Jan. 13 2020 02:34 PM

Awards Highlight Local Dairy Farms Innovative Practices

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.

Nominations are now open for the annual “Dairying for Tomorrow” awards, presented by the American Dairy Association North East (ADA North East). The awards recognize farmers’ production practices that will help sustain the dairy industry now and into the future.

Awards are presented in three categories: animal care, community outreach and environmental stewardship.

“We want our farmers to know their efforts to produce high-quality milk are appreciated and critical to maintaining a positive image for the industry,” said ADA North East CEO Rick Naczi. “The awards recognize the dedication to the care of their animals and land, and to being a good neighbor in the local community.”

The overall winners and honorable mentions in each category will receive a farm photo shoot. Photos will be made available to winners and will be used by ADA North East in social media campaigns and educational projects. Additionally, to help demonstrate the impact dairy farmers have on their local communities, overall winners in each category will have a donation (valued at least $1,000) made in their name to an ADA North East retail or school initiative to drive dairy sales and develop young consumers’ enjoyment of dairy.

Awards will be presented during the dairy awards breakfast at the New York State Fair, the ADA North East dairy farmer luncheon at Ag Progress Day in Pennsylvania, or the dairy show at the Maryland State Fair, depending on the location of the recognized farms. Winners will be notified in advance and invited to attend the award presentation.

Jan King, of King Brothers Dairy, 2019 Community Outreach winner said, “We’re very honored to win this award. We have a family tradition of promotion, starting with our parents, and are lucky to have a team of incredible people – from everyone on the farm to our retail staff. We know that we are part of a larger effort of dairy farmers who work every day, not just to provide nourishing milk and dairy products, but to share their stories.”

2019 winners:

Animal Care

  • Winner: Misty Meadow Farm, Smithsburg, Maryland
  • Honorable Mention: A Joy Swiss, Athens, Pennsylvania

Community Outreach

  • Winner: King Brothers Dairy, Schuylerville, New York
  • Honorable Mention: Fawn View Manor, Pylesville, Maryland

Environmental Stewardship

  • Winner: Red Sunset Farm, Mifflintown, Pennsylvania
  • Honorable Mention: Wagner Farms, Poestenkill, New York

Applications will be accepted until March 31 and are available at https://www.americandairy.com/for-farmers/dairying-for-tomorrow.stml. Contact Beth Meyer, at Bmeyer@milk4u.org, for more information.

About American Dairy Association North East

American Dairy Association North East (ADA North East) is the dairy farmer-funded organization funded by participating dairy farmer’s checkoff investment to build demand and sales for milk and dairy foods throughout the local region. Representing nearly 11,000 dairy farm families in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and northern Virginia, ADA North East develops and implements local programs to drive milk and dairy sales at retail outlets and in schools. The organization also conducts consumer education about dairy through events, traditional and social media, and in collaboration with health professionals through National Dairy Council®. ADA North East works closely with Dairy Management Inc.™, the national dairy checkoff organization, to support nutrition research, national partnerships and developing export markets for dairy to bring a fully integrated promotion program to the region. For more information, visit www.AmericanDairy.com.