Ag secretary, NFL players celebrate Arbor Day with local kids at the U.S. National Arboretum

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined Washington D.C. schoolchildren and National Football League players Malcolm Kelly and Reed Doughty at the U.S. National Arboretum in celebration of Arbor Day.

Secretary Vilsack and the Washington Redskins players helped the children plant a flowering magnolia tree developed by plant breeders at the Arboretum for home and park landscaping. The event was designed to highlight the importance of a healthy diet and active lifestyle by encouraging students to participate in First Lady’s “Let’s Move” Initiative, the National Milk Mustache "got milk? " Campaign, and the NFL and National Dairy Council’s Fuel Up to Play 60  program.
 
Improving the Child Nutrition Act is the legislative centerpiece of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative to end childhood obesity within a generation. By passing strong reauthorization legislation, the Obama Administration hopes to reduce hunger, promote access, and improve the overall health and nutrition of children throughout the country.

The Obama Administration is also working to increase opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity for children through partnerships like Fuel Up to Play 60, an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Dairy council and the NFL with additional support from U.S. Department of Agriculture. The program empowers students to get healthy and be active.