President Matt Hoff, recognized that 2018 was a long, hard year for the membership. “Between the low milk prices, nonexistent margins, and the unusually wet weather, the challenges dairy farmers have faced in 2018 really took a toll on our region.”

The cooperative saw a drop in total revenue, declining 8 percent from 2017. Much of that decrease can be attributed to lower milk prices.

Hoff remarked that, “the tide is turning for our member and the cooperative. Markets are starting to firm up, and the milk price outlook is more optimistic than it was a year ago. Maryland & Virginia has continued the positive momentum of being our own largest customer for the second year in a row, and we’re running more of our member milk through our own plants.”

He reported that the Board and Management are focused on the future sustainability of the cooperative, and how to maximize value to the cooperative’s farmer owners. He shared that the co-op must focus resources on innovation, and look at other products, other possibilities that can be accomplished within the organization’s existing plant structure.

On the farm side, Hoff reminded the membership that they must supply the full package for the co-op’s customers. “Today it’s more than just delivering high quality milk. It’s delivering milk from farms that care for their animals, the environment and their employees. And we have to be able to back it up,” said Hoff.

CEO Jay Bryant echoed Hoff’s sentiments about the challenging year members and the industry faced in 2018. He reported that the co-op made key investments into its facilities to keep them operating at a high level. In addition, he shared that at a time when fluid sales are down nationally, Maryland & Virginia’s fluid processing facilities are running more volumes thanks to the co-op’s acquisition of new customers and with existing key customers who are growing their business with Maryland & Virginia.

Bryant introduced new key leadership among the co-op’s executive team, including Jon Cowell as the co-op’s new Chief Financial Officer, and Lindsay Reames as Director of Sustainability & External Relations.

The membership in attendance voted in six directors to each fulfill a three-year term on the Board of Directors. The newly elected directors include:

• Jim Biddle, Williamsburg, Pennsylvania
• David Hunsberger, Mifflintown, Pennsylvania
• Gary Truckenmiller, Watsontown, Pennsylvania
• Ben Flahart, Colora, Maryland
• Ricky Talley, Olin, North Carolina
• Connie Finton, New Philadelphia, Ohio

Hoff recognized retiring directors Monk Sanford of Orange, Virginia and Phyllis Kilby of Colora, Maryland for their collective 23 years of service on the Board. With 20 years of service, Monk was active on a number of committees including the Executive Committee and a past-chair of the Finance Committee. Phyllis most recently served as the chair of the Bylaws and Territory committee, and she was on Auditing & Compliance committee as well as the Human Resources & Retirement Benefits committee.

The Board of Directors held its annual reorganization meeting immediately after the Annual Meeting, and the following directors and staff have been elected to officer positions for the coming year:

• President - Matt Hoff, New Windsor, Maryland
• First Vice President - Kevin Satterwhite, Newberry, South Carolina
• Second Vice President - David Pool, Robesonia, Pennsylvania
• Secretary & Treasurer - Jay Bryant, Reston, Virginia

Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative is a community of dairy farm families passionate about cultivating dairy goodness and bottling fresh Maola brand milk and dairy products. Founded in 1920, the cooperative’s farmers produce three billion pounds of milk a year for consumers and manufacturers worldwide. Our dairy farm families take pride in creating dairy products people crave, operating with passion and integrity, responsibly caring for our resources and providing a rewarding livelihood for our farmers and employees.