At the FarmFirst Annual Meeting held last week in Onalaska, Wis., Janet Clark of Vision-Aire Farms in Eldorado, Wis. was elected to serve as chairperson of the cooperative's Young Cooperator Steering Committee. Also, elected to serve as vice-chairperson was Mike Leahy of Leahy Farms, Inc. from Brandon, Wis."The Young Cooperator program is a great way for other dairy producers to not only advance their management skills on their farm, but also to expand their network of dairy producers they can call friends," says Janet Clark. "This program is intended to be a resource – to seek out educational opportunities as well as networking opportunities."
Other dairy producers interested in learning more about the Young Cooperator program and upcoming events can visit FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative's website at www.FarmFirstDairyCooperative.com/YCP and check out their Facebook page.
"Board members and staff are excited to see the Young Cooperator program take off," says Julie Martin, Director of Communications. "The entire Young Cooperator Steering Committee is a dynamite group, and we are so proud of them and what they are accomplishing on their farms."
Janet Clark farms with her husband, Travis, along with her parents, Roger and Sandy Grade, and her brother, David Grade. Together, they manage their registered Holstein herd while working nearly 1,000 acres of owned and rented land. The farm was recognized recently as one of the six top dairy herds for milk quality in the U.S.
Mike Leahy farms with his family, including his parents Jerry and Carolyn Leahy and his two younger brothers Eric and Jon. Together they manage their herd of grade and registered Holstein and Brown Swiss herd while working 350 acres. Mike also serves as a director on the Fond du Lac County Farm Bureau Board, a member of the counties young farmer and agriculturalist committee, and over sees all the FDL Farm Bureau's social media sites.
Clark and Leahy will head the Young Cooperator Steering Committee, and together, the committee will build the program to support and bring together other young dairy producers.
3.8.2016
