Dairy Farmers of America’s Post

We’re #DFAProud of Kevin Strathman, our executive vice president and chief financial officer, on his recent appointment as chairman of the board of directors for Harvesters—The Community Food Network.         Kevin has been active with Harvesters since 2016 and has served as board treasurer and, most recently, president-elect in 2023.        Harvesters, according to their website, is a certified member of Feeding America and serves as a regional food bank for a 27-county area of northwestern Missouri and northeastern Kansas. Their mission is to mobilize the power of our community to create equitable access to nutritious food and address the root causes and impact of hunger.       “Addressing hunger in our communities is not just a responsibility, but a critical issue that we can help to alleviate by doing our part,” Kevin says. “I’m excited about stepping into this new role and working alongside passionate people invested in connecting those in our community with meaningful assistance, education and resources.” 

Red, blue and light blue caps — do you know what milk fat percentages they represent? The Dairy Alliance has a great article explaining it. Just remember: While the fat content in milk may vary, you can feel good knowing that all real milk contains the same 13 essential nutrients! What milk percent do you and your family buy? Learn more over at this article >> https://bit.ly/3VR0vhU.

Today, the United Nations celebrates the International Day of Cooperatives! DFA is a cooperative made up of nearly 10,000 diverse farmer-owners and a nationwide network of dedicated employees. We proudly call our nearly 10,000 members “family farm-owners" because, in addition to owning their farms, they all share ownership in our Cooperative. This #CoopsDay, we’re shouting from our parlor-tops that #CoopsBuildABetterWorld! Together, we are #DFAProud to bring opportunities for rural communities to thrive, share nourishment with those in need, preserve our natural resources and fuel many of life's greatest memories with high-quality, wholesome dairy.

"Liberty is the breath of life to nations." — George Bernard Shaw This Independence Day, we celebrate the dedication and hard work of our farmer-owners and employees who breathe life into our communities every day. From our family to yours, Happy 4th of July!

Tomorrow, we celebrate America’s #IndependenceDay, but today we’re cherishing the simple summer moments on the farm. Our farmer-owners and their families enjoy being with their cows, watching their kids chase fireflies and evenings filled with laughter. These are the heartwarming scenes that remind us of the joy in our hard work. Here's to a summer filled with dedication and easy memories.

Our Southeastern Area Young Cooperators (YCs) recently got a chance to see how their milk is transformed into high-quality dairy products with an eye toward the future at our Ingredient Solutions Innovation Center and our Beverage and Dairy Foods bottling plant — both in Springfield, Mo. The YCs were able to appreciate how the Innovation Center connects with the plants. At the Innovation Center, they sampled a protein shake formulated by DFA food scientists and then watched the bottling process for the same product — along with other shelf-stable and extended shelf-life products — at our nearby plant. Bryan Matthews (Rocky Mount, Va.) and Sam Koester (Evansville, Ind.) are both farmer-owners whose family dairy farming operations date back four and five generations. For both, this was their first visit to a DFA plant. “It was the first time I’d ever been to a plant of that caliber,” Bryan says. “I was really impressed with the assembly line process and how everything came together.” Sam agreed and added that he was equally impressed with the overall dedication of the team. During the tour, “one team member stopped what he was doing to explain what reactive milk fat was and the problem it was solving in food manufacturing,” Sam says. “It was amazing to see the problems being solved with milk.” The YCs left the tour with a reinforced belief that dairy does indeed have a very bright future! “On a scale from one to 10, my optimism for the dairy industry has been turned up to 11,” Sam says.

Did you know that milk is the official state beverage of 22 states across the U.S.? We’re not surprised! This fact highlights the importance of dairy farming to local economies and recognizes milk's role as a nutritious staple in our diets. From New York to North Carolina, milk is celebrated for its benefits and contribution to state heritage. And there's no time to celebrate like #NationalDairyMonth! Curious to see the full list? Count them for yourself >> https://bit.ly/4evAMnI.

While #JuneDairyMonth may be coming to a close, our deep appreciation for the commitment and dedication of our farmer-owners will not. From one farmer’s perspective, it’s not just about the connection to food, it’s all about dairy farming and the cows. “Our commitment goes beyond just providing milk; it’s about ensuring the highest standards of animal care, sustainability, and milk quality,” writes Holly Agari, a sixth-generation DFA farmer-owner in a recent article shared by Morning Ag Clips. “Dairy farmers want to do good and are dedicated to protecting our natural resources. When you enjoy a cold glass of milk or a slice of cheese, know that it comes from a dairy farmer’s love and commitment to providing a safe and wholesome product."

If these girls are indicative of the next generation of #dairy, we couldn’t be more #DFAProud! Meet Ava (8) and Kathryn (7), two enthusiastic young helpers at DFA farmer-owned Kelly Dairy in Rensselaer Falls, N.Y. Earlier this month, they shared some fun facts with their followers and were kind enough to let us reshare to close out #NationalDairyMonth!