MMPA Recognizes 35- and 50-year Members

The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

Twenty-three MMPA members were recognized with 35 or 50 year member awards at the MMPA 101st Annual State Delegate Meeting, March 23, 2017. MMPA has traditionally recognized 35-year members and last year added the new MMPA Milestone award to honor those holding membership for 50 years.

During the MMPA annual meeting on March 23, 35- and 50-year members shared stories and words of advice about their membership with the cooperative through the years.

MMPA President Ken Nobis congratulated and praised the 35-year members for their dedication to the cooperative: “We commend you for your dedication and loyalty to MMPA and the dairy industry over the last 35 years.”

After the 35-year members were recognized, Nobis recognized the group of MMPA Milestone award winners who joined MMPA in the year 1967.

A video presentation showcased the vast changes the Michigan dairy industry has undergone the past several years and since these members began dairy farming.

The presentation highlighted information from 1982 and 1967, when these members joined MMPA. In 1982, there were 6,046 MMPA members in who marketed a total of 3.4 billion pounds of milk, while in 1967 membership totaled 7,973 and marketed 2.6 billion pounds of milk. Today, MMPA has approximately 1,200 members and marketed over 4.8 billion pounds of milk in the 2016 fiscal year.

35 Year Members

Kenneth Vredenburg, Alma Local

Albern Olson, Alma Local

Nelson E. Frye, Constantine Local

Gary Zuiderveen, Evart Local

Louis & Karen Fifelski, Kalamazoo Local

Jeanne Drummond, Mid-Michigan Local

Raymond Zimmerman, Mid-Sanilac Local

Richard Kaufman, Mid-Thumb Local

William Gruppen, West Michigan Local

Robert Gruppen, West Michigan Local

Dennis Raterink, West Michigan Local

50 Year Members

Larry Crandall, Barry-Eaton Local

Robert Lee, Evart Local

William Stein, Evart Local

Larry L. Keinath, Frankenmuth Local

Ronald N. Keinath, Frankenmuth Local

Petzold Dairy Farms Inc., Frankenmuth Local

MSU Dairy Farm, Ingham County Local

Thomas Goodman, Mid-Michigan Local

David J. Lee, Mid-Sanilac Local

Harland Schultz, Mid-Sanilac Local

Leonard Schaub, Upstate Local

Darwin Huff, West Michigan Local

MMPA—established in 1916—is a member owned and operated dairy cooperative serving approximately 2,000 dairy farmers in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin.