The Beef Checkoff's annual awards were recently announced. Logan Bower, a dairy producer from Pennsylvania, earned the Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Award which recognizes a dairy producer in the United States who incorporates Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) principles in their daily activities.

Pleasant View Farm milks 550 cows in Perry County, Pa., with a 25,000-pound milk herd average. They grow corn silage, alfalfa hay, small grains, grass, and pasture. Logan believes in being efficient and responsible when utilizing resources.

As a confinement operation, he pays extra attention to cow comfort and udder health. The farm has a new barn to house transition cows, and old mattresses were replaced in the free stalls. The farm works with experts to evaluate the milking parlor's performance and equipment. With modern technology, regular staff training, and attention to detail, milk quality is top-notch. In addition, sprinklers and fans keep cows cool in the summer which reduces stress.

A significant "ah-ha" moment came when Bower visited Cargill Wyalusing, where he could see first-hand the impact that improper injection sites have on meat. This reinforced his commitment to always consider injection protocol and proper handling when administering treatment.

Logan believes strongly in animal care and worked with a small group of industry representatives to develop a manual for dairy farmers called Dairy Animal Care & Quality Assurance (DACQA) and hosted the DACQA seminar at his farm. You can download the DACQA manual as a reference for your operation.

Bower stated, "If you are going to promote a program, you better start with yourself. Set the example, and others will follow."