Milk Messenger: March/April 2020

MARCH

/ APRIL

2020

VOL. 102

/ NO. 5

U.S. MILK PRODUCTION DATA INSIDE!

A Farming Commitment TIM HOOD, 2020 MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY DAIRY FARMER OF THE YEAR

20

104TH ANNUAL STATE DELEGATE MEETING RECAP

26

GET A GRIP ON YOUR BUSINESS

milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

1

features

20 104th Annual State Delegate Meeting Recap

Catch up on the proceedings of the 104th Annual State Delegate meeting, held in Lansing on March 12.

14

A FARMING COMMITMENT

26

GET A GRIP ON YOUR BUSINESS

MMPA Board Member, Tim Hood, was named 2020 Michigan State University Dairy Farmer of the Year as recognition for his leadership in the dairy community.

Dr. David Kohl explains that to stay competitive in the future, producers must have a high business IQ and be proactive in positioning the business for success.

milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

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contents

05

EDITOR’S NOTE

18

FIVE TAKES FROM OYDC FINALISTS

06

MILK MINUTE

28

U.S. ANNUAL MILK PRODUCTION DATA

30

YOUR DAIRY PROMOTION AT WORK IN INDIANA

What was everyone talking about at the National Mastitis Council meeting?

31

YOUR DAIRY PROMOTION AT WORK IN MICHIGAN

09

MMPA MEMBERS TAKE HOME 45 PERCENT OF NATIONAL MILK QUALITY AWARDS

32

FREELINERS & CLASSIFIEDS

10

NEWS & VIEWS

33

FARM SUPPLY STORE

12

LEGISLATIVE WATCH

34 STAFF

13

MMPA ELECTION RESULTS

35

Cultivating Our Championship Team

08

QUALITY WATCH

MEMBER MOMENT

"If you stay focused and follow the fundamentals you will be successful 80 percent of the time."

DR. KOHL (PAGE 26)

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milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

VOL. 102

/ NO. 5

Milk Messenger (USPS # 345-320) is published bimonthly by the Michigan Milk Producers Association, 41310 Bridge Street, Novi, MI 48376-8002. Periodicals postage paid at Novi and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Milk Messenger, PO Box 8002, Novi, MI 48376-8002.

President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Diglio Managing Editor Sheila Burkhardt, Senior Director of Member and Government Relations

Editor’s Note EMILY KITTENDORF, MMPA COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Spring is essentially here and this issue is a celebration of all of the successes our members have had in 2019 and the early months of 2020. Although our world is rapidly changing right now, we can still take time to celebrate these successes and build anticipation for what’s to come in the seasons ahead.

On the cover I had the opportunity to visit MMPA Board Member Tim Hood’s farm and witness the impressive feat of having all four kids and a son-in-law working side by side on the operation. That was one of Tim’s life goals, so recently receiving the award MSU Dairy Farmer of the Year is just even more reason for celebration. Learn more about Tim on page 14.

More stories inside I also had the opportunity to meet and help recognize numerous members at our Annual Meeting earlier this month. Despite the meeting’s shorter format, we still took time to honor our members that continue to make a difference for our cooperative. Recap the Annual Meeting on page 20.

The rest of the issue is a continued celebration – hear from one of our National Quality

Editors Allison Stuby Miller, Communications Manager AMiller@mimilk.com Emily Kittendorf, Communications Coordinator EKittendorf@mimilk.com Advertising Manager Nancy Muszynski Muszynski@mimilk.com Publication Designer reZüberant! Inc., Stacy Love rezuberantdesign@gmail.com Printing Foresight Group, Stacey Trzeciak staceyt@foresightgroup.net Publication Office MMPA Milk Messenger P.O. Box 8002, Novi, MI 48376-8002 p: 248-474-6672 f: 248-474-0924 w: mimilk.com Established in 1916, MMPA is a member owned and operated dairy cooperative serving dairy farmers in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio.

An Equal Opportunity Employer – F/M/V/D

more about the opening presentation at the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference and

Subscriptions: MMPA members - 50¢ per year Non-members - $5 per year

get the scoop about District election results on page 13.

Circulation: 2,600

As everyone hits the fields during a hopefully normal planting season, be safe, stay

(ISSN 0026-2315)

Award Winners (pg. 8), meet this year’s Dairy Ambassadors (pg. 10) and meet two more of our 2019 Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperators (pg.18). Check out page 26 to read

healthy and relish in the blessings and successes each of you bring every day to your farm, to your family and to this cooperative. milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

5

MILK MINUTE

Cultivating Our Championship Team

BY JOE DIGLIO, MMPA PRESIDENT AND CEO

R

ecently, we held the cooperative’s 104th Annual Meeting. Of the many annual meetings I’ve attended over the years, this one was like no other. Due to the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, we decided to limit attendance to our meeting less than 24 hours before the meeting was scheduled to occur. This precaution was taken out of an abundance of caution with the health and safety of our attendees in mind. Then, during the day of the actual meeting, the coronavirus situation continued to develop, and many large gatherings of people were cancelled, including all K-12 schools in the state of Michigan, Disney World and even the NCAA March Madness tournament.

Unaware that March Madness would soon be cancelled, during my address at the annual meeting, I likened the attributes of what makes a successful basketball team in the tournament to the process of success. When I think of March Madness, I think of the excitement that seems to permeate around the end goal of crowning a champion.

JOE DIGLIO, MMPA PRESIDENT AND CEO

I felt this back some time ago when my team, Syracuse University, won it all. Back in 2003, the Syracuse men’s basketball team wasn’t expected to achieve anything other than a normal decent year. They had a good nucleus of players that were returning from the prior year, as well as a strong recruiting class with plenty of star talent. Like any team, they needed time to develop and come together as a unit. As the pieces came together through the tournament, they accomplished remarkable things.

Whether it’s building a championship basketball team or a successful business, it all starts with relationships. From the talents we're recruiting to be part of our organization, or the customers we’re coveting to do great things with, it’s the connection that makes it happen. You don’t build a championship team overnight. Plenty of work goes into it. Establishing connections is time consuming, but when it comes together, it can be rewarding—just like winning a championship.

Similar to the enthusiasm behind winning a championship, Michael Dykes, President & CEO of International Dairy Foods Association, believes it’s a good time to be in dairy. Through a video message, Dykes acknowledge that growth in dairy has and will continue to be opportunity for health and wellness for consumers and it important to recruit the talents to help us achieve success. Further, he reiterated how our industry must think beyond a traditionally successful business model, embrace change and embrace innovation.

Innovation doesn’t just happen, it takes time, people and connections to achieve. We recently constructed a new ultra-filtration operation at our Constantine plant. We did this with input from our customers and on the demand in the marketplace for higher protein products, hence the game plan. While the construction and commissioning were remarkably quick, the relationship started well before the shovel hit the ground. Just like with college basketball, teams don’t share their game plan before the game is played. However, as the process unfolds, you start to see the strategy implemented.

There is plenty of momentum behind us and in our market. This market has been growing and in need of additional capacity besides our recent investment at Constantine. And with the arrival of the new cheese facility in the state, we are pleased to partner with fellow industry associations on servicing the supply needs. Working together for the betterment of dairy producers is good for us all.

The road to the final four is a journey. As we take this journey together, and deal with uncertain times like the coronavirus, know that your team stands behind our vision of being a champion for you.

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milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

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milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

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QUALITY WATCH

What was everyone talking about at the National Mastitis Council meeting?

WE ASKED THE EXPERTS:

Christy Dinsmoore

Dr. Ronald Erskine, DVM, PhD

Brent Wilson

MMPA Area Supervisor

MSU Professor and Dairy Extension Veterinarian

MMPA Member and National Quality Award Winner

During the 59th National Mastitis Council (NMC) meeting in February, I heard about global milk quality directly from world renowned experts. From Canada to China, milk quality is improving, but throughout all the presentations, one thing became very clear - cows remain the same around the world.

The 59th NMC covered a variety of research that has the potential to deliver to your bottom line.

After touring three different dairy operations during the 59th NMC, all having SCCs below 200,000, even though they were mega-dairies with multiple sites, I realized that Southeastern dairies could in fact obtain much lower SCCs than what is normally reported.

While high heat and humidity are often considered limiting factors for Southeastern states not being able to reach lower SCCs, these dairies proved that those may just be excuses. Even at the University of Florida’s research facility with labor issues and multiple experiments conducted, they achieved an average of 250,000 SCC. Based on what was presented, it appears as though much lower SCCs in Southeastern dairies can be achieved with proper management tools.

All cows thrive in a clean, dry environment, eating high quality feed. They crave great milking procedures and properly functioning milking equipment. Mastitis management is so simple that the practical methods of solving on farm mastitis management issues has not altered that much over time. The five-point mastitis control plan is as relevant today as when it was introduced in the 1970s. Farms need to 1) treat and record clinical cases 2) disinfect teats post milking, 3) practice dry cow therapy, 4) cull chronic cases and 5) maintain their milk machines.

There are not many new mastitis treatment options available on the market and even with automatic milking systems, the concepts are the same. What has changed are the diagnostics to solve problems. Using new lab methods, types of bacteria can be identified that previously were lumped into larger groups of bacteria (e.g. Lactococcus lactis). The instruments and software milking systems technicians can use to troubleshoot problems have also improved.

All of these advancements have helped milk quality consultants be more efficient and effective in helping our members reduce mastitis on their farms.

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Flow Controlled Vacuum (FCV) is a developing technology that alters the milking vacuum in an individual unit to match milk flow. Thus, the cluster vacuum increases during times of peak milk flow. In one study, cows on a rotary milked out in 447 seconds, vs. 483 seconds with a conventional stable cluster vacuum. This induced faster milk out without compromising teat health (van den Borne, et al.).

A New York study evaluated milking in cows that had Automatic Cluster Removers (ACR-‘take-offs’) set at a threshold flow of either 1.8 lbs./min. (standard) or at a more aggressive (wetter) 2.8 lbs./min.

Milking duration decreased and teat condition improved in cows that had the units removed at the higher (2.8 lbs./min.) threshold. There was no difference in milk yield, components, SCC or risk of clinical mastitis. ACR thresholds could be set “wetter” to help reduce risk of overmilking and still maintain production (Wieland, et al.).

Cows with fewer linear SCC scores (LSCC) of ≥ 4 (200,000 cells/mL) prior to being treated for an initial case of clinical mastitis were more likely to cure than cows with numerous LSCC ≥ 4. This study suggested that the duration of subclinical mastitis, even in the absence of previous clinical mastitis, can predict therapeutic outcome (Piepers and de Vliegher).

A research report presented at NMC that I was particularly fascinated with studied various types of bedding and their corresponding bacteria levels for causing mastitis. The study tested bacteria levels on four different bedding materials: sawdust, shredded paper, processed manure solids and sand. It was found that all materials had very high levels of mastitis causing bacteria. I was shocked to see that the study’s results showed high levels of bacteria in sand, but after reading the footnotes that stated they were using recycled sand, it made sense.

I realized how fortunate I am to be in an area where washed, pit run sand is readily available.

MMPA Members Take Home 45 percent of National Milk Quality Awards Seventeen Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) dairy farmer members were recently awarded National Dairy Quality Awards by the National Mastitis Council (NMC), making up nearly 45 percent of the total award winners. Honored at the NMC annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, these MMPA members were among 38 nationally recognized farms in the annual award program.

T

wo MMPA farms earned the highest honor, which was granted to only six dairy farms in the U.S. The platinum award winners were Kris and Carla Wardin of Evergreen Dairy in St. Johns, Michigan and Brent, Nancy, Tyler and Ben Wilson of Wilson Centennial Farm in Carson City, Michigan. MMPA farms won seven gold awards, eight silver awards in addition to four honorable mentions.

“MMPA dairy farms have a reputation for producing high quality milk and this year’s representation in the National Dairy Quality Awards is yet another testament to maintaining excellence,” Ben Chapin, manager of field services said.

MMPA offers a portfolio of member services to help members produce the highest quality milk possible, with field representatives working closely with each member to achieve quality goals.

MMPA also offers a quality premium incentive for its members producing higher quality milk.

The winners were selected from a pool of 82 applicants nationwide.

The winning operations stood out for consistently producing high-quality milk. Applications were evaluated for measures of quality, systems of monitoring udder health, milking routine, protocols for detection and treatment of clinical and subclinical cases of mastitis and strategies for overall herd health and welfare. MMPA winners were nominated by their member representatives.

MMPA’s large representation in the NMC National Dairy Quality Award Program underscores the hard work of the cooperative’s farms while competing against other well-performing farmers across the country.

The National Mastitis Council, along with quality partners Boehringer Ingelheim, GEA, Ecolab, IBA Inc., Conewango, milc Group and Hoard’s Dairyman sponsored the awards. The National Mastitis Council (NMC) is a

not-for-profit professional organization devoted to reducing mastitis and enhancing milk quality. The NMC promotes research and provides information to the dairy industry on udder health, milking management, milk quality and milk safety.

Platinum Awards Wilson Centennial Farm of Carson City, Michigan Evergreen Dairy of St. Johns, Michigan

Gold Awards Crandall Dairy Farms LLC of Battle Creek, Michigan De Grins Oer Dairy of Blanchard, Michigan Van Polen Farms of Marion, Michigan Rubingh's Dairyland LLC of Ellsworth, Michigan Wirth Farms of Evart, Michigan Gross Farm Inc of Weidman, Michigan Raterink Dairy Farm of Zeeland, Michigan

Silver Awards Dick Haven Farms LLC - Jersey Operation of McBain, Michigan Schultz Dairy LLC of Sandusky, Michigan Bosscher Dairy of McBain, Michigan Spring Lake Farm of Stanton, Michigan Benthem Brothers Inc of McBain, Michigan Nienhuis Family Dairy of Zeeland, Michigan Bontrager Farm of Wolcottville, Indiana Leroy Zimmerman of Carson City, Michigan

Honorable Mention Higgins Farm of Grant, Michigan Ephraim Martin of Sheridan, Michigan Dodde Dale Farms LLC of Falmouth, Michigan Gilde Farms of Lake City, Michigan

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NEWS & VIEWS

Coronavirus (COVID-19) In light of the spread of coronavirus, or COVID-19, MMPA is committed to protecting the health and well-being of our communities, while ensuring we continue to market members’ milk to the greatest advantage possible. As we continue to monitor the situation, MMPA is following recommendations from national and state government agencies, adjusting event schedules, and further sanitizing and securing our locations to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Please refer MMPA’s continued communication through email, social media and the Member Connection for more information as the situation evolves.

MMPA to donate 2,020 pounds of milk per day in 2020 At the recent 104th Annual State Delegate Meeting, MMPA announced a donation of 2,020 pounds of milk per day to the Food Bank Council of Michigan in 2020. A total of over 85,000 gallons of milk, the donation is MMPA’s largest and an effort to support the one out of every seven Michigan residents struggling with hunger.

Processing and packaging of the milk was donated by Kroger’s Michigan Dairy plant. In total, MMPA has donated over 333,000 gallons of milk since 2015 to supply food banks across Michigan with fresh milk from MMPA dairy farmer members.

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2019 Michigan Dairy Ambassador Scholarship Winners Announced 2020 Michigan Dairy Ambassadors look ahead to a year of dairy promotion The Dairy Ambassadors began their year with a day-long leadership training on Feb. 7 in Frankenmuth, Michigan. Led by Welch and Bridget Moore, Industry Relations Specialist at the United Dairy Industry of Michigan, the ambassadors were guided through engagement activities and challenged to try new things such as starting conversations with new people.

BACKROW (L TO R): IAN BLACK OF EAGLE, MICHIGAN; JONATHAN SAYLES OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN MIDDLE ROW (L TO R): ANNA MOSER OF DANSVILLE, MICHIGAN; ABBY VANDYK OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN; MADISON HALFMAN OF ST. JOHNS, MICHIGAN FRONT ROW (L TO R): ELYSE ZIMMERLEE OF BELLEVUE, MICHIGAN; BRYNNEN GARDNER OF BELMONT, MICHIGAN; ADALEE THELEN OF ST. JOHNS, MICHIGAN

S

ix Michigan youth were named Michigan Dairy Ambassadors after gathering at the 2020 Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference for leadership training, commencing a year of dairy promotion and outreach in Michigan.

The program welcomes students in high school and college to hone in on their skills and learn how to communicate about their passion in dairy.

“The Michigan Dairy Ambassador program gives youth with a special interest in dairy the opportunity to connect with consumers and share their ‘dairy story,’” said Jessica Welch, a member of the Dairy Ambassador planning team and MMPA member relations coordinator. “Our goal is to equip each Michigan Dairy Ambassador with the communication skills and tools to represent the dairy community and industry in a positive way.”

Ambassadors will take part in further trainings and represent the dairy industry at promotional and outreach events throughout the year. Next up for the ambassadors is a communications training at UDIM and representation at industry events throughout the year, including Dairy Day at the Capitol, Michigan Livestock Expo Sale‐abration, Michigan 4‐H Dairy Days Awards Banquet, Breakfast on the Farm and the MMPA Leaders’ Conference.

2019 Michigan Dairy Ambassador Scholarship recipients were announced at this year’s recognition night. The senior scholarship was awarded to Brynnen Gardner of Belmont, Michigan and the junior scholarship was awarded to Jonathan Sayles of Bay City, Michigan.

2020 Michigan Dairy Ambassadors JUNIOR AMBASSADORS Madison Halfman, St. Johns Anna Moser, Dansville Adalee Thelen, St. Johns Abby VanDyk, Kalamazoo Katelynn Webster, Barryton SENIOR AMBASSADOR Elyse Zimmerlee, Bellevue

Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarships Since 2000, the Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship Fund (MYLSF) has awarded more than $585,725 in scholarships and educational awards to outstanding youth who have exhibited at the premier livestock events in the state of Michigan. In 2019, there was $38,000 in scholarships awarded.

In 2020, a select number of applicants may be offered an opportunity to be interviewed, at the discretion of the MYLSF, prior to the Sale-Abration event for larger scholarship awards up to $5,000. Specific proceeds from the Michigan Livestock Expo Sale-Abration auction as well as charitable donations help fund the scholarships. The fund is governed by a 10-member board comprised of volunteers from Michigan’s agricultural community.

The 2019 MYLSF scholarship winners were: Shannon Good of Caledonia and Cassandra Perrin of Coopersville $3,500 SCHOLARSHIP:

$3,000 SCHOLARSHIP:

Eric Moser of Dansville

$2,500 SCHOLARSHIP:

Morgan Bollinger of Owosso

$2,000 SCHOLARSHIP:

Victoria Vining of Sault Sainte Marie

Kristen Burkhardt of Fowlerville; Payton Hines of Quincy; Lydia Acmoody of Coldwater; Kaleb Bickel of North Branch; Caitlin Henne of Eaton Rapids; Mariah Jansen of Sturgis; Laken Polega of Unionville; and Nathan Scovill of Laingsburg $1,500 SCHOLARSHIP:

Ian Black of Eagle; Mary Hartman of Flint; Tyler Rozema of Coopersville; Kylie Slavik of Ashley; and Renee Souva of Bronson $1,000 SCHOLARSHIP:

Zachary Cline of Allenton; Spencer Fisher of Blissfield; Callie Halsey of Adrian; Chloe Harris of Ovid; Kinsee Lettinga of Wayland; Emily Carole Luthringer of Dowagiac; Taylor Peter of Vanderbilt; Kade Shiery of Camden; Shelby Souva of Bronson; and Madelyn Stewart of Charlotte $500 SCHOLARSHIP:

$1,000 STATEWIDE SCHOLARSHIP: Katherine $500 STATEWIDE SCHOLARSHIP: Madeline

Wilson of Blanchard

Meyer of Ionia

APPLICATIONS AND QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MYLSF AND THE STATEWIDE SCHOLARSHIP CAN BE OBTAINED AT WWW.MICHIGAN.GOV/ MDA-MYLSF. APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020.

It all starts with you.

On March 14, we will mark a special day of appreciation when we return $82 million to our member-owners. Patronage is a result of our shared success and a reflection of our members’ continued hard work, dedication and commitment.

For more information contact your local GreenStone branch today.

800-444-3276

MMPA Returns 100 Percent of Earnings as Cash Patronage MMPA recently paid 100 percent of 2019 earnings as cash patronage refunds to its dairy farmer member-owners. The cash allocation of nearly $1 million represents 100 percent of the Farm Supply Store earnings and milk marketing earnings. All members who marketed milk through MMPA for fiscal year 2019 received a portion of the allocation. Cash patronage funds and equity allocations are based on the amount of milk each individual member farm marketed and on the supplies purchased through the cooperative during the year in which the earnings were achieved.

www.greenstonefcs.com GreenStone FCS is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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LEGISLATIVE WATCH

NMPF Ready to Help Dairy Farmers In response to the continued spread of COVID-19 (the coronavirus) in the United States and the virus’s potential impact on domestic and international markets, National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Jim Mulhern said: “As the organization representing U.S. dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own, the National Milk Producers Federation stands ready to assist its members in addressing coronavirus challenges. From possible damages to domestic and world markets, to supply chain labor disruptions on the farm, at the processing plant or in transporting milk, the potential ramifications for dairy are wide-ranging. We will devote our resources to the best of our ability to helping dairy farmers and cooperatives respond to whatever challenges they may face.

“The good news is that the U.S. dairy supply is safe, and production of highquality products continues unimpeded.

The FDA has confirmed that heat treatment kills other coronaviruses, so pasteurization is expected to also inactivate this virus. In addition, there is no evidence that this strain of coronavirus is present in domestic livestock such as cattle.

“Still, all producers will remain vigilant as what has now been labeled a pandemic continues its path. We will continue to answer questions and offer information to help our members.

Policy solutions also may be needed for producers whose operations have been affected by the virus. In keeping with our mission of serving our members, regardless of the challenge, we will work with lawmakers and regulators to ensure a safe and adequate supply of milk and to mitigate potential economic harm to dairy farmers.”

SOURCE: NMPF

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USDA Ag Sustainability Framework will Further U.S. Dairy Sustainability Efforts

A

t its annual outlook conference in February, the USDA announced a new Agriculture Innovation Agenda intended to improve the productivity and reduce the environmental footprint of farming in the coming decades.

Agriculture Secretary Perdue said that the Innovation Agenda is a department-wide initiative to align resources, programs and research to increase farm output by 40 percent, while reducing by half the environmental footprint of U.S. agriculture by 2050. This effort will focus on cutting nutrient runoff and carbon emissions, reducing food loss and waste, and increasing renewable energy production and use.

The USDA’s outline for achieving those sustainability targets are aligned with U.S. dairy sustainability goals. This will help leverage what the dairy producer community is already focused on through our collective efforts in the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy’s Environmental Stewardship goals, Newtrient, the Net Zero Initiative, the FARM Program’s Environmental Stewardship module. These efforts are all designed to continue the global leadership of the U.S. dairy industry in environmental stewardship through voluntary efforts by dairy farmers through market-based incentives.

In a related development, NMPF joined with a coalition of farm organizations to announce the formation of Farmers for a Sustainable Future. Part of the mission of this group is to help set the record straight about the impact of farming and food production on the environment. It’s no secret that cattle farming in particular receives a disproportionate amount of blame for its greenhouse gas emissions, when our own dairy lifecycle assessment indicates that milk production is less than 2% of the national total. Fortunately, the dairy sector is well-positioned as a leader in American agriculture in addressing sustainability issues and harnessing resources to further mitigate our environmental footprint.

SOURCE: NMPF

MMPA Advisory Committee DISTRICT 1

Dan Minnis, Dansville.........................517-719-5894 Scott Ferry, Litchfield..........................517-214-3298 Art Riske, Hanover..............................517-524-6015 Clark Emmons, Fayette, OH.................419-466-4471 Brian Preston, Quinc...........................517-376-1350

DISTRICT 2

Mark Crandall, Battle Creek.................269-660-2229 Michael Oesch, Middlebury, IN............574-825-2454 Danny Ransler, Gobles.........................269-998-3802 Dan Ritter, Potterville.........................517-645-7318 Richard Thomas, Middlebury, IN..........574-202-5198

DISTRICT 3

Gary Nelsen, Grant..............................231-834-7610 Bill Gruppen, Zeeland.........................616-520-5143 Burke Larsen, Scottville......................231-425-8988 Bill Stakenas, Free Soil........................231-425-6913 Arlyn Walt, Coopersville ..................... 616-837-8247

DISTRICT 4

Jeremy Werth, Alpena.........................289-464-4022 Marvin Rubingh, Ellsworth.................425-533-8106 William Pirman, Skandia .................... 906-869-4515 Dave Folkersma, Rudyard ................... 906-630-1957 Paul Ponik, Posen............................... 989-464-5924

DISTRICT 5

Robert Lee, Marion.............................231-743-6794 John Black, Howard City......................231-846-7252 Tom Jeppesen, Stanton ...................... 989-506-5287 Bruce Benthem, McBain......................231-920-1615 Amy Martin, Leroy..............................231-388-0496

DISTRICT 6

David Reed, Owosso ........................... 989-274-8147 Mike Halfman, St. Johns..................... 989-640-1962 Jon Thelen, Westphalia ...................... 989-587-3951 Renee McCauley, Lowell ..................... 616-283-6411 Steve Thelen, Fowler .......................... 989-640-1075

DISTRICT 7

John Bennett, Prescott ....................... 989-345-4264 Rodney Fowler, Chesaning ................. 989-302-2299 Tracy House, Mt. Pleasant .................. 989-621-6610 Philip Gross, Weidman ....................... 989-289-0670 Jason Elenbaum, Mayville .................. 989-274-1974

DISTRICT 8

Darwin Sneller, Sebewaing ................ 989-977-3718 Bill Blumerich, Berlin ......................... 810-706-2955 Mike Noll, Croswell ............................ 810-404-4071 Jeremy Sharrard, Peck ........................ 810-404-5076 Bryan Schulte, Ruth ........................... 989-551-8200

MMPA Election Results As a democratically controlled

MMPA District Officer Election Results

cooperative, MMPA members elect

MMPA delegates elected officers and committee members during the District Delegate Meetings held throughout February 2020.

leaders from among their peers. At District Delegate Meetings and the

District 1

District 6

Annual State Delegate Meeting,

Chairman: Scott Ferry, Litchfield

Chairman: Ken Wieber, Fowler

Vice Chairman: Brian Preston, Quincy

Vice Chair: Stephanie Schafer, Westphalia

Secretary: Art Riske, Hanover

Secretary: Steven Thelen, Fowler

State Credentials Committee:

State Credentials Committee:

Dan Williams, Homer

Leroy Schafer, Westphalia

State Resolutions Committee: Bruce Lewis,

State Resolutions Committee: John Hufnagel,

Jonesville; Scott Ferry, Litchfield; Daniel Minnis,

Westphalia; David Reed, Owosso; Stephanie Schafer,

MMPA Board Member Election Results

Dansville; Art Riske, Hanover

Westphalia; Ken Wieber, Fowlerr

District 2

District 7

MMPA delegates recently elected five members to serve on the MMPA board of directors. At the 104th Annual State Delegate Meeting on March 12, two director-at-large positions were up for election. Delegates [reelected/elected] the following members to serve threeyear terms:

Chairman: Mike Oesch, Middlebury, IN

Chairman: John Bennett, Prescott

Vice Chairman: Jesse Ramer, Elkhart, IN

Vice Chairman: Chris Daniels, Whittemore

Secretary: Richard Ultz, Burr Oak

Secretary: Rodney Fowler, Chesaning

State Credentials Committee:

State Credentials Committee:

Richard Ultz, Burr Oak

John Bennett, Prescott

State Resolutions Committee: Kurt Chase,

State Resolutions Committee: John Bennett,

Hastings; Brad Crandall, Battle Creek; Danny Ransler,

Prescott; Jason Elenbaum, Mayville; Rod Fowler,

Gobles; Tom Wing, Bellevue

Chesaning; James Weber, Vassar

District 3

District 8

Chairman: Glen Sparks, Fremont

Chairman: Darwin Sneller, Sebawaing

Vice Chairman: Bill Stakenas, Freesoil

Vice Chairman: Mike Noll, Croswell

Secretary: Burke Larsen, Fremont

Secretary: Sara Lee, Deckerville

State Credentials Committee:

State Credentials Committee:

Glen Sparks, Fremont

Bill Blumerich, Berlin

State Resolutions Committee: Darren Coffey,

State Resolutions Committee: Bill Blumerich,

Allegan; Burke Larsen, Scottville; Ken Leseman, Grant;

Berlin; Mike Noll, Croswell; Bryan Schulte, Ruth;

Glen Sparks, Fremont

Jeremy Sharrard, Peck

members elected representatives to serve on the MMPA board of directors and district officer positions.

Director-at-Large: Bruce Lewis, Jonesville, Michigan

Director-at-Large: Kris Wardin, St. Johns, Michigan

Board members elected to serve threeyear terms during District Meetings in February are:

District 2: Tim Hood of Paw Paw, Michigan

District 3: Bill Stakenas of Free Soil, Michigan

District 4 Chairman: Marvin Rubingh, Ellsworth Vice Chairman: Jeremy Werth, Alpena Secretary: Kimberly Pirman, Skandia

District 6:

State Credentials Committee:

Tony Jandernoa of Fowler, Michigan

Richard Fettig, Petoskey

During the board’s reorganizational meeting, held after the annual state delegate meeting, the following officers were elected:

Board Chairman:

Petoskey; Johnathan Miller, Engadine; Marvin

MMPA Districts

District 5 Chairman: Mike Rasmussen, Edmore Vice Chairman: John Black, Howard City

Board Vice Chairman:

State Credentials Committee:

Eric Frahm, Frankenmuth, Michigan

4

Rubingh, Ellsworth; Russ Tolan, Ossineke

Secretary: Gordon Dick, McBain

Treasurer:

MMPA Districts

State Resolutions Committee: Richard Fettig,

Doug Chapin, Remus, Michigan

Tony Jandernoa, Fowler, Michigan

MMPA Districts

Tyler Wilson, Carson City State Resolutions Committee: John Black, Howard

3

5

7 6

2

8

1

City; Bob Lee, Marion; Amy Martin, Leroy; Tyler Wilson, Carson City

milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

13

MSU DAIRY FARMER OF THE YEAR

14

milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

2020 MSU DAIRY FARMER OF THE YEAR, TIM HOOD, IS COMMITTED TO SERVING HIS FAMILY AND THE INDUSTRY.

A Farming Commitment

BY EMILY KITTENDORF

the farm has been passed

T

down for numerous

recently awarded him the title of Michigan State University Dairy

generations or it’s a newly

Farmer of the Year.

established farm, the

“I’ve always been involved in the industry and I’ve always felt a

dairy is a fruit of family

commitment to help pay back,” Hood said. “When you’re involved,

Family roots run deep for many farms in the dairy business. Whether

labor. For Hood Farms Family Dairy, generations

his family teamwork allows Tim Hood, the patriarch of the family, to spend time representing the dairy industry on a vast number of agricultural boards, including the MMPA Board of Directors. His dedication and leadership

within the industry throughout these commitments is what most

you learn that you can be a leader or a follower and there are only so many that lead. Everyone has to make that decision at some point in their life.”

have banded together to

What began as Hood leading his farm’s growth from 50 to 500 head in

ensure the longevity of

the late 1990s, has resulted in him leading the entire industry in the

the 500-cow operation.

numerous positions he holds today. While he’s away from the farm, providing his input on the future of the industry, Hood relies on his family to “make decisions and do what they can back on the farm” while he is gone. He credits his ability to doing what he does today, strictly to their involvement on the farm.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

15

MSU DAIRY FARMER OF THE YEAR

HOOD FAMILY: BACK ROW (L-R): TEGAN SPICHER, TAMMY SPICHER, TIM HOOD, DEBBIE HOOD, CHARLIE HOOD AND TY SPICHER. FRONT ROW (L-R): BRITNEY HOOD AND JENNIFER BUSKIRK. AND IZZO THE DOG.

TIM HOOD

A family affair

HOOD FARMS FAMILY DAIRY PAW PAW, MICHIGAN KALAMAZOO LOCAL, DISTRICT 2

Hood’s son, three daughters and son-inlaw all have a full-time role on the farm.

Using each of their skillsets, they’re able to get the job done and have it done well.

Speaking about the next generation on the farm, Hood said, “I think as long as you got somebody working for you that can do a better job, then I think you’re better off.”

2020 MSU Dairy Farmer of the Year

LEADERSHIP ROLES: CURRENT – MMPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS, DAIRY MANAGEMENT INC., UNITED DAIRY INDUSTRY OF MICHIGAN, MICHIGAN DAIRY MARKET PROGRAM COMMITTEE, STATE FARM BUREAU DAIRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE PAST – 1996 OUTSTANDING YOUNG DAIRY COOPERATOR FINALIST, MMPA ADVISORY COMMITTEE, MMPA LOCAL DELEGATE, MMPA RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE, FARM BUREAU COUNTY PRESIDENT, MSU EXTENSION COUNCIL

16

milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

When Hood isn’t on the farm, he’s driving to meetings where he represents dairy farmers throughout the region. Time in the car gives him the opportunity to sit back and think about his family’s dairy operation as a whole.

“I have more time to put into thinking about how we can make things easier for people and more profitable and efficient.

That really helps,” Hood said. “I pass ideas onto people and see how they respond to them.”

“

“ We talk things over before we do them and that’s part of the learning process...

I don’t just say, ‘I’m going to do this and regardless of whether it works or not, this is the way we’re going to do it.’ ” Hood also provides a guiding hand as family comes to him with questions, problems and predicaments. To him, change and everything that comes along with change provides a learning opportunity that will help guarantee the success of Hood Farms Family Dairy in the future.

“We talk things over before we do them and that’s part of the learning process that I do with them,” Hood said. “I don’t just say, ‘I’m going to do this and regardless

Meet the Hoods: Tim & Debbie Hood – Along with being named MSU Dairy Farmer of the Year, Tim is the self-titled “farm peacekeeper” and Debbie is responsible for keeping the many acres of lawn mowed on the farm.

Tammy & Ty Spicher – Tammy is in charge of managing employees along with keeping the books. Ty is the go-to guy for solving problems, and he’s good at field work when the weather is right.

Charlie Hood – Charlie knows his way around cows and is great at working in the field. He’s an overall asset on the farm.

Britney Hood – Britney works with Jennifer on caring for the calves and loves to operate machinery so helps in the field, hauls cattle to market and does anything else that involves driving tractor.

Jennifer Buskirk – Jennifer handles calf records and works with Britney on calf chores. She can also occasionally be found milking, but only if everyone else is busy.

of whether it works or not, this is the way we’re going to do it.’ If nobody is interested or on board with it, we’re not going to do it. The excitement has to go beyond me. It’s my job to get them excited about things that I think will work on the farm.”

While there have been many things that Hood has gotten his family excited about, including hosting two Breakfast on the Farm events, one of the most recent exciting additions to the farm is an investment in a soybean roaster.

The investment only came though after analyzing costs and deliberating with every member of the family.

“Last year we said that if we’re going to keep going in this industry, we have to learn how to reduce our costs. We looked at our biggest cost as feed and asked, ‘What can we do to reduce this?’” Hood said. “As a family, we had this discussion and we decided to look at how we would tackle it. What we ended up doing was purchasing a soybean roaster. This allows us to raise our own protein, instead of buying it. We’re not really far enough into it to tell, but we’re thinking our investment is going to be paid for in just a matter of months.”

Along with the financial sustainability this investment has incurred, it also has

“

“Last year we said that if we’re going to keep going in this industry, we have to learn how to reduce our costs. We looked at our biggest cost as feed and asked, ‘What can we do to reduce this?’”

a profound environmental impact. It’s reduced the carbon emissions produced by the farm’s feed by reducing the amount of hauling necessary to roast soybeans.

Instead of being hauled off site, the beans are roasted right on the farm’s property and fed to the cattle. The roaster also provides another crop to be included in the farm’s crop rotation, bettering the soil of the 1,200 acres owned by the Hoods.

Hood makes these investments intentionally, setting the farm up for success like he has since day one when he was milking 50 cows in the stall barn with his dad.

Setting them up for success When Hood turned 40, he participated in an MSU Extension program encouraging dairy operations to consider expanding in the future. With the help of MSU Extension dairy agents, he crunched numbers and determined that expanding was right for him.

“At the time, the kids were 8, 9 and 10 and that was part of the thinking,” Hood said. “I have this family, I had cows and I was currently squatting down to milk and my knees were getting worn. I didn’t want them to have to do the same thing I was doing, and I knew there wasn’t enough there to keep them interested.”

With family in mind, Hood grew his herd from 50 to 500 cows, building a new parlor, freestall barn, dry cow barn and heifer barn. Hood considers that expansion to be his contribution to the farm and is looking forward to the next generation making their mark by building a second freestall barn on the property.

Reflecting on the difference he has made on his family’s farm, Hood recognizes, “I couldn’t have planned it any better because they’re all here, staying on the farm, and that’s my ultimate goal.” milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

17

OUTSTANDING YOUNG DAIRY COOPERATORS

THE FIVE: How do you make a difference on your farm?

1. Milk hauling “Last year, I started truck driving and got my samplers license to haul my farm’s own milk. The transition wasn’t easy, but it was a move required for me to be able to continue in the dairy business.”

2. Silo repair service “To save money on service calls and labor, I began learning how to service my own silos. My skills ended up turning into a part time job working on other people’s silos to keep cattle fed. The part-time hustle provides secondary income and allows me to give back to my community.”

2019

OYDC FINALIST Jason Elenbaum

HOMEFIELD: Mayville, Michigan

THE FACTS: Jason always has his eye on the future, planning on adding robots, improving milk components and doing whatever it takes to stay in the dairy business. He’s a leader within MMPA, serving as a delegate and member of the advisory committee where he contributes to the decisions influencing the future of the cooperative.

THE FARM: Jason milks 75 cows and farms 250 acres on Elenbaum Farms. He capitalizes on the resources he has, breeding with bulls during planting and harvesting, working on his own silos, chopping his own forage and hauling his own milk. Jason is a member of the Deford/Clifford-Mayville Local in District 7.

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milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

3. Custom harvesting “I love running chopper! On our farm I do all the harvest work. I have gone as far as to do the corn and hay harvest for others now too.”

4. Crossing beef with dairy “To be honest, I came across crossing beef with dairy all by accident. I used a beef clean-up bull one time and now we use it regularly for management and to keep cow numbers in check.”

5. General farm management “I play a role on the farm in everything management, from efficiencies to book work. On most farms, you typically don’t see the young kid calling the shots and his decisions being final, but that’s the way it is here.”

THE FIVE: How do you promote dairy on your farm?

1. Host local students “Every spring, we invite the local high school to visit our farm and learn all about the dairy industry. We educate them about the health benefits of milk, the daily schedule of a dairy farmer and the science behind making feed and providing safe, healthy bedding.”

2. Join in community events “We participate in MSU Harvest Days and Agri-palooza, events that bring the farm to consumers. These events give the community an opportunity to ask questions about dairy farming and test their knowledge of cattle facts in jeopardy-style games.”

2019

OYDC FINALISTS Andrew & Rebecca Bahrman

HOMEFIELD: Skandia, Michigan

THE FACTS: Andrew (Andy) and Rebecca (Becca) are passionate about educating others about the dairy lifestyle and the benefits of consuming dairy. They are both employed off the farm. Andy is a certified welder by trade and works at the MSU Chatham Experiment Station, while Becca is a licensed practical nurse employed at DLP Health System in Marquette, Michigan.

THE FARM: Andy and Becca have a goal of opening a cheese processing plant on their 65cow farm, Pirman Corner Dairy Farm.

Owned and operated by them and their family, they have the goal of providing a safe and quality supply of milk for their community. Andy and Becca are members of the UP West Central Local in District 4.

3. Engage on social media “We post almost daily on our farm’s Facebook and Instagram channels, providing knowledge about cows, milk or operational information. Sometimes it’s silly facts, sometimes serious topics, but we always get lots of engagement this way.”

4. Talk to the media “Every June we invite the local news station out to the farm for Dairy Month.

We have the news anchor milk cows, feed cows and interview our family members on their role on the farm or topics regarding dairy farming.”

5. Host farm tours “Our farm is open to all who want to come and learn about farming or show their grandkids what a cow is. We love watching the kids’, and often the adults’, eyes light up while feeding a calf or learning about what goes on behind the scenes before the milk hits their cereal bowl.”

milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

19

104TH ANNUAL STATE DELEGATE MEETING RECAP

104th Annual State Delegate Meeting The MMPA 104th Annual State Delegate Meeting was held on March 12 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Michigan. The meeting, conducted in accordance with MMPA bylaws, was condensed with limited attendance to protect the health and safety of attendees in response to the spread of COVID-19 (the coronavirus).

ABOVE: MMPA PRESIDENT AND CEO JOE DIGLIO COMMENTED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF A STRONG TEAM AND NOTED MANY ACHIEVEMENTS AND MILESTONES THAT WERE MADE IN 2019. “THE MORE YOU LEARN AND ADAPT TO THE CHALLENGES AHEAD THE MORE SUCCESS YOU WILL HAVE. AND TO LEARN AND ADAPT MEANS YOU MUST TRUST EACH OTHER ON HOW TO NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGES.”

RIGHT:MMPA BOARD CHAIRMAN KRIS WARDIN SHARED HOW MMPA IS CULTIVATING CONNECTIONS AND DRIVING INNOVATION. “BY CULTIVATING CONNECTIONS – WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, OTHER CO-OPS, CUSTOMERS AND ULTIMATELY OUR END-USER CONSUMERS – WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD AN EVEN STRONGER CO-OP THAT WILL LAST ANOTHER 100+ YEARS. BUT WE HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE! WE MUST DRIVE INNOVATION WITH NEW PRODUCTS AND LOOK FOR PARTNERSHIPS THAT FIT OUR CORE VALUES.”

20

milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

104TH ANNUAL STATE DELEGATE MEETING RECAP

CULTIVATING CONNECTIONS DRIVING INNOVATION

ULTIVATING CONNECTIONS DRIVING INNOVATION

LEFT: MMPA TREASURER ERIC FRAHM PRESENTED MMPA DELEGATES WITH A REPORT ON THE CO-OP’S FINANCIALS RESULTS FROM FISCAL YEAR 2019. THE REPORT EMPHASIZED THE CONTINUATION OF MMPA’S STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION.

BELOW: JAMES WEBER (CENTER, LEFT) WITH GIRLFRIEND KYLIE SCHUH (CENTER, RIGHT) WERE PRESENTED THE 2019 OUTSTANDING YOUNG DAIRY COOPERATOR AWARD

BY SCOTT LAMB (LEFT) AND KRIS WARDIN (RIGHT).

milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

21

TOPIC 104TH ANNUAL STATE DELEGATE MEETING RECAP RIGHT: SARAH MICHALEK, MMPA MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE AREA SUPERVISOR, SPOKE ON BEHALF OF TOP QUALITY AWARD WINNER LEROY ZIMMERMAN OF CARSON CITY. WITH AN AVERAGE SOMATIC CELL COUNT OF AROUND 53,000, ZIMMERMAN'S FARM PRODUCED THE HIGHEST QUALITY MILK OF ALL MMPA FARMS DURING FISCAL YEAR 2019.

BELOW: BUSINESS CONDUCTED BY THE DELEGATES INCLUDED THE ELECTION OF BRUCE LEWIS (PICTURED) AND KRIS WARDIN TO THREEYEAR, AT-LARGE TERMS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. BOTTOM: MMPA BOARD MEMBER SCOTT LAMB INTRODUCED THE 2019 OUTSTANDING YOUNG DAIRY COOPERATORS (OYDC) FINALISTS AT THE MEETING, INCLUDING THE 2019 RUNNERS-UP BRAD & NICOLE WREN AND 2019 WINNER JAMES WEBER.

22

milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

104TH ANNUAL STATE DELEGATE MEETING RECAP

TOP: MMPA PRESIDENT AND CEO JOE DIGLIO THANKED GARY TRIMNER, RETIRED MMPA DIRECTOR OF MEMBER SERVICES, AND HIS WIFE, CAROLYN, FOR THEIR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT INTERNS IN THE MSU FOOD SYSTEMS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. LEFT: 2019 OYDC JAMES WEBER SHARED ABOUT HIS FARM AND FAMILY WITH MMPA DELEGATES AND GAVE A FERVENT SPEECH ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE DAIRY INDUSTRY AND HIS HOPE TO BE A PART OF IT.

milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

23

104TH ANNUAL STATE DELEGATE MEETING RECAP

CULTIVATING CONNECTIONS DRIVING INNOVATION

ULTIVATING CONNECTIONS DRIVING INNOVATION

ABOVE: MMPA BOARD CHAIRMAN KRIS WARDIN RECOGNIZED 35- AND 50-YEAR MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE AT THE ANNUAL STATE DELEGATE MEETING. (SEE THE COMPLETE LIST OF 50-YEAR AND 35-YEAR MMPA MEMBERS ON PAGE 25.)

RIGHT: DURING THE BOARD REORGANIZATIONAL MEETING FOLLOWING THE DELEGATE MEETING, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SELECTED DOUG CHAPIN (PICTURED) AS BOARD CHAIRMAN, TONY JANDERNOA AS BOARD VICE CHAIRMAN AND ERIC FRAHM AS TREASURER.

24

milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

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DISTRICT 1

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BETTER: SMELLING BETTER: BOTTOM LINE!

SUNRISE LOCAL DISTRICT 7 JAMES R. RICHMOND HURON LOCAL DISTRICT 8 KEITH M. RICHMOND

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American Farm Products Inc. Arlin Koglin, Sales 989-553-3370 info@afpltd.net

HURON LOCAL DISTRICT 8

milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

25

KOHL REPORT

Get A Grip on Your Business HOW PROGRESSIVE DAIRY FARMERS WILL STAY COMPETITIVE ACCORDING TO DR. KOHL

BY MELISSA HART

“Y

our business is like a chess board, with a

A Fresh Look at 2020

series of moves. The most important player

Looking at a fresh start for 2020, Kohl presented five positives in agriculture: 1. low, stable interest rates, 2. stable energy costs, 3. proactive base hits, 4. land value stability, and 5. accelerated generational transfer.

on that chess board is the queen. Cash and

working capital are the queen,” began Dr. David Kohl, Professor Emeritus, Virginia Tech, as he addressed a room of dairy producers at the recent Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

“If you have cash and working capital you have blocking moves and then on the other side it helps you to be proactive,” he said.

The landscape of agriculture is in an accelerated change mode. Macro factors such as tariffs, trade wars, global and domestic economics are creating a surprise around every corner. According to Kohl, the farmer of the new decade will experience more change than in the past seventy years driven by consumers, technology and management. To stay competitive, the producers of the future will require a high business IQ and be proactive in positioning the business for success.

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milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

“Take the equity of the older generation and the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of the younger generation, and that will take your family business to a new level,” commented Kohl.

He added that the ego of the older generation has the potential to kill any new business ideas of the younger generation because the fathers or grandfathers want to make all the decisions. “When this happens the only winners are Uncle Sam, the lawyers and McDonalds,” he said.

advisory teams,” Kohl said. “They are just like assistant coaches, constantly feeding information to the head coach so they can make better decisions.”

The business IQ will increase over the next decade. It will be the common denominator of success. “If you stay focused and follow the fundamentals you will be successful 80 percent of the time,” he said.

Kohl also mentioned the domination of technology. “I can tell someone is a good leader or manager if they stay off their technology at least two-three hours a day,” he said. He mentioned that one important skill is to avoid being distracted, do not let technology control your life. According to Kohl, when a phone receives a notification every four to seven minutes this leads to losing your attention span for a half hour.

Looking at the economic radar screen, Kohl said one of the most important policies passed was the United States Mexico Canada Trade agreement (USMCA). The U.S., Mexico and Canada make up 28 percent of the world economy, making it imperative to have a working trade agreement with our neighbors.

Kohl outlined the challenges facing agriculture in 2020: dependence on government income, loss of international markets, global political posturing, alternative agriculture and consumer demand shifts, and consolidation backlash.

“Alternative agriculture hit me harder and faster than anything else,” Kohl said.

As alternative meat and dairy products are developed and fine-tuned, Kohl said it’s not the share of the marketplace that matters, it’s the rate of change.

Momentum matters with these products and as they gain favor, and gain 10-15 percent of the marketplace, they can sway the urban public.

There will be more change in the next ten years than in the last seventy years maintains Kohl. There will be more technology, the consumers will continue to change and management will need to be fine-tuned. “There will be more

“Farmland is like having a baby, you know you can’t afford it, but you do it anyway,” Kohl said Farmland values have gone up or stayed the same from 1910 – 2017 and it’s a good investment and can be a great bridge over economic troubled waters. But he warns young farmers that buying farmland will “stretch you.”

As an industry, Kohl stressed the importance of being proactive rather than reactive. He says dairy needs to be three products and services ahead of the curve when it comes to plant based milk substitutes.

Crucial Business Conversations According to Kohl, there are several critical questions for crucial conversations that progressive businesses need to ask: • Know the cost of production by enterprise • Know how changes in price, production, cost and/or interest rates affect the bottom line • Understand financial ratios • Work with an advisory team consisting of a lender, crop or livestock consultant and possibly a financial planner.

• Attend or take five educational seminars or courses a year.

A struggling business attempting to turnaround will have done the following: • Written business, family and personal goals • Projected cash flow • Worked with an advisory team and exhibit a willingness to be coached by an advisory team and lender • Taken modest family withdrawals and have a family living budget • Developed and executed a one-page written plan on how they will improve cash flows, profits and what is the likelihood of the turnaround of business.

Management strategies in the 2020s will include writing down core values, remembering that a business plan is not set in concrete and when executing the plan, you need to hear, understand, take action and evaluate consequences.

Kohl concluded that being a leader and in leadership is about uplifting others, quoting Hall of Fame Basketball Coach, Tom Murphy: “Watch how people in position of power treat the front line people.”

Management strategies in the 2020s will include writing down core values, remembering that a business plan is not set in concrete and when executing the plan, you need to hear, understand, take action and evaluate consequences. milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

27

INFOGRAPHIC

2019 U.S. Milk Production 218 BILLION POUNDS OF MILK (+0.4% OVER 2018)

28

TOTAL MILK PRODUCTION (MILLION POUNDS)

PRODUCTION CHANGE OVER 2018

NUMBER OF MILK COWS (THOUSAND HEAD)

PRODUCTION PER COW (POUNDS)

1

CALIFORNIA

40,564

+0.4%

1,726

23,502

2

WISCONSIN

30,601

+0.1%

1,267

24,152

9.3 MILLION

3

IDAHO

15,631

+3.2%

625

25,010

4

NEW YORK

15,122

+1.6%

627

24,118

MILK COWS

5

TEXAS

13,850

+7.7%

565

24,513

6

MICHIGAN

11,385

+1.9%

426

26,725

23,391

7

PENNSYLVANIA

10,108

-5.2%

490

20,629

AVERAGE PRODUCTION PER COW

8

MINNESOTA

9,931

+0.6%

448

22,167

9

NEW MEXICO

8,187

-1.2%

326

25,113

10

WASHINGTON

6,783

+0.7%

280

24,225

11

OHIO

5,425

-1.9%

251

21,614

34,187

12

IOWA

5,291

+0.4%

218

24,271

FARMS/DAIRY HERDS (-8.8% OVER 2018)

13

COLORADO

4,807

+5.5%

186

25,844

14

ARIZONA

4,769

-4.1%

197

24,208

15

INDIANA

4,073

-2.2%

178

22,882

milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

+0.1% PRODUCTION CHANGE OVER 2018

+1.9% PRODUCTION CHANGE OVER 2018

-1.9% -2.2%

PRODUCTION CHANGE OVER 2018

PRODUCTION CHANGE OVER 2018

States in the MMPA milkshed MICHIGAN

OHIO

INDIANA

WISCONSIN

#6

#11

#15

#2

IN TOTAL MILK PRODUCTION

IN TOTAL MILK PRODUCTION

IN TOTAL MILK PRODUCTION

IN TOTAL MILK PRODUCTION

#1

#23

#17

#11

IN PRODUCTION PER COW

IN PRODUCTION PER COW

IN PRODUCTION PER COW

IN PRODUCTION PER COW milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

29

YOUR DAIRY PROMOTION AT WORK

Spotlight on Dairy Leaders, Dairy Lovers, and Sustainable Farms Preparing Future Dairy Leaders Working with agriculture students and young dairy leaders is a passion of Farmer Relations Manager, Allie Rieth.

“These kids are the bridge to consumers – they communicate on the same channels and can connect with them on social media in a way other generations can’t.”

When students are determined to reach across campus streets to their non-farm classmates, ADAI is there to provide preparation and communications training. This year, such trainings have centered around linking the benefits of dairy through story-telling and sustainable nutrition messaging. The Purdue Dairy Club hosted a grilled cheese contest for members in the fall and a smoothie contest in the spring.

ADAI used trendy cooking showstyle training to help students identify

consumer values and base conversations on shared common ground. The spring contest exposed students to milk alternatives in a smoothie contest to understand how plants and dairy differ, but can be used together in new ways.

To prepare for future outreach events, students also participated in a crisis communications training to know how to prepare for and respond during tough interactions with classmates.

Creating Future Dairy Lovers Teachers and school corporations know just how important a healthy start to their day makes a difference in students’ ability to learn. National School Breakfast Week is an opportunity to showcase dairy’s natural fit in a healthy breakfast, where schools across the state highlight milk, yogurt and more for their students. The week launched with an “out of this world” presentation

GRILLED CHEESE CONTEST IN FULL SWING WITH THE PURDUE DAIRY CLUB.

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milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

COLTS ALUM GARY BRACKETT AND DAIRY FARMER KERRY ESTES CELEBRATE NATIONAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST WEEK WITH STUDENTS.

at Snack’s Crossing Elementary in Pike Township with several special guests, including Super Bowl winning captain and Colts alum Gary Brackett, Colts cheerleaders and mascot Blue. The biggest applause came for dairy farmer Kerry Estes of Fountaintown, who gave the kids a tour of his farm and explained where their milk at breakfast comes from! Six schools around Indiana were visited during the national celebration week and gifted carts and coolers through the PepsiCo breakfast cart grant, contributing over $42,000 support school breakfast.

Highlighting Future Sustainable Farms Indiana was proud to host the 2019 Dairy Sustainability Summit in November, shining a light on the efforts of dairy farmers around the country to reduce carbon footprint and emissions on farms. Brian and Jill Houin of Plymouth kicked off the conference sharing their journey of increasing sustainable practices on their farm, from the anaerobic digester contributing to the local power grid to recycling manure for bedding. Stories like these resonate with consumers on their own journey to find lifestyles that are healthy for themselves and their planet. The Houin’s have hosted multiple farm tours with dietetics students so they can experience sustainable nutrition firsthand on the farm.

UNITED DAIRY INDUSTRY OF MICHIGAN

Inspiring others to buy milk: A driving force for Michigan dairy The United Dairy Industry of Michigan’s (UDIM) work with Michigan’s food banks and grocers has helped lay the foundation for sustainable, long-term commitments to milk sales through matching initiatives, improved infrastructure and nutrition education. The program inspires shoppers and food banks to buy milk for those in need.

UDIM’s mission is to build trust in and sales of dairy foods. Ensuring food banks purchase milk and have it available helps keep dairy in households when people are struggling to make ends meet.

In Michigan one in six people and one in five children are food insecure, they do not know where their next meal is coming from. Eighty percent of people who visit food pantries are working. They typically are having a rough financial period and have to chose between an unexpected bill and food.

“We want to keep people in the habit of using milk so that when they do have funds to buy groceries again, they continue to view milk as an essential part of their life,” said Sharon Toth, CEO of UDIM. Over the past five years, UDIM has partnered with the seven Michigan food banks to change the landscape of how milk is distributed and increase the amount of milk available to food bank clients.

There has been dramatic growth in milk purchased by these food banks due to improved nutrition education, efficiency in transportation operations, new coolers at food pantries and more streamlined milk purchasing processes.

UDIM’s “Milk Match” program has been a big part of that growth. UDIM matches a portion of the funds raised by donors, helping them know their contributions are making a bigger impact on families across the state. Six Michigan food banks

have taken part so far, each with a unique approach to raising money for milk purchases.

At a spring fundraiser last year, Greater Lansing Food Bank gave sponsors the option to round up 10% for the purchase of more fresh milk.

Eastern Michigan Food Bank kicked off their first ever milk fundraiser in September with “squishy cows” that raised donations for milk purchases.

UDIM’s partnership with Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan is a prime example. In 2015, the food bank purchased a single truckload of milk per month. Over the years, a revamped logistics framework boosted milk distribution capabilities. Gleaners now purchases over eight truckloads per month through USDA-purchased milk and fundraising. In 2019, the food bank provided an estimated 500,000 gallons of milk to Michigan families and will continue this commitment in 2020. In response to Gleaners’ increased demand for milk, UDIM sponsored a refrigerated truck to assist milk deliveries to their locations.

As UDIM’s partnerships with Michigan food banks continues to strengthen, so does the state’s milk distribution network and demand for dairy, opening the door for more milk sales in the future.

“Creating relationships with food banks builds trust that Michigan’s dairy farmers are great partners in providing high quality milk. It helps food banks see dairy’s value and encourages them to invest in distributing milk,” said Cortney A-Boes Freeland, Manager, Education and Community Partnerships at UDIM.

UDIM SUPPORTS IMPROVED INFRA-STRUCTURE FOR FOOD BANKS AND PANTRIES TO ALLOW MORE AGENCY SITES TO RECEIVE, STORE AND DISTRIBUTE MILK.

A PRESS RELEASE WITH ADDITIONAL DETAILS AND PROGRAM UDPATES WAS DISTRIBUTED TO AG MEDIA AND INCLUDED IN THE MONTHLY DAIRY PROMOTION UPDATE. TO RECEIVE A COPY, CALL OUR OFFICE AT 517-349-8923.

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FREELINERS AND CLASSIFIEDS

TO SUBMIT ADS, CONTACT MMPA VIA EMAIL AT MESSENGER@MIMILK.COM OR FAX 248-426-3412 OR VISIT MIMILK.COM/FREELINER-CLASSIFIED

freeliners Freeliners Policy

classifieds FOR SALE: SERVICE AGE HOLSTEIN BULLS. Call Steve Alexander, 810-622-8548 evenings or 810-404-8548.

The Freeliners column is open to current MMPA members who wish to advertise—at no charge—goods or services

FOR SALE: 18 REGISTERED HEIFERS starting to calve

relating directly to their dairy farm operations.

end of December. 989-467-0330.

• An item submitted will be published for no more than two consecutive months (one month, unless otherwise requested). After that, it will be withdrawn.

Classifieds Policy Cost for classifieds is $25 for the first 35 words and then $5 for each additional word. Payment due with order.

All ads must be received by the 10th of the month preceding

FOR SALE: HOLSTEIN AND JERSEY HOLSTEIN CROSS HEIFERS all sizes. All Select sire bulls, nice heifers.

260-705-8185.

desired month of publication. MMPA neither sponsors nor endorses products or services advertised in the Milk Messenger.

• It will be published again for no more than two consecutive months only if the member resubmits the

FOR SALE: 125 BALES HIGH MOISTURE GRASS/ALFALFA

item by writing or calling the Novi office.

MIX, $30 ea., no rain. 110 bales Rye Hay/Straw, $25

• Reference to a name of a firm or other commercial enterprise with which a member is involved will be deleted, with permission of the member.

• If the member does not wish such deletion, he/she may choose to have the item published as a Classified Ad at the regular per-line rate.

ea., no rain. Richard Miller 517-726-0301.

WANTED: KUHN KNIGHT OR BOTEC HORIZONTAL MIXER with 500-600 cu.ft capacity. Would consider Surpreme or Penta Vertical of the same size. Call or text Jeff at 616-634-2958.

• Freeliners must be received by the 10th of the month

OPPERMAN GROOVING: We can fix your scabbled floors.

Diamond sawed grooves, no hammering or cracking of concrete. No hoof damage. Call Opperman Grooving Inc., Portland. 517-647-7381.

DAVIDSON CEMENT GROOVING, INC: NO water needed.

Wider, rougher grooves for better traction. We also offer texturing for your previously grooved floors. 3 operators will travel Michigan and other states. No interest payment terms.

Est. since 1987. Call 1-800-365-3361.

CONCRETE GROOVING BY TRI-STATE SCABBLING, home of the 2” wide groove. Best traction, lowest prices. 800-554-2288. www.tristatescabbling.com

preceding desired month of publication.

A SURE WAY TO KEEP YOUR COWS UPRIGHT! Concrete grooving/texturing provides high quality traction in new and old concrete, fast service. Call for your below pricing 989-635-1494. BLUE RIBBON HOOF TRIMMING, LLC.

LEGENDAIRY. No bull.

Co-Products Menu

Soybean meal, canola meal, hominy, oat hulls, wheat midds, citrus pulp, malt sprouts, beet pulp, soybean hulls, cereal feed, cottonseed, distillers, gluten feed, wet feeds and more!

PTO and Automatic Start Generators 1-800-248-8070 M-40 South Hamilton, MI 49419 www.hamiltondist.com

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milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

Non-GMO

products available

Contact merchandisers at ZFS, Inc: MI/IN/OH: 866.888.7082 WI: 800-523-6760 www.zfsinc.com/divisions/ingredients

FARM SUPPLY STORE FOR SALE: NEW & USED MILK TANKS. We stock all sizes, makes, models. Special prices to co-op members, corporate & private farms. Contact us anytime day or night. Special on 2000 gal. Muellers for $13,900 & up. 2700 & 4000 gal.

Muellers call for quote. 800-558-0112.

STRAW & DRY HAY (large & small bales). Feed Oats, Feed Barley and Corn Silage. Delivery Available.

989-723-1886 or 989-277-1414.

ALFALFA HAYLAGE (excellent & fair grades) & CORN SILAGE. 989-723-1886 or 989-277-1414.

Discontinued Product and New Items When we worked with Ecolab to reduce costs on our CIP cleaners, one of the requirements was to remove some of the lowest selling products. Ecolab has discontinued Envirocid Plus in the five-gallon container. This decision was made due to low sales for that product in that package size. Envirocid Plus will still be available in the 15 gallon and 55-gallon packages. The replacement Envirocid Plus in the 5 gallon will be PL10-Plus. While PL10Plus is Ecolab’s premium acid, they have worked with us to make the price more equitable.

DESCRIPTION

NEW KATOLIGHT PTO GENERATOR, 60 KW, keep

PL10-PLUS 5 GALLON

STOCK NUMBER

MEMBER PRICE

6062

$51.55

everyone warm and producing if there is a power outage. Call Brent at 248-770-5122.

HOOF TRIMMING - 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. Also doing fly control and cement grooving. Gibson Hoof Care (Tom) 989-239-6843.

The MMPA Farm Supply Store is now stocking barn scrapers from Coburn. These scrapers feature a galvanized handle and a blue poly blade. These blades will not rust, rot or corrode and are reversible for twice the life! The handle length is 60” and the blades are available in either 36” or 24” lengths. These can be purchased as a unit or the blades are available separately.

DESCRIPTION

STOCK NUMBER

MEMBER PRICE

HEIFER GROWER LOOKINIG FOR HEIFERS TO RAISE.

SCRAPER WITH 36” POLY BLADE

4545

$81.75

2 barns available with Free stalls on sand and Headlocks.

36” POLY BLADE ONLY

4546

$38.00

AI Breeding and TMR. Can accommodate multiple sizes.

SCRAPER WITH 24” POLY BLADE

4142

$58.25

References Located in Ionia County. Lucas 616-893-1623.

24” POLY BLADE ONLY

4141

$31.44

220 CALF-TEL CALF HUTCHES, 2 years old, excellent condition,

If you have any questions about these or other products, please call 989-317-8370.

includes wires, buckets & holders. Buy one or all. $195 each. Call 989-779-6302 to purchase. Questions about the condition or specs call or text 989 954 5654. Sold as is, Central Michigan area.

TWO 100 GAL. PROPANE WATER HEATERS, 200,000 BTU 3000 gal. Surge Bulk Tank, 800 gal. Zero Bulk Tank, 51 Plate Mueller Heat Exchanger, Surge Milk Pump, 150 gal. Trailer

THREE WAYS TO ORDER MMPA MERCHANDISE FROM THE FARM SUPPLY STORE 1 Place your order through your milk hauler

mounted Milk Mixer. Call or Text 989-954-5654 for prices or

2 Call in your order:

photos. Located in Central MI.

Duane Farmer, Supervisor: 989-317-8370

SILAGE TRUCK 1975 Flotation tires, automatic, solid 18.5 ft box 3208 engine runs, needs work. Also 2000-gal bulk milk tank, 2 5hp compressors, auto wash, and complete Double

Toll Free: 877-367-6455 Orders (Novi): 800-572-5824 then dial 2 3 Fax in your order: 989-317-8372

5 milking system with take offs and plate cooler and Roll of rubber matting 100x4ft. 517-281-8855.

CHEMICAL, SANITIZER AND TEAT DIP CONTACTS These are SERVICE personnel only. Order your supplies through your hauler.

Concrete Grooving and Texturing Call: Jeff Brisky - Owner Toll Free: 1-800-294-1202 Cell: 1-716-353-1137

ECOLAB 24-Hour Medical Emergency Hotline: 1-800-328-0026 Service Message Center: 1-800-392-3392 Service Representatives: » Pat Mitchell – 517-403-0928 - 7273 N. Rollin Hwy., Addison, MI 49220 » Jason Wolfe – 540-553-5755 - 1890 Canter Drive, Riner, VA 24149

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MMPA STAFF

MMPA Field Staff

Novi Headquarters

Dean Letter, Newaygo, Member Services Director...................231-679-0337

Main Office Local line..............................................................................248-474-6672 Toll free................................................................................800-572-5824

Steve Lehman, Ithaca, Raw Milk Compliance.............................989-330-1638 Kendra Kissane, Byron Center, Sustainability........................... 248-880-4234 Ben Chapin, Remus, Field Services Manager........................... 989-289-0731

President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Diglio.......................................................................................ext. 202

Christy Dinsmoore, Vassar, Supervisor.....................................248-513-7920

Chief Financial Officer Josep Barenys...............................................................................ext. 240

Frank Brazeau, Oconto, WI......................................................... 906-250-0337 Ashley Herriman, Herron............................................................269-245-6632 Laura Gucwa, Bad Axe................................................................ 248-826-6294 Sarah Michalek, Dewitt, Supervisor.........................................248-305-0537 Lyndsay Earl, Ludington, Animal Care.........................................231-519-2455 Deb Gingrich, Leroy, Animal Care/Sustainability......................248-520-3580 Emily Peacock, Morley, Animal Care.......................................... 248-826-7243 Brandon Ewers, Coldwater, Sustainability.................................. 231-414-4539 Lindsay Green, East Lansing, Animal Care /Sustainability ......989-488-8159 Dave Brady, Grass Lake, Supervisor...........................................517-937-9061 Ed Zuchnik, Three Rivers.............................................................. 269-967-7351 Brittni Tucker, Eagle.....................................................................248-880-3785 Joe Packard, Manchester, Animal Care.......................................248-520-3481 John Lehman, Elsie, Bulk Tank Calibration................................248-444-6775

Member and Government Relations Sheila Burkhardt...........................................................................ext. 208 Management Information Systems Andrew Caldwell...........................................................................ext. 304 Sales James Feeney................................................................................ ext. 258 Laboratory Supervisor Patti Huttula.................................................................................. ext. 219 Quality Sudeep Jain...................................................................................ext. 249 Manufacturing Kaylan Kennel......................................................................248-880-5413 Member Services Emily Keranen...............................................................................ext. 203 Human Resources Kelly Kerrigan................................................................................ ext. 301

MMPA Labs

Credit/Insurance Cheryl Schmandt........................................................................... ext. 210

Novi (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)

Communications Allison Stuby Miller.......................................................................ext. 296 Emily Kittendorf............................................................................ext. 234

In Michigan............................................................................800-572-5824 Toll Free.................................................................................800-233-2405 Ovid (Daily, 6 a.m.-10 p.m.)............................................... 989-834-2515 Constantine (Daily, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.)................................... 800-391-7560

Farm Supply - Mt. Pleasant Supervisor: Duane Farmer, Mt. Pleasant

Corporate Controller Jeannie Strain................................................................................ ext. 311 Supply Chain Therese Tierney..............................................................................ext. 217 Member Relations Jessica Welch................................................................................ ext. 303

Main Line................................................................................989-317-8370 Toll Free..................................................................................877-367-6455 Orders (Novi)..................................................... 800-572-5824, then dial 2 Fax.......................................................................................... 989-317-8372 Merchandise Coordinator, Energy Auditor

Katie Pierson, Mt. Pleasant.................................................. 989-289-9686 Farm Supply Sales Representative

Jake Riley, Mt. Pleasant......................................................... 248-912-5070

Manufacturing Plants Constantine, Michigan Dave Davis, Plant Manager...................................................269-435-2835

Ovid, Michigan Ron Steinhorst, Plant Manager............................................. 989-834-2221 Middlebury Cheese Company, Middlebury, Indiana Bela Sandor, Plant Manager...................................................574-825-9511

If you are unable to reach your assigned member representative, please contact the representatives listed in your area. Your assigned member representative is listed on your quality statements or can be found by visiting mimilk.com/contact/field-staff and searching by your producer number.

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milk messenger / MAR-APR 2020

Board of Directors Officers Doug Chapin, Board Chairman Tony Jandernoa Board Vice Chairman Eric Frahm, Treasurer Joe Diglio, President and CEO Josep Barenys, Asst. Board Treasurer Todd Hoppe, General Counsel Directors-At-Large Carlton Evans, Litchfield 517-398-0629 Aaron Gasper, Lowell 616-291-4092 Bruce Lewis, Jonesville 517-869-2877 Gertie van den Goor, Marlette 989-550-8453 Kris Wardin, St. Johns 989-640-9420 District Directors 1 Hank Choate Cement City 517-529-9032 2 Tim Hood Paw Paw 269-657-5771 3 Bill Stakenas Freesoil 231-425-6913 4 Corby Werth Alpena 989-464-5436 5 Doug Chapin Remus 231-349-4059 6 Tony Jandernoa Fowler 989-593-2224 7 Eric Frahm Frankenmuth 989-652-3552 8 Scott Lamb Jeddo 810-327-6135

MEMBER MOMENT

Submit your Member Moment to messenger@mimilk.com

A freckled nose with a tongue on show because there’s no better way to say hello — hello to you and hello to spring and hello to a planting season that lets things grow.

PHOTO: JILL GRUPPEN, ZEELAND, MICHIGAN WORDS: EMILY KITTENDORF

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P.O. Box 8002 Novi, MI 48376

MMPA 4-H MILK MARKETING TOUR – JUNE 29-30 “The 4-H Tour has opened my eyes to the many opportunities within the dairy industry. I’ve learned more about MMPA and

For more informatin contact Jessica Welch at 248-996-0752 or jwelch@mimilk.com.

the tour has pushed me to pursue more education within the dairy industry.”

– MIKAYLA BOWEN, FORMER 4-H TOUR PARTICIPANT FROM HILLSDALE COUNTY