southwest/Southland Dairy Farmers Chocolate Milk Grant and are expecting our first shipment of six cases this week.”
The VHSL has proclaimed chocolate milk as the official protein beverage of the Virginia High School League. The benefits of dairy products for athletes and growing students are well known.