^{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.}

Chad Vincent, CEO of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, is appointed to new Wisconsin Agricultural Export Advisory Council (WAXC) as a dairy representative. In this role, Vincent will help guide the initiatives created through the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports (WIAE), a collaborative project between Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to promote the export of Wisconsin’s agricultural and agribusiness products.

“Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is dedicated to deepening and strengthening partnerships with the state’s processors to elevate products and drive sales, and this council will provide a platform to amplify export initiatives,” says Chad Vincent, CEO of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin (DFW). “Ninety percent of Wisconsin’s milk is made into award-winning Wisconsin cheese and 90% of that cheese is sold outside of Wisconsin. The quantity and quality of Wisconsin’s dairy processors is an invaluable strategic advantage.”

Vincent is an established executive skilled in globally transforming and growing businesses and brands with international experience at Miller Brewing International and Finland-based Fiskars Brands. Through his professional experiences he has provided strategic input and advanced the mission of Wisconsin Agricultural Export Advisory Council. In his time at Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Vincent has inspired regeneration in Wisconsin’s dairy marketing—advancing Wisconsin dairy promotion in global markets.

“Chad is a visionary leader and has significantly transformed Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin’s brand positioning through high-level strategic direction,” says Suzanne Fanning, Senior Vice President of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, “Through the elevation of Wisconsin’s dairy heritage came Proudly Wisconsin Cheese^® and Proudly Wisconsin Dairy^® which bring a new level of global renown and focus to Wisconsin, solidifying our position as the State of Cheese^®.”

This initiative aims to boost the export of dairy, meat, crop and other agricultural products by 25% by June 2026. The council will meet at least twice per year, and the first council meeting will take place at 9 a.m. on May 4, 2022, at the WEDC headquarters, 201 West Washington Avenue, Madison, WI 53703. These meetings are open to the public and are expected to have virtual attendance options.

Dairy Industry Representatives:

Chad Vincent, CEO, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin – 2022-2025

Ryan Wucherer, Director of Global Sales, MCT Dairies – 2022-2023

Jeff Schwager, CEO, Sartori – 2022-2024

Wisconsin agricultural exports reached an all-time high of $3.96 billion in 2021. Through the WIAE, DATCP is working collaboratively with WEDC to build on that momentum by promoting Wisconsin agricultural products in the international marketplace. Visit www.wisconsindairy.org to learn more about Wisconsin cheese exports and for more information on WIAE visit DATCP website.