This year’s meeting emphasized what sets the Cooperative apart and those ideals and values that matter most to members, leaders and employees.

“We’re proud of who we are and what we do, and we want to show the world why,” said Randy Mooney, chairman of DFA’s Board of Directors. “We want to show them what’s behind our pride in our name, pride in our family farmer owners, pride in our businesses, pride in our products that deliver everyday simple pleasures to millions of consumers and pride in our role in society reflected in communities across the country.”

The meeting kicked off with the chairman’s report, delivered by Mooney, who operates a dairy farm in Rogersville, Mo. Mooney, who also serves as chairman of National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), talked about the importance of the dairy community working together as well as the Cooperative’s ongoing efforts with trade negotiations and regulatory issues impacting the dairy industry.

An overview of DFA’s business was delivered by President and Chief Executive Officer Rick Smith. His presentation highlighted DFA’s financials for 2016 as well as how the Cooperative strives to take advantage of positive market trends, while also protecting its members from unpredictable market risks. Smith also discussed how the Cooperative remains focused on growing its commercial businesses, in order to better serve and provide value to members.

“Our dairy farmer members are at the heart of everything that we do at DFA, which is why we want to show the industry, as well as our customers and consumers, why being a part of DFA matters,” said Smith. “As we look to the future, we will continue to look for ways to maximize the milk check, while also identifying growth areas for our commercial businesses and providing on-farm services that make it easier and more profitable for our members to farm.”

Special guests and additional highlights of the meeting program included:

• A look at the dairy industry’s role in U.S. trade negotiations from Secretary Tom Vilsack, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Dairy Export Council
• Futurist Mike Walsh shared the mega-trends shaping the future of business and lessons learned from successful companies on leveraging innovation, embracing data and transforming agriculture for the digital age
• An overview of dairy promotion activities by Tom Gallagher, chief executive officer of Dairy Management Inc.

The Cooperative’s Annual Banquet brought a host of recognitions, including the 2017 Members of Distinction. Every year, family members at one farm from each of DFA’s seven regional Areas are recognized for service to their dairies, their families, communities and the industry.

In addition, outgoing Board Directors Bill Beeman of Kingsley, Pa., Marilyn Calvin of Mount Vernon, Mo., Willem De Boer of Tulare, Calif., Jim Eschliman of Ericson, Neb., Mike Faulkner of Greeley, Colo., Don Gurtner of Fremont, Ind., George Mertens of Sonoma, Calif., Jerry Peterson of Harbor Beach, Mich., Ed Schoen of Phelps, N.Y., and John Woelber of Belen, N.M., were recognized for their contributions to DFA.

Winners of the 2017 DFA Cares Foundation Scholarship were announced at the banquet. DFA Cares Scholarships are awarded to outstanding students pursuing a career in the dairy industry. This year, 45 recipients will receive a combined total of $53,000 toward their undergraduate and graduate level studies.

Annual Meeting concluded on Wednesday with the resolutions process, which brought together more than 250 elected delegates from across the nation to vote on a slate of issues that guide the policy position and business activities of DFA for the coming year.

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) is a national dairy marketing cooperative that serves and is owned by more than 13,000 members on nearly 8,000 farms in 48 states. DFA also is one of the country’s most diversified manufacturers of dairy products, food components and ingredients,and is a leader in formulating and packaging shelf-stable dairy products. For more information, call 1-888-DFA-MILK (332-6455) or visit www.dfamilk.com.