Milk Messenger: November/December 2019

NOVEMBER

/ DECEMBER

2019

VOL. 102

Cows & Conifers MMPA MEMBER FARM CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAYS WITH REAL DAIRY AND REAL TREES

22

CHEESE FROM THE MOUNTAIN SIDE TO THE LAKE SIDE

26

A FAMILY OF DOERS

/ NO. 3

Dairy Care ACADEMY

Dairy Care Academy is a FREE MMPA program designed to help farms meet training requirements for the F.A.R.M. program. The interactive, day-long training is coming to an area near you and will include three sessions covering milking practices, dairy stockmanship and calf care.

MILKING PRACTICES

DAIRY STOCKMANSHIP

CALF CARE

Learn more at mimilk.com/dairy-care-academy or by contacting Emily Keranen at ekeranen@mimilk.com or 248-474-6672 ex. 203.

features

22 From the Mountain Side to the Lake Side

After meeting in the Alps, John and Anne Hoyt bring a centuries old Swiss cheesemaking tradition to their small artisanal cheese company in the Leelanau Peninsula.

14

COWS & CONIFERS

26

A FAMILY OF DOERS

The holiday season is all encompassed at Booms Dairy as their cows produce the real dairy necessary for delicious holiday recipes and their tree operation supplies the real Christmas trees.

Brad and Nicole Wren, 2019 Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperator Runners-Up, have always pursued what they’re passionate about – including starting a dairy farm.

milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

3

contents

2019 OYDC RUNNERS-UP, BRAD AND NICOLE WREN, ARE TEACHING THEIR THREE CHILDREN THE IMPORTANCE OF PURSUING THEIR DREAMS.

DAIRY FARMERS LIKE MADELINE MEYER JOINED UDIM AT MANY EVENTS TO HELP SHOW OUR CONSUMERS THAT FARMERS ARE JUST LIKE THEM.

05

EDITOR’S NOTE

32

LOCAL MEETING INFORMATION

06

MILK MINUTE

34

YOUR DAIRY PROMOTION AT WORK IN INDIANA

A Market that Requires Reactivity and Flexibility

35

YOUR DAIRY PROMOTION AT WORK IN MICHIGAN

08

QUALITY WATCH

What services does MMPA provide its members?

36

FREELINERS & CLASSIFIEDS

10

NEWS & VIEWS

37

FARM SUPPLY STORE

12

LEGISLATIVE WATCH

38 STAFF

18

MICHIGAN GROWN, MICHIGAN GREAT

39

MEMBER MOMENT

“In today’s culture, transparency and authenticity are of the utmost importance.”

NOELLE NACHREINER, MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL (PAGE 27)

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milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

VOL. 102

/ NO. 3

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

BY EMILY KITTENDORF, MMPA COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

The holiday season offers a chance to spend time with family and friends while giving thanks and reflecting on the developments the past year has brought. With the new year quickly approaching, it’s also a time to set goals and think about how to improve in the future.

The spirit of moving forward and constantly improving, along with gratitude for today, is something I admire most about the dairy community. I had the chance to talk to Brad and Nicole Wren, this year’s Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperator Runners-Up, about how they took a chance on starting a dairy farm and what their plans are for the future.

Their ‘just-do-it’ attitude is inspirational and their plans for the future are admirable.

Learn more about their unique story on page 26.

On the cover Booms Dairy, featured on the cover, also has significant goals set for the future with their first expected Christmas tree harvest quickly approaching. I met with Jordan and his father Russell on their diverse farm nestled in Moorestown, Michigan, to learn more about their dairy cows and how starting a Christmas tree operation was a perfect fit for their farm. As we know, the holiday season wouldn’t be complete without the butter in holiday cookies and milk in the eggnog, and of course the true icon of Christmas – the tree. The Booms have both, so prepare yourself for the holiday splendor on page 14.

More stories inside The holidays also wouldn’t be complete without some delicious cheese. We met up with John and Anne, the founders and owners of Leelanau Cheese, to learn more about their cheese’s European heritage, what they appreciate about our MMPA members and of course, how they make their award-winning cheeses. In this issue, you can also catch up on MMPA’s involvement with the Michigan Agriculture Council (pg. 18) and check out upcoming local meeting dates, times and locations (pg. 32).

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 Subscriptions: MMPA members - 50¢ per year Non-members - $5 per year Circulation: 2,600 (ISSN 0026-2315)

milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

5

MILK MINUTE

A Market that Requires Reactivity and Flexibility JIM FEENEY, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF SALES

A

t MMPA, our milk marketing strategy is at the foundation of our mission statement: “to market milk to the best advantage possible.” What that means to me, and what I think that means for MMPA, is that we need to be as reactive and flexible as possible in order for us to build lasting, successful partnerships.

An excellent example of our reactivity towards industry trends that is paying off now and will continue to do so in the future is our addition of ultra-filtered (UF) milk.

There is an increasing consumer trend for dairy products that are higher in protein, lower in carbs and lower in lactose. That’s what UF is. Entering into the UF market wasn’t just our decision, it was a response based on discussions with customers focusing on their needs and the products they desire.

JIM FEENEY, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF SALES

That’s one of the best things about MMPA. We have a customer base that relies on our ability to react and be flexible to meet their specific needs. Whether it’s from a milk standpoint, a product standpoint or a quality standpoint, we service our customers in a way that goes well beyond just taking orders. This type of partnership is what makes them think of us before they think of anyone else.

A perfect example of this is found in this issue of the Milk Messenger with Leelanau Cheese Company. Just as with what we do with every customer, when they came to us with specific quality requirements, we didn’t tell them that their demands were impossible, we started figuring out how to meet their needs and then we did it. That service is why customers appreciate us.

Our service starts with conversations that leads to partnerships. While we recognize and appreciate customers that we have had a lot of history with – like Kroger and Leprino – we still look at customers that we talk to for the first time today in the same way. We see every conversation with a new customer as the potential start of a new partnership that’s going to last for 15+ years.

This outlook, coupled with our ability to make decisions based on industry trends, allows us to willingly and deliberately react to our customer’s needs and develop closer relationships in the future. Right now, we know that sustainability is important to our customers. We’re having the conversations today to learn what sustainability means to them and telling them our members’ stories about their sustainability efforts, along with the sustainable work at our processing plants.

Farmers across the country are doing more with less. In North America’s dairy sector, we’ve reduced our total greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels, according to a UN study. We are working with customers to share our farmers’ stories and differentiate ourselves.

Overall, our marketing strategy is to look at the entire scope of the market so that we can be prepared for the opportunities that will present themselves in the future. This requires us to service several different strategies simultaneously because we know we need to react to the changes that come with time and we want to be flexible to our customers’ needs.

6

milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

7

QUALITY WATCH

What services does MMPA provide?

WE ASKED THE EXPERTS:

Duane Farmer

Lyndsay Earl

Ben Chapin

MMPA Farm Supply Store Supervisor

MMPA Member Representative

MMPA Manager of Field Services

As an MMPA member, you have access to a consistent and reliable source for any products or parts needed on your farm through the MMPA Farm Supply Store. Formerly known as the MMPA Merchandise program, our new name better describes the products and services we provide to our members.

From mastitis management to equipment performance evaluations, member representatives are available to help you meet and exceed your milk quality goals.

Our member services department offers a variety of services to help you maintain or improve the quality of your milk and assure compliance on the Grade A market.

Along with the name change, this past year we also transitioned from using a private contractor for supply delivery to purchasing our own truck and hiring a driver to provide this service. This change allows us more flexibility when planning delivery routes and gives us more control over who delivers to our members’ farms.

As the newest version of the F.A.R.M. program is rolled out in early 2020, your VCPR, written Herd Health Plan and documented employee training will become even more important. We can assist you with meeting F.A.R.M. program requirements by providing Herd Health Plan templates and documents, as well as employee training opportunities through our Dairy Care Academy.

MMPA’s certified laboratory offers members an incredible amount of options to help maintain and monitor quality milk. Whether you are looking at tracking daily raw bacteria counts (RBC), preliminary incubated counts (PIC) and lab pasteurized counts (LPC) or sending in cow cultures to monitor fresh cows, your MMPA lab is a great tool that you have available.

To further our partnership with members, long time MMPA employee, Jake Riley, is now stepping into a new role as Farm Supply Sales Representative. If you haven’t met him at the warehouse, you may soon meet him on your farm as he introduces you to the products and services we provide. Jake can help you place orders or maintain your farm inventories to prevent over supply or running out of much needed items.

We believe these recent changes reflect our commitment to courteous service, consistent quality, convenient delivery and comparable prices that you have come to expect from the MMPA Farm Supply Store.

8

milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

If SCC is a focus on your farm, we can assist by conducting herd tests and consultations, housing evaluations, or by scheduling an on-farm milker training school (in either English or Spanish) with a member of our mastitis management team.

Members of our staff are also trained to evaluate equipment performance, as well as troubleshoot issues with bulk tank and pipeline CIP systems. Based on these evaluations, we can offer recommendations and guidance to help reduce SCC or lower bacteria counts.

If you are interested in any of these services, or if you would like more information please contact your member representative for details.

As a member, you also have laboratory services offered at the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab and the Central Star Lab at your disposal. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, these labs offer additional testing services.

Members who send milk samples to the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab can receive a full bacteriology screening and a mycoplasma testing for either bulk tank samples or individual cow samples.

At Central Star, members can send in individual cow milk samples for BLV, Johnes and pregnancy testing. While there is a cost associated with these tests through the two labs, MMPA handles the logistics, ensuring that your samples are delivered in a timely manner.

If you would like to learn more about the testing services available to you at the MMPA lab or the process of submitting samples for these additional lab services, your member representative can assist you.

MMPA Farm Supply Store CALL TODAY

989-317-8370

OUR PRODUCTS INCLUDE Sanitation Chemicals

Udder Care & Milk Prep

Minerals & Milk Replacers

Hoses & Filters

Inflations & Rubber Parts

Testing Equipment & More

Meet the new Farm Supply Store JAKE RILEY FARM SUPPLY SALES REPRESENTATIVE RILEY@MIMILK.COM 248-912-5070

•

Formerly known as the MMPA Merchandise Program.

•

Minimum order for direct shipments reduced to $250.

•

Dedicated sales representative.

•

Cooperative stops – orders from the same area can be delivered to a cooperative location to reduce costs.

•

E-commerce site in development.

1996 Gover Parkway, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 989-317-8370 » 877-367-6455 (toll-free) merch@mimilk.com » mimilk.com 9 milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

NEWS & VIEWS

MMPA butter and cheese win awards in North American dairy product contest

UPCOMING

EVENTS November 22 Leaders’ Conference, East Lansing

December

M

MPA butter and cheese were

MMPA has competed in the North American

awarded honors from the World

contest for nine years.

Dairy Expo Championship Dairy

The World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy

Product Contest. First, second and third place

Product Contest is the only North American

awards were granted to unsalted butter made at

judging contest which encompasses all

MMPA’s dairy plant in Constantine, Michigan.

dairy products. The contest received over

In the cheese division, MMPA’s Colby-jack

one thousand entries in 75 product classes

cheese—made by subsidiary Middlebury Cheese

including cheese, butter, fluid milk, yogurt,

Company in northern Indiana—won third place

cottage cheese, ice cream, cultured milk and

in the Colby or Monterrey jack cheese category.

dried whey from throughout the United States.

Local Meetings begin

December 12 Advisory Committee Meeting, Novi

“Excellence starts with our member-owners’ high-quality milk and the dedication of our plant teams to produce award-winning products. We are proud of these accomplishments that continue to be recognized at World Dairy Expo.”

— JOE DIGLIO, MMPA PRESIDENT & CEO

January 23 Resolutions Committee Meeting, St. Johns

Michigan Dairy Ambassador Program Applications due Jan. 17 Michigan high school and college students interested in dairy and/or pursuing a career in the dairy industry have until Jan. 17 to apply for the 2020 Michigan Dairy Ambassador Scholarship and Leadership Program. The program offers dairy communications training to interested applicants.

All applicants meeting baseline criteria will be invited to attend a day-long program kickoff on Feb. 7, the second day of the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference (GLRDC) in Frankenmuth, Michigan. Attendees will be considered 2020 Michigan Dairy Ambassadors and will be equipped with the messaging and practice to effectively communicate with consumers in-person and online.

Participation throughout the year in trainings, dairy events and promotion will earn points with the opportunity to advance to the interview round. Applications, resume and participation and interview will be considered for scholarship recipient selections. Two scholarships will be awarded to the representatives, one to a junior winner and another to a senior winner. Applicants are not required to have a dairy farm background, but they must plan to pursue a career related to the dairy industry. The scholarship program is funded through a benefit auction held at the annual GLRDC. STUDENTS INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR THE 2020 MICHIGAN DAIRY AMBASSADOR SCHOLARSHIP AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAM CAN DOWNLOAD AN APPLICATION FROM WWW.GLRDC.ORG OR CONTACT MEGGHAN HONKE SEIDEL AT 517-884-7089.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO 1GLRDC@GMAIL.COM AND WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL JAN. 17.

10

milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

MSU recognizes Ken Nobis with Honorary Alumni Award

MMPA producers scoring 95 percent or higher on Grade A Surveys and Federal Check Ratings Marlin Martin Leroy Zimmerman * Samuel Ramer * Anson Martin Ammon Martin Titus Zimmerman * Laverne Zimmerman * Mervin Martin Ephraim/Esther Martin * Adkinson Farm Stephen Burkholder Mark Diller * Steven Roth Lew-Max LLC Tumbleweed Dairy LLC

KEN NOBIS (LEFT) ACCEPTED AN HONORARY ALUMNI AWARD FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NICK MCLAREN (RIGHT) AT AN AWARDS GALA IN LATE OCTOBER.

The Michigan State University Alumni Office recently recognized Ken Nobis, co-owner of Nobis Dairy Farms, with the Honorary Alumni Award. Nobis was among 13 alumni and donors worldwide honored at the annual Grand Awards Gala held on MSU’s campus at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center.

“This year’s recipients embody how Spartans Will. continue to be a force for good in the world,” said Nick McLaren, executive director, MSU Alumni Office. “These individuals have combined their inherent drive, passions and support for MSU to help others, break barriers and create a better future.”

Honorary Alumni Award recipients include those non alumni candidates that have made an outstanding impact on behalf of MSU. Nobis has supported MSU’s Department of Animal Science and MSU Extension teaching and research for over 40 years, with more than 60 MSU students having received training at Nobis Farms.

Nobis is senior policy advisor at the MMPA, having served 12 years as president before assuming his current role.

Vincent Myers * Lawrence Lenhart *

Nobis serves as vice-chair of the National Milk Producers Federation and is on the board of the U.S. Dairy Export Council.

In 2017, he received the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Honorary Alumnus Award, and in 2016, was given the MSU Extension Key Partner Award. Nobis is a U.S. Army veteran.

Kuperus Dairy LLC

The MSU Alumni Office is dedicated to advancing Michigan State University by building pride and strategically fostering meaningful engagement of Spartans through connection, service and investment.

More than 550,000 alumni represent MSU globally. For more information, please visit alumni.msu.edu.

Hooks Farms

Mark Hilaski * James Iciek Vanderploeg Holsteins LLC Thelen Dairy Inc Dutch Meadows Dairy LLC Louis / Ronald Brecht * Oberlin Farms LLC Robert Durham Eldred Farms * Chapin Family Farm LLC* Kenneth Vredenburg Bruce / Amanda Carey Pine Hills Dairy LLC

“The Spartan community’s ‘can-do’ attitude

Paulen Farms Inc

sets it apart,” said Nobis. “Working with MSU

Grassley Farms Inc. *

researchers and numerous students on our farm

*100 percent

through the years has illustrated that the Spartan community is innovative and willing to build effective learning opportunities for its students.” milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

11

LEGISLATIVE WATCH

NMPF Highlights Dairy’s Resilience at Annual Meeting

N

ational Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Jim Mulhern highlighted the resilience of U.S. dairy farmers in a challenging economic and policy environment, pledging that dairy would speak with one voice on crucial issues in remarks at NMPF’s joint annual meeting with the United Dairy Industry Association and the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board.

“Resilience against hardship has always been a fact of life in dairy,” Mulhern said at the meeting in early November. “We know that if we embrace change while holding true to our values, we will win.”

NMPF’s portion of the conference was highlighted by bylaws changes that bolster its position as the premier organization for U.S. dairy farmers. The biggest U.S. dairy-farmer group also honored longtime leaders who have helped build today’s industry. At its annual meeting in New Orleans, the organization added the chairman of its Small Cooperative Caucus, Jimmy Kerr of Cooperative Milk Producers Association based in Blackstone, Virginia, to its now 15-member Executive Committee, ensuring that cooperatives of all sizes have a voice in the organization’s thought-leadership body. The Executive Committee, that was formed earlier this year, enhances the geographic and size diversity the organization needs in its governance structure.

“NMPF represents a broader range of dairy farmers and interests than any other industry organization,” Mulhern said.

“Committing to diverse leadership makes our united voice is the strongest it can be.

Brighter times lie ahead for dairy, and we

are ready to advance in a wide range of areas that serve all of our members.”

The meeting, NMPF’s main policy conference of the year, featured discussions of the state of the dairy industry and economy, with remarks from the organization’s chairman, Missouri dairy farmer Randy Mooney, and presentations from NMPF staff on issues ranging from immigration to the fight against inappropriate labeling of plant-based products.

Prior to the start of the joint annual meeting, NMPF hosted a leadership development program for Young Cooperators across the U.S. 2018 Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperators (OYDC) Paul and Nancy Pyle and 2019 OYDC James Weber attended on behalf of MMPA. Weber was elected as chair of the 2020 NMPF Young Cooperator Advisory Council, which includes representatives from 11 dairy cooperatives. As part of his responsibilities, Weber will lead the YC Council in planning the YC program at the 2020 NMPF Annual Meeting and represent the council at NMPF meetings. Paul and Nancy Pyle served as chaircouple of the 2019 NMPF YC Advisory Council.

The MMPA communications team was also honored at the NMPF annual meeting with the “Outstanding Achievement in Communications” award.

Through the NMPF communications contest, MMPA won 10 total awards, including first place member magazine and best of class in two of the three categories: writing and special projects.

2020 Dairy Margin Coverage sign up continues until December 13 The deadline to enroll for 2020 Dairy Margin Coverage is Dec. 13. 2019. The 2018 Farm Bill authorized the new DMC program, which is a voluntary risk management program for dairy producers.

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milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

Advisory Committee DISTRICT 1 Art Riske, Hanover..............................517-524-6015 Clark Emmons, Fayette, OH.................419-466-4471 Brian Preston, Quincy.........................517-376-1350 Scott Ferry, Litchfield..........................517-214-3298 Jeff Horning, Manchester....................734-428-8610

DISTRICT 2 Danny Ransler, Gobles.........................269-628-4218 Dan Ritter, Potterville.........................517-645-7318 Richard Thomas, Middlebury, IN..........574-202-5198 Mark Crandall, Battle Creek.................269-660-2229 Michael Oesch, Middlebury, IN ...........574-825-2454

DISTRICT 3 Bill Stakenas, Free Soil........................231-425-6913 Burke Larsen, Scottville......................231-425-8988 Arlyn Walt, Coopersville......................616-837-8247 Tim Butler, Sand Lake.........................269-330-5538 Bill Gruppen, Zeeland.........................616-520-5143

DISTRICT 4 William Pirman, Skandia.....................906-869-4515 Dave Folkersma, Rudyard....................906-630-1957 Paul Ponik, Posen ...............................989-464-5924 Marvin Rubingh, Ellsworth.................425-533-8106 Jeremy Werth, Alpena.........................989-464-4022

DISTRICT 5 Tom Jeppesen, Stanton.......................989-506-5287 Bruce Benthem, McBain......................231-825-8182 Amy Martin, Leroy..............................231-388-0496 Robert Lee, Marion.............................231-743-6794 Mike Rasmussen, Edmore....................989-379-4694

DISTRICT 6

John Thelen, Westphalia.....................989-587-3951 Renee McCauley, Lowell......................616-283-6411 Steve Thelen, Fowler...........................989-682-9064 David Reed, Owosso............................989-723-2023 Mike Halfman, St. Johns......................989-640-1963

DISTRICT 7 Scott Kleinhardt, Clare........................989-386-8037 Philip Gross, Weidman........................989-289-0670 Jason Elenbaum, Mayville...................989-274-1974 John Bennett, Prescott........................989-345-4264 Rodney Fowler, Chesaning..................989-302-2299

DISTRICT 8 Mike Noll, Croswell.............................810-404-4071 Jeremy Sharrard, Peck.........................810-404-5076 Bryan Schulte, Ruth............................989-551-8200 Bill Blumerich, Berlin..........................810-706-2955 Darwin Sneller, Sebewaing.................989-977-3718

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Protect your farm today by calling (800) 544-CROP for more information or to locate a Crop Insurance Specialist near you!

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milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

13

COWS & CONIFERS

Cows & Conifers ON BOOMS DAIRY, RAISING COWS AND GROWING CONIFERS ENSURE THEIR HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS FEATURE REAL DAIRY PRODUCTS AND REAL TREES.

BY EMILY KITTENDORF

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milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

Dairy products have always taken center stage during the holiday season. From the Christmas cookies prepared with plenty of butter to the warm beverages created with frothy milk, everyone gets their fill of the delicious, nutritious and wholesome products dairy farmers have to offer.

T

hose involved in the dairy industry know that after producing real milk and real dairy products from real cows, there isn’t room for milk substitutes at the table. After all, margarine is never a replacement for butter in a Christmas cookie recipe and nothing else can produce that perfect latte froth.

A desire for realness can be also be found in the Great Lakes region’s tree industry. A real Christmas tree is what makes the magic of the holiday season come true because nothing can bring back childhood memories like the citrusy, pine smell filling a living room on Christmas morning.

For the Booms family in Moorestown, Michigan, realness during Christmas is enjoyed on a whole different level. While their barn is filled with 100 black and white Holsteins producing the real milk to go along with Santa’s cookies, 10 acres of their field is filled with rows and rows of evergreens producing the real Christmas tree that their gifts are set under.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

15

COWS & CONIFERS

BOOMS DAIRY IS TUCKED BETWEEN ROLLING HILLS OF CROPS, FORESTS AND CHRISTMAS TREES.

Real Dairy Booms Dairy began in 1987 after Russell Booms fell in love with milking cows growing up on his dad’s dairy farm.

According to Russell, after you do something that long, it just makes sense to continue the practice while being your own boss on your own farm.

Today, Russell works hand in hand with his son, Jordan, who is gearing up to someday take over their operation. With family being their main motivator to wake up in the morning and milk cows, they’ve enjoyed the flexibility that comes with working as a family.

“I thought that becoming a firefighter was something worthwhile doing,” Jordan said. “I’m one of the only ones around during the day where I can leave to go do something.”

This straightforward approach to becoming the solution to a problem is what has driven the most recent changes on Booms Dairy. After Jordan graduated from Lake City High School in 2007, he became a driving force to creating change on the farm.

16

milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

to pay the bills and I saw (the TMR mixer) as a way to do it. It’s definitely helped in milk production and cow health too.”

“I was always around 60 cows or so for a long time,” Russell said. “When Jordan graduated, we continued to grow.”

Since the farm started with 12 cows over 30 years ago, growth in numbers also meant growth in building size. In 2007, they built on to their freestall barn and added an additional stall to their parlor to make room for more cows. As Jordan took a more active role on the farm, he also pushed for different equipment to make things more efficient and profitable based on the growing farm size.

“We have a set schedule that just works for us,” Jordan explained. “Basically, we milk every other and one day a week one of us doesn’t milk at all so that a guy has a day off completely.”

This schedule has also allowed Jordan to give back to his community by serving as a volunteer firefighter at two local departments. The heroic effort was never his plan as a kid, but during high school, he realized the benefit that he could provide to members of his community in the role.

“

“We needed more milk out of our cows

THE BOOMS FAMILY PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT: RUSSELL AND LORI BOOMS AND ISAIAH, ERIN AND JORDAN BOOMS.

With the next generation gearing up to take over the farm and tough times hitting, Jordan proposed a TMR mixer as the solution to the issues they were facing.

“We needed more milk out of our cows to pay the bills and I saw that as a way to do it,” Jordan said. “It’s definitely helped in milk production and cow health too.”

As far as farm practices or breeding management goes, everything is laidback. “We just go with the flow,” Jordan said. “We don’t push our cows hard. We just let them do their thing.”

Real Trees As another solution to decreasing milk prices, Jordan started into the wholesale Christmas tree industry in 2010 as a way to bring in some cash on the side. As for how you get started in the business, Jordan explained that it’s simple, “you just put trees in the ground.”

The ease of starting up the business came with help from his uncle who owns a larger tree operation complete with a selling lot, trained employees and a couple thousand Christmas trees.

Today, Jordan has 7,000 Black Hill Spruce, Balsam Fir and Concolor trees on 10 acres of land.

There aren’t many similarities between caring for cows and raising trees, but the diversification process made complete sense for a farm located in the heart of Michigan’s Christmas tree producing area, Missaukee County.

CHRISTMAS TREE FACTS

#3

1:3

Michigan’s ranking in the United States for number of Christmas trees harvested

For every Christmas tree harvested in Michigan, tree farmers plant three new trees for future harvests

42,000

3 Million

The aproximate number of acres in commercial Christmas tree production in Michigan

The aproximate number of fresh Christmas trees Michigan supplies to the national market each year

Michigan sells more varieties of Christmas trees on the wholesale market than any other state in the nation.

SOURCE: MICHIGAN AG COUNCIL

The newly fledged tree operation is surrounded by farmland, forests and fields of Christmas trees giving the area a unique seasonal feel during the holidays. With their house tucked up on a hill overlooking their Christmas tree fields, Christmas for the Booms is surreal.

Jordan and his wife, Erin, make sure to give their son, Isaiah (4), the real Christmas experience by putting milk out with Santa’s cookies and decorating a real, Michigan Christmas tree straight from their own field. Edison, along with his soon to be new sibling, have the privilege of growing up on Booms Dairy Farm and learning firsthand the work it takes to make available all the real pleasures of the holiday season. milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

17

POWERFUL PARTNERSHIPS

Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT MMPA UNIFIES WITH COMMODITY GROUPS TO BUILD AWARENESS OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE

BY MELISSA HART

W

ith three hundred agricultural commodities grown in Michigan, only California grows a more diverse crop of agricultural products in

this country and Michigan’s dairy producers are big players in supplying the local demand of Michigan grown products.

“Our research shows that 63 percent of Michiganders prefer to buy products grown and raised in Michigan but there is an obstacle to finding them,” explains Noelle Nachreiner, Executive Director of the Michigan Agricultural Council (MAC). “This is where the Ag Council can make a difference through our Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT campaign. Our goal is to increase the percentage of people who are buying locally grown food while improving the perception of farming practices.”

Nachreiner has been on the job at the Michigan Ag Council since June and has her work cut out for her. “The mission of the Michigan Ag Council is to build

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awareness among Michigan consumers about today’s food and agriculture.”

Nachreiner continued, “MMPA is one of twenty-two commodity groups and businesses who partner with the council to serve as one unified voice to share the story of farmers and build trust in the agriculture sector, resulting in the purchase of more Michigan-based products.”

Representing MMPA on the council, Animal Care Coordinator Lindsay Green serves as board president. As the goal of the MAC is to connect the producers with consumers, Green explains that this affiliation allows MMPA, “another opportunity to tell our producers stories

and grow trust of Michigan’s dairy farmers. We contribute to the council monetarily at a level that allows us to have a voting position on the board and to be an influential contributor to the council’s mission.”

The latest campaign of the MAC is Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT and this is highlighted on the MAC website at michigangrown.org. With a plethora of ag facts, recipes and products grown in Michigan, this website is comprehensive in showing what’s grown, who grows it and brings a trustworthy face to the Michigan farmer.

There are several videos of Michigan farmers explaining what they grow and why they grow it, including MMPA Member Ashley Kennedy of Sheridan Dairy who discusses the importance of family on their Thumb area farm.

“Through Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT, consumers have the chance to connect the food they’re consuming to the hands who produced it. In today’s culture, transparency and authenticity is

The Michigan Ag Council can be found on several social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and Twitter. Find recipes, expert advice and information on today’s hot topics in food by subscribing to their monthly e-newsletter, MI Foodie News, at Michigangrown.org.

of the utmost importance,” Nachreiner said. “Through our podcast and other opportunities to interact, we tell farmers’ stories and put a face to agriculture, showing that farmers and those who work in agriculture care just as much about the food and products they are producing as those who are consuming it. Our impact is the humanization we provide of the agriculture sector.”

“The ag council creates an additional outlet for our producer stories to be told and with the branding goals we have looking into the near future we hope that the ‘Michigan Grown, Michigan Great’ logo will be recognized by consumers and will encourage them to increase their consumption of dairy and the other commodities,” Green added.

Social media has great influence on consumers, with authorities from all corners of the food sphere touting their beliefs and sometimes spreading food myths. The MAC has been a large part of delivering sound science and practical knowledge about how food is grown.

“Whether it’s through videos, podcasts or photos, our message can be amplified with the right tools.

It also provides an opportunity to engage with consumers in a different way,” Nachreiner said. “While having face-to-face conversations is always preferred, social media allows us to answer questions and share stories that consumers may otherwise not hear if they aren’t in places where agriculture is prevalent.”

“The Michigan Ag Council’s top priority is to increase our brand recognition among consumers and build trust in Michigan farmers and demand for their products.”

In 2020 and beyond Nachreiner said, “The Michigan Ag Council’s top priority is to increase our brand recognition among consumers and build trust in Michigan farmers and demand for their products. To this end, we will be taking a grass roots approach to begin conversations in spaces where consumers are and already have a baseline trust in farmers. We will be working with farmers markets throughout the state to bring the Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT message to the forefront and share farmer stories with consumers in these venues.”

“The council is an important organization in that it creates a collective voice for Michigan agriculture and the state’s commodities,” Green said. “Creating a trusted brand that benefits Michigan agriculture, as a whole, is a win in my book. I also believe that creating a collective voice shows our consumers that we care, that we want to communicate and create relationships and that their trust is important to us.” milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

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Early registration �arly registra�onends endsJanuary January 26!

26!

Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference February 6-8, 2020

Join us at the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference to connect with experts, farmers and others in the industry to gain knowledge on new tools, techniques and strategies to ensure your dairy thrives in the new decade and beyond.

Breakout sessions inlcude: • Learn the state of the industry. What’s Next and what will it mean for you from Dr. David Kohl.

• Brian Gerrits, CEO of Breeze Dairy Group will share a producer perspective on their unique thriving partnership and share concepts that you can apply to your farm.

Bavarian Inn and Conference Center Frankenmuth, Michigan

• Hear from producers and experts about ways to stretch feed and forage digestibility.

For More Information: www.glrdc.org 517-884-7089 honkemeg@msu.edu

• Explore how dairy beef feedlots may boost your bottom line and tips to make those feedlots the most profitable.

Photo Credit: Texas A&M AgriLife/Kay Ledbetter

• Tackle what’s new in calf care, transition cow management, designing buildings for everything from calves to cows, and manure management.

• Learn the trends in feed and milk markets and what strategies to employ to improve your bottomline including a closer look at income over feed and butterfat management.

LEELANAU CHEESE

FROM THE

MOUNTAIN SIDE to the LAKE SIDE JOHN AND ANNE HOYT BRING ALPINE CHEESEMAKING TO NORTHERN MICHIGAN

BY ALLISON STUBY MILLER

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Step by step—or hoof by hoof—every year thousands of cows march up craggy slopes, past sheer drops and into the mountains. Spending their summers on Alpine pastures, the cows graze on the mountain side while their caretakers make fresh cheese after each milking. Dating back to the 14th century, it’s a uniquely Swiss tradition.

I

n a small slice in the history of the “Alping of Swiss cows,” a Detroitborn cheesemaker and a shepherd from northern France met in those mountains. It was the 1980s, they were both transplants to the small village of Eison, Switzerland, and together, John and Anne Hoyt cared for the cows and made raclette cheese.

“When we were cheesemakers in Switzerland, we made the most beautiful cheese,” Anne recalled.

After three years in Switzerland, John brought Anne home to Michigan. They spent the first few years in Detroit, but the husband and wife team longed to return to making cheese.

“We had no money, just an idea,” Anne said. “We started to look at how we could get this going.”

This time, Northern Michigan’s mountains of sand, brilliant blue waters and rolling landscape captivated John and Anne. They set up a small artisanal cheese company, Leelanau Cheese Company, in the Leelanau Peninsula.

They occupied a few different locations until moving to their current creamery, less than a mile from Lake Michigan, in 2014. From the beginning, they wanted to make cheese and keep a close connection to the farm but didn’t want to milk the cows themselves.

That’s where MMPA came in. When they stirred the curd in their first batch of cheese in 1995, they worked with a farm just a few miles away in the Leelanau Peninsula. Now, thanks to their relationship with MMPA, Booms Dairy Farm supplies Leelanau Cheese one day a week. (Learn more about Booms Dairy Farm on page 14.)

John picks up the milk in a small bulk tank truck called “The Milky Way.” As soon as they receive the milk, cheesemaking begins. Just like in Switzerland, they make varieties of raclette and fromage blanc cheese.

Starting with 400 gallons of milk, most of the process takes place in one vat, from pasteurizing to cutting the curd. Then they press the cheese into round molds where it rests overnight. Then the wheels are moved to the cellar where they age on custom milled ash wood boards for 3 to 4 months or 10 months for the sharp variety.

JOHN AND ANNE HOYT

“

“It’s very labor intensive.

For farmers, even on Christmas you milk cows. For us on Christmas, we still have to take care of the cheese,” Anne said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

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23

LEELANAU CHEESE

AGED ON ASH BOARDS, THE CHEESE IS CARED FOR DAILY BY JOHN AND ANNE IN THEIR HOMEMADE CHEESE CELLAR.

piece of cheese with a large buck knife and approached a crackling fire, it started to melt and run with a crisp, golden texture.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

Though they aren’t milking the cows themselves on this side of the Atlantic, it’s still at 365-days-a-year job. Every day they visit the cellar and wash brine each wheel of cheese.

“It’s very labor intensive. For farmers, even on Christmas you milk cows. For us on Christmas, we still have to take care of the cheese,” Anne said.

As owners of a small business, John and Anne are involved in every aspect, from staffing to milk hauling to cheesemaking to marketing.

Their creamery—converted from an abandoned church—features a retail store with big windows so customers can watch the cheesemaking process.

Out back, fields of wildflowers house a few rows of solar panels and their cellar.

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LEELANAU’S SIGNATURE RACLETTE CHEESE.

Their signature cheese, the raclette, is nutty and buttery. “’Racler’ in French means ‘to scrape,’” Anne said.

The cheese is meant to be melted, traditionally by the fire, and scraped over food like potatoes or meat.

“It is believed that Raclette began on the hillsides of Valais region in Switzerland as a wine harvest was coming to an end. Grape gatherers took from their sacks a small loaf of brown bread, some cheese and a bottle of wine,” the Leelanau Cheese website states. “Legend has it that one of the men stabbed a

Today in Michigan’s own wine country, the Hoyts take pride in the heritage of their cheese. It’s racked up several cheese awards including winning Super Gold in the World Cheese Awards in 2017.

With almost 25 years cheesemaking in the Leelanau Peninsula, for now they’re taking it “one year at a time.”

The small Michigan creamery—and its Swiss roots—has earned fans locally and globally. “The setting has changed, but the recipes are the same.”

Leelanau Cheese Company 3324 S W Bay Shore Drive Suttons Bay, MI 49682 www.leelanaucheese.com

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2019 OYDC RUNNERS-UP

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BRAD AND NICOLE WREN, 2019 OYDC RUNNERS-UP, GET THINGS DONE WITH THEIR JUST-DO-IT ATTITUDE.

A Family of Doers

BY EMILY KITTENDORF

In life, there are dreamers and then there are doers.

Brad and Nicole Wren, the 2019 Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperator (OYDC) Runners-Up, fall in the latter category. There’s nothing that stands in the way of them fulfilling everything that’s on their bucket list – including starting a dairy farm.

Start a Dairy Farm “Starting a dairy farm was something I always wanted to do,” said Brad. “I came from down state, my mom and dad both grew up in the city, so I really don’t know where the idea of being a dairy farmer came from.”

Recognizing that starting a farm with no background or experience in dairy may spell disaster for his dream, Brad took a job at a local dairy farm when he was a teenager. There, he learned how to milk, care for calves and got an inside look into what it really takes to run a dairy farm.

Brad’s intimate view of the dairy lifestyle didn’t prevent him from chasing after his dream. In 2008, only one month after he married Nicole, they started their own dairy from scratch in Prescott, Michigan. The morning they started milking their first five cattle was the first time Nicole touched a cow.

“I remember the first morning we started milking I was like, ‘Okay, this is the rest of my life,’” Nicole reflected. “I don’t know what I’m doing, but we’re going to make it work.”

Fortunately for Nicole, although she had no experience with anything agriculture, her associate degree in entrepreneurship and business management helped prepare her for the life that she never dreamed she would live.

“I always wanted to have my own business,” Nicole said. “I went to school for entrepreneurship and business, so I guess that’s why it wasn’t so hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that I would be milking cows for the rest of my life. Dairy farming is a business after all.”

Nicole jumped headfirst into the dairy community with ease. To get more knowledge and experience as their farm was just beginning, Nicole started working for NorthStar Cooperative as a DHI tech. In the role, she would visit farms and sample the milk and also, occasionally, bring home cows.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

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2019 OYDC RUNNERS-UP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

“I get a phone call from this farmer down the road saying, ‘Come get your cow,” Brad shared. “I asked him, ‘What cow?’ and he said, ‘Your wife bought you a cow, come get her.’”

Again, this just-do-it attitude, along with help from their neighbors, is how Brad and Nicole were able to successfully grow their first-generation farm from five cows to the nearly 90 head that they have today.

“We’ve had a lot of help from the community,” Nicole said. “Because our families didn’t grow up in agriculture, any questions we’ve had, we had to reach out to them or they allowed us to buy their cows to help us get our start.”

Just as the community has helped them find their foot in the dairy industry, they give back too with Nicole busy volunteering and Brad serving as a volunteer firefighter in their community.

Become a Firefighter In 2016, Brad decided that he wanted to become a firefighter. It worked with his dairy farming schedule and it would provide extra income to make it through the rough tide of milk prices. While that’s the logical reasoning behind the decision, it stemmed from something else much more spontaneous.

While Brad began his side hustle of being a volunteer firefighter, Nicole put her entrepreneurial spirit to work sharing her and Brad’s dairy story with consumers.

“

“I try to make sure I interact with consumers regularly,” Nicole said.

With my blog and my Instagram account, I make sure that if people have questions related to dairy, they at least know somebody they can connect with.”

Build Digital Connections Brad and Nicole recognize that the greatest challenge facing the dairy industry is how fast anti-dairy trends can form and spread on social media.

To help their farm and others in the nation’s dairy industry compete with this challenge, Nicole started a blog in 2016 that aims to educate and relate with consumers.

Nicole uses her perspective as a mom of three children under the age of nine,

Kenna, Avery and Everett, to connect with other moms confused about what to feed their families.

“I try to make sure I interact with consumers regularly,” Nicole said.

“With my blog and my Instagram account, I make sure that if people do have questions related to dairy, they at least know somebody that they can connect with.”

As an MMPA Dairy Communicator, Nicole also uses her knowledge and experience both as a dairy farmer and as a mom to meet with consumers in person at events held within their county. Nicole can be found chairing booths focused on dairy at numerous occasions throughout the year.

Never satisfied though with keeping still, Nicole marked another dream off her bucket list by opening a shirt shop with her sisters. All the shirts are designed to create positive conversation about the quality and safety of dairy and other agriculture products. The shop targets women involved in the agriculture industry with the goal of focusing on dairy and bringing people together.

“Brad and I were watching American Sniper one night and he always wanted to be in the military, but it didn’t happen when he was younger and I didn’t want him that far from home,” said Nicole. “While watching the movie, he realized he could be a firefighter.

Really, it’s all because of Kyle from American Sniper that Brad became a firefighter!”

While Brad admits that that’s a bit of an exaggeration, he did thoroughly enjoy taking his firefighter training courses, and eventually went on to also take courses qualifying him as an EMT. The intensive schooling has kept him busy for the past three years and has once again, checked something off the bucket list.

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BRAD AND NICOLE BOTH TAKE PRIDE IN BEING HEAVILY INVOLVED ON THEIR FARM. THERE’S NOTHING BRAD CAN DO THAT NICOLE CAN’T AND THERE’S NOTHING NICOLE CAN DO THAT BRAD CAN’T.

AS A FIRST-GENERATION FARM, BRAD AND NICOLE WERE ABLE TO BUILD THE FACILITIES THEY HOUSE AND MILK THEIR COWS IN BY VISITING OTHER LOCAL FARMS AND MIMICKING THE FEATURES THAT THEY LIKED MOST.

“Last year, we teamed up with some Instagram dairy farmers from across the U.S – everywhere from California to Pennsylvania. They called themselves the Dairy Mafia and on social media, they were open about their mental health and what they do all the time,” Nicole said. “We sold over 800 shirts for them and $4 from every shirt purchased was given to giveagallon.com.”

While the shirt shop is the most recent entrepreneurial adventure Brad and Nicole have taken on, their recently earned title of 2019 OYDC Runners-Up provides another avenue to put their just-do-it attitude to work - this time representing their fellow cooperators.

“

“We’ve had a lot of help from the community. Because our families didn’t grow up in agriculture, any questions we’ve had, we had to reach out...”

Serve as OYDC Runners-Up Brad and Nicole attended the OYDC conference in August at MMPA’s headquarters in Novi, Michigan. There, they met fellow OYDC finalists and learned about the inner workings of the cooperative first-hand from MMPA’s leaders.

“Going to Novi, being in the lab and seeing how everything is processed, really helped open our eyes,” Nicole said. “I learned about how the co-op is structured, who all is involved and what all the working parts are.”

After completing an interview, giving a speech and conducting a farm tour for the judges, the Wrens were selected as OYDC Runners-Up. In this role, Brad and Nicole will represent MMPA at national dairy meetings, serve an honorary term on the MMPA Advisory Committee and influence the MMPA Young Cooperator program. They will be representing MMPA alongside James Weber, the 2019 OYDC.

Future Goals What else does the future hold for the Wrens? Nothing is out of the question.

“I think we want to find a way to diversify a little bit and not just be dairy,” Nicole said. “Brad would like to do more crops; however, for me it’s more agritourism. I don’t know if I want the next generation to take over unless I can make our farm something stronger than what it is now. Whether that’s adding Highland cattle … sheep … I don’t know.”

Brad isn’t convinced about starting a sheep farm, but Nicole claims that “the lady on Instagram makes it look easy.” Regardless of what venture the Wrens take next, they will remain dairy farmers at heart, carrying on the just-do-it attitude and sharing with consumers the great things about dairy. After all, as Nicole pointed out, “We’re still so young, we have our whole lives ahead of us.”

milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

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YOUR BEEF CHECKOFF DOLLARS AT WORK INVESTING IN BEEF PROMOTIONS IN MICHIGAN AND BEYOND MBIC PROMOTES BEEF IN JAPAN Funding from MBIC assisted the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) in partnering with Nogawa Shokuniku, a Japanese retail chain to promote U.S. beef from packers in the Great Lakes region in 2019.

Some of those cuts included chuck eye roll, shoulder clod, Tomahawk steak, top sirloin, top round, short rib, short plate, intestine, hanging tender, outside skirt, and tongue.

Nogawa Shokuniku is a regional wholesale-type retail store specializing in meat products. The chain operates 12 outlets in the Touhoku area in the northern part of Tokyo. USMEF supported Nogawa Shokuniku with their spring promotion of U.S. beef from April 21 through June 20, 2019. The campaign was publicized to a broad consumer audience through newspaper flyers and a television commercial which elevated U.S. beef’s profile in the region. Utilizing MBIC support, USMEF contributed financially to the production and distribution of the flyers and TV commercial. From these efforts, Nogawa Shokuniku sold 50 mt of U.S. beef during the promotion period.

campaign timeframe, there was 26% increase in visitors to BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com from the Grand Rapids market and noteworthy increases in traffic to ChuckKnowsBeef.com from both Detroit and Grand Rapids.

VIDEO CAMPAIGN REACHES OVER 3.5 MILLION MBIC partnered with seven other state beef councils to conduct a video advertising campaign that ran from June 15 – August 31, 2019. The campaign features a wide variety of checkoff-funded “Nicely Done” and “Keep Sizzlin’” online video spots across the seven state footprint. To showcase the checkoff online ads, this campaign utilized the Vevo channel, an all-premium music video environment.

Consumers were able to view the checkoff online video ads on YouTube’s Vevo channel as well as via Vevo’s music streaming apps within platforms such as AppleTV, Roku and Amazon/FireTV. In total, the campaign generated over 3.5 million video views with 23% of those views occurring in Michigan.

DETROIT BURGER WEEK

RADIO CAMPAIGN DRIVES BRAND AWARENESS AND WEBSITE TRAFFIC MBIC conducted an on-air advertising campaign on four radio stations in Grand Rapids and Detroit in August and September 2019. The campaign featured “Nicely Done Beef” radio ads and endorsements spots promoting Chuck Knows Beef, the allknowing beef expert powered by Google Artificial Intelligence who is compatible with Alexa and Google Home Assistant, and answers consumers’ questions about recipes, cuts, nutrition, cooking tips and more. The ads were tagged with “funded

by Michigan’s beef farmers and ranchers” and reached just of messenger 1.2 million/ NOV-DEC listeners milk 2019 an average of 5.3 times. During the 30 shy

MI_ProdCommAd.indd 1

The Michigan Beef Industry Commission partnered with Detroit Metro Times to sponsor Detroit Burger Week August 19-25, 2019 with 15 restaurants participating (See above). Partnering restaurants featured unique burgers at a discounted rate to encourage consumers to visit various locations and try new burgers. Restaurants have reported elevated sales, some doubling or tripling their average rates. Consumers were encouraged to visit multiple restaurants during the week through a passport contest where winners could receive the ultimate grilling package.

The Michigan Beef Industry Commission builds demand for beef products by growing consumer trust and promoting beef’s value, thereby enhance opportunities for all segments of the beef industry. For more information, contact MBIC at 517-347-0911, info@mibeef.org or visit www.mibeef.org

10/23/2019 3:14:22 PM

C256-05

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What helps increase beef exports to Brazil by 50%?

*

n

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4:22 PM

See how your dollar improves global consumer perceptions — adding value to your operation. Sign up for your free newsletter at DrivingDemandForBeef.com. * Figures based on USDA data compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

Funded by The Beef Checkoff.

milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

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5/28/19 3:42 PM

2019-2020 LOCAL MEETINGS All members will receive complete meeting details in the invitation from their local.

LOCAL

DATE

LOCATION

CITY

TIME

1/17/20

41310 BRIDGE ST. NOVI, MI 4 8 3 7 5

PH: 248-474-6672

MIMILK.COM Family Kitchen Restaurant

Adrian

12:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m.

11:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

12:00 p.m.

DISTRICT 1 Hillsdale-Litchfield Local Saline-Ann Arbor Local

Adrian Local

.41310 TS EGBRIDGE DIRB 013ST. 14 5NOVI, 7 3 8 4MIIM4 ,8 IV3O7N5 2PH: 766248-474-6672 -474-842 :HP

MIMILK.COM MOC.KLIMIM

DISTRICT 2 Kalamazoo Local

Barry-Eaton/Lansing Locals

Constantine Local

er 21, 2015

DISTRICT 3

2016 Adrian Local Meeting Muskegon Local

nvited to attend the annual meeting of the Adrian Local to be held:1/15/20 West Michigan Local

DISTRICT 4

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Siloam Fellowship December 21, 2015 Zeke's Restaurant

2016 Adrian Local Meeting Lakes 23

11:30 a.m.

11:45 a.m. are invited to attend the annualCenter meeting of the Adrian Local to be held: 11:30 a.m.

DrentheYou Community Grove Dozeman Zeeland Date:

U.P. West Central Local

The meeting will begin with lunch being served at 12:00 noon.

Hillman Local

Upstate Local 12/10/19

MI : UAW Hall, 1360 W Beecher (M-34), Adrian,

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Jack's Restaurant Location: UAW Hall, 1360 W Beecher (M-34), Adrian, MI Rudyard Christian Reformed Church

Time: The meeting will begin with lunch being served at 12:00 noon.

Twin Acres 19th Hole Alpena

Chain O’Lakes Orthodox Church Ellsworth

12:00 p.m.

11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

opportunity for you to receive the latest information and developments happening within our This is an opportunity for you to receive the latest information and developments happening within our ruo niht ive. Members will also have the opportunity to vote for officers and delegates to represent ourcooperative. Members will also have the opportunity to vote for officers and delegates to represent our ruo tnes

ng this coming year. local during this coming year.

DISTRICT 5

Alma Local

is, MMPA President, will be Local our guest speaker.

Evart

Lakeview VFW Post 3701 Ken Nobis, MMPA President, will be our guest speaker.

Rehoboth Reformed Church McBain

11:30 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

s attending will receive an MMPA beverage tumbler. In addition, a gift certificate for an MMPA jacket Members attending will receive an MMPA beverage tumbler. In addition, a gift certificate for an MMPA tekca jacket j APMM ill be given away as a door prize. or shirt will be given away as a door prize.

DISTRICT 6

Owosso/Livingston Charter Locals 1/08/20 Durand VFW Durand 12:00 p.m. omplete and mail the enclosed reservation card, so we will know how many to plan for lunch. Please complete and mail the enclosed reservation card, so we will know how many to plan for lunch.

Mid-Michigan

Agro Liquid Headquart 11:45 a.m. you can attend your Local Annual Meeting.

We hope you can attend your Local Annual Meeting.

here!

See you there!

DISTRICT 7 Frankenmuth Local Sunrise Local

ut, Secretary ocal

1/07/20 1/08/20

da Vinci’s Restaurant G’s Pizzeria Gary Stout, Secretary

1/15/20

Huron County Farm Bureau Holly Meadow's Golf Course Liberty Lanes

Adrian Local

Frankenmuth West Branch

12:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m.

11:00 a.m.

Capac

12:30 p.m.

11:30 a.m.

12:00 p.m.

DISTRICT 8 Huron

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.hcnul

2018-2019 LOCAL OFFICERS During the local meetings held by each local last year, the following officers were selected to lead their local throughout the year. Elections for 2019-2020 officers will take place at each local meeting this December or January.

DISTRICT 1

DISTRICT 3

Adrian Local

Grand Rapids Local

President: Clark Emmons V. President: Jim Marvin Sec/Treas: Gary Stout Dairy Communicators: Geraldine Emmons, Joy Marvin, Maria Marvin .41310 TS EGBRIDGE DIRB 013ST. 14 5NOVI, 7 3 8 4MIIM4 ,8 IV3O7N5 2PH: 766248-474-6672 -474-842 :HP

MIMILK.COM MOC.KLIMIM

Hillsdale-Litchfield Local

President: Scott Ferry V. President: Bruce Lewis Sec/Treas: Dan Williams Dairy Communicators: Jennifer Lewis, Cami Marz-Evans

Jackson County Plus Local President: Tom Zenz V. President: Arthur Riske Sec/Treas: Arthur Riske Dairy Communicators: Theresa Choate, Stacey Hughes

Saline-Ann Arbor Local

4 Marinette

3

President: Tim Butler V. President: Jonathan Acker Sec/Treas: Ken Leseman

6 2

Muskegon Local

St. Joseph

President: Bill Stakenas V. President: Glen Sparks Sec/Treas: Burke Larsen Dairy Communicator: Terri Stakenas

7

5

Elkhardt

8

1 LaGrange Noble

Marshall

Kosclusko Allen

.TS EGDIRB 01314 5 7 3 8 4 IM ,IVON 2766-474-842 :HP

MOC.KLIMIM

West Michigan Local President: Bill Gruppen V. President: Doug Huff Secretary: Nate Pyle Treasurer: Darren Coffey Dairy Communicator: Regina Coffey

DISTRICT 4

DISTRICT 6

5102 ,12 rebmeceD

Chippewa County Local

Sunrise Local

Livingston Charter Local

5102 ,12 r

President: John Bennett V. President: Jeremy Beebe Secretary: Chris Daniels Treasurer: Kyle Bennett Dairy Communicator: Nicole Wren

President: David Folkersma President: Scott Bontekoe President: Bruce Breuninger Sec/Treas: Jonathan Miller V. President: Chuck White V. President: Stan Lambarth Dairy Communicators: Sec/Treas: Janet White Sec/Treas: Keith Weidmayer Anne Folkersma, Diane Miller Dairy Communicator: Jodi Hill Dairy Communicators: Hillman Local Local Lynda Horning, Samantha :dleh eb DISTRICT ot lacoL naird8 A eht fo gniteem launna eht dnetta ot detiv :dleh eb ot lacoL nairdA eht fo gniteem launna eht dnetta ot detivni eMid-Michigan ra uoY President: Jeremy Werth President: John Hufnagel Mamarow, Kaitelyn Packard, V. President: Russ Tolan Huron Local V. President: Aaron Gasper Stan Lamberth 6102 ,21 yraunaJ ,yadseuT 610Lucas 2 ,21 yraunaJ ,yadseuT :etaD Sec/Treas: Ron President: Mark Ziel Sec/Treas: Tom Cook Dairy Communicators: V. President: Darwin Sneller Dairy Communicators: DISTRICT 2 Lucas, ,nairdKennedy A ,)43-M( rehceeB W 0631 ,llaH WAU Secretary:IM Ashley IM ,naiConnie rdA ,)43-Lucas, M( rehMichelle ceeB W 06 31 ,llaH WAU :noPatti itacoJandernoa, L Renee McCauley, Amy Bodnick Barry-Eaton Local Treasurer: Gary Protzman Doreen Slavik, Carla Wardin President: Tom Wing .noonDairy 00:21Communicators: ta devres gnieb hc nul htiw nigeb lliw gniteem ehT .noon 00:21 ta devres gUpstate nieb hcnulLocal htiw nigeb lliw gniteem ehT :emiT Owosso Local Shelly Messing, Ashley Kennedy, V. President: Bob Baker President: Marv Rubingh President: Brad Ritter Cassie Sneller Sec/Treas: Heather Wing V. President: Wilson Boss V. President: Jim Anibal Communicator: nihtiw Reed gnineppah stnempoleved dna noitamrofni tsetal eht eviecer ot uoy rof ytinutroppo ithin our ruo nihtiwDairy gninep pah stnempolev ed dna noitamrofni Sec/Treas: tsetal eht eRichard viecer otFettig uoy rof ytinutroppo naSec/Treas: si sihT ruo David Mid-Sanilac Local fo rof etov ot ytinutroppo eht evah osla lliw srebmeM .ev esent our ruo tneserpHeather er ot setaWing geled dna srecfifo rof etov ot ytinDairy utroppCommunicator: o eht evah osla lliw srebmeM .evitarepoocruo tneserper ot setageled dna srecfiPresident: Mike Noll .raey gnimoc siht g Rebekah Rubingh .raey gnimoc siht gniruDISTRICT d lacol 7 Blossomland Local V. President: Jeremy Sharrard Secretary: Sara Lee President: Heather Carpenter U.P. West Central Pleasant Local .rekaeps tseug ruo eb lliw ,tnediserP APMM ,s .rekaeps tseug ruo eb lliw ,tnediserP APMM ,siboClare-Mt. N neK Treasurer: Dennis Lee Sec/Treas: Joshua Gamble President: William Pirman President: Phillip Gross Dairy Communicators: Galen ekecM aj APM M na rGross of etacfiitrec tfig a ,noitidda nI .relbmut egarevebJordan APMM na eviecer lliw gnidnetta n MMPA tekca jacket j APMM naConstantine rof etacfiitrec tfig a ,noitidda nI .relbmut egV. arPresident: eveb APMM na evVan iecerDrese lliw gnidnetta sreSecretary: btm Phillip Local Noll, Sara Lee, Rita Phillips, Sec/Treas: Kimberly Pirman .ezirJodi p rood a sa yawa nevig eb ll Treasurer: Doug Stevens . e z i r p r o o d a s a y a w a n e v i g e b l l i w t r i h s r o President: Richard Ultz Sharrard, Gertie van den Goor Dairy Communicator: V. President: Jesse Ramer lunch. .hcnul rof nalp ot ynam woh wonk lliw ew os ,drac nKimberly oitavreserPirman desolcne eht liam dna etelpmoc Deford/Clifford-Mayville esaelP .hcnul rof nalp ot ynam woh wonk lliw ew os ,drac noitavreser desolcne eht liam dna etelpm Mid-Thumb.gniteeM launnA lacoL ruoy dnetta nac uoy Sec/Treas: Richard Thomas Local .gniteeM launnA lacoL ruoy dnetta nac uoy epoh eW President: Bill Blumerich Dairy Communicators: President: Ray Wolak DISTRICT 5 V. President: Patrick Bolday Judy Oesch, Richard Ultz, Keith Wood !ere !ereht uV. oyPresident: eeS Sec/Treas: Kristie Lamb Alma Local Cynthia Adam Sec/Treas: Diane Foley Dairy Communicators:

President: John Black Dairy Communicators: Kalamazoo Local Virginia Ankley, Pat Bolay, V. President: Mike Rasmussen Diane Foley, Katie Schumacher, President: Craig Newland yraterceS ,t S yraG Kathleen Clinton, Kristie Lamb Sec/Treas: Jack Jeppesen yraterceS ,tuotJane Wood V. President: Garrett Bartholomew lac lacoL nairdA Dairy Communicators: Frankenmuth Local Sec/Treas: Dan Ransler Cheri Chapin, Ramona Okkema, President: Drew Rupprecht Dairy Communicator: Kellie Jeppesen V. President: Eric Frahm Tammy Spicher Evart Local Sec/Treas: Bob Krafft Lansing Local President: Gordon Dick Dairy Communicators: President: Daniel Ritter V. President: Bruce Benthem Amy Bergdolt, Debra Krafft, Sec/Treas: Amy Martin Sec/Treas: Kristina Langmaack Joanmarie Weiss Dairy Communicator: Dairy Communicator: Amy Martin Kristina Langmaack

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YOUR DAIRY PROMOTION AT WORK

Partnerships, Events and Conversations The American Dairy Association Indiana (ADAI) is excited to share more upcoming events and continue to work on behalf of dairy farmers to connect the public with dairy. Thanks to partnerships, events and conversations, ADAI piqued an interest in those consumers hungry for information. We are proud to show the public the real story of dairy thanks to our farmers producing a safe, nutritious product every day of the year. Check out some of our programs and people below and connect with us at any time through

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social media, @INDairy!

2019-2020 DAIRY AMBASSADORS (LEFT TO RIGHT): MEGAN LAMBRECHT, INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY; PEYTON NEWMAN, PURDUE UNIVERSITY; LUKE PETERS, PURDUE UNIVERSITY; KIRSTEN LAMBERT, ANCILLA COLLEGE; ISABELLE WELLMAN, PURDUE UNIVERSITY

Meet our Dairy Ambassadors

Virtual Farm tours

National Farmer Day

Each year at ADAI, five college undergraduates are selected to serve as Indiana Dairy Ambassadors for a one-year term. These students use their abilities to communicate with the general public about dairy farming, dairy nutrition and modern agricultural practices. Traveling around the state, they develop public speaking and leadership skills to become examples in the dairy community. Our Dairy Ambassadors have been hard at work this year promoting milk, cheese, yogurt and more at many events across the state. They continue their responsibilities on campus this school year, sharing their dairy stories with fellow students and their communities. Get to know our Dairy Ambassadors on our website: www.WinnersDrinkMilk.com

It’s getting tougher to get classrooms to the farm – with transportation budgets, scheduling and travel time working against schools – but ADAI is working with teachers to get students the experiences they need. We hosted our first live virtual farm tours this fall at Homestead Dairy in Plymouth.

During the tour, former teacher and dairy farmer Jill Houin showed over 1,200 students (at the same time!) through their farm. Students were able to see robotic milkers, cow comfort brushes and sand beds, and everyone’s favorite part, the calf barn!

Jill answered questions in real time from the many classrooms about the measures their family takes to ensure high quality, nutritious milk from the farm to their cafeteria.

We are proud to partner with many different organizations to share the story of dairy throughout the year.

From the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Girl Scouts, Indiana Department of Education, to Olympic athletes, Indianapolis Indians baseball and schools around the state, these partners shared their thanks for dairy farmers during National Farmer Day. Check out the full video on the ADAI Facebook page! www.facebook.com/indairy

milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

Connect with us If you are interested in hosting a farm tour, we offer planning resources, onsite support and more. Please contact Allie Rieth (rieth@winnersdrinkmilk. com) to connect about farm tours and information.

UNITED DAIRY INDUSTRY OF MICHIGAN

Meeting Consumers Where They Are Once again, staff at United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) spent the year telling your farm story to consumers of all ages, in all places. Attending alreadyestablished events allows us to connect directly with consumers and answer their dairy questions.

In 2019, we attended consumer events across the state, to reassure consumers of the benefits dairy foods provide their diets and the benefits dairy farms bring to the local and state economy.

Dairy farm families joined us at many events, to help show our consumers that farmers are just like them – committed to their families, active in their communities and conscious of the foods they eat.

Our presence at these events also included a milking cow simulator and a hands-on display showing what cows eat, dairy nutrition information and goodies.

Visitors were encouraged to spin our Prize Wheel and enter into our Love What’s Real summer sweepstakes by becoming a Milk Means More e-newsletter subscriber.

A few events we attended included: The Great Dairy Adventure brings together the dairy community to show over 2,000 people how dairy cows are cared for and show the journey of milk from the farm to the consumers who enjoy it.

“We went to the Great Dairy Adventure and it was amazing! We learned so much and couldn’t believe we were able to put our hand inside a cow! The vendors were all so kind and taught us so much. The snacks were so unexpected but delicious too.”

BETHANY, MICHIGAN RESIDENT At Walk the Zoo Maranda we passed out string cheese to the children and parents.

During July Ice Cream Month staff and dairy farmers were able to “Scoop it Forward” by treating consumers all across the state to delicious ice cream.

At the U.P. State Fair “The Cheese Lady” highlighted Undeniably Dairy and The Great American Milk Drive in her cheese sculpture. UDIM also had a table with educational resources regarding dairy nutrition and farming.

At sporting events, we have a captive audience in the stadium and sometimes those watching at home.

At the U of M Fanfest we passed out chocolate milk and La Colombe draft latte samples while a dairy farmer was on hand to answer dairy questions.

UDIM STAFF AND MICHIGAN DAIRY FARMERS MET CONSUMERS WHERE THEY ARE – AT EVENTS ACROSS THE STATE – AND SHARED DELICIOUS DAIRY TREATS AFTER ANSWERING THEIR DAIRY QUESTIONS.

Before the Detroit Tigers Game on Sunday, July 21, we hosted an ice cream social. During the game, Milk Means More reached over 4.3 million Michigan families with our messaging, including the highlights on ESPN!

We sponsored West Michigan Whitecaps and Midland Loons baseball games and highlighted a dairy farm family at each through videos, photos and interviews. After each game, staff and farmers passed out dairy treats that were well received by attendees!

At the first ever Detroit Red Wings E-Sports Tournament UDIM tested our advertising to young adults as the tournament was broadcast live on the Red Wings Twitch channel (gaming live stream platform similar to Youtube).

At the Metro Parent’s Kids Hero Con event we partnered with Superheroes and Disney Princesses to deliver the message of milk being important for strong bones, muscles and energy, and passed out ice cream and chocolate milk.

The Kids and Family Expo in Grand Rapids is an annual tradition for families to escape the cold winter weather.

Long lines provided a great opportunity for staff to talk to parents and distribute chocolate milk.

At a Classic Car Event in Grand Rapids attendees were treated to a cheeseburger slider (courtesy of MMM from a local food truck) and milk, only after they visited our booth.

We surprised and delighted families at the University of Michigan Movie Night by handing out ice cream sandwiches.

At the first Michigan Mac & Cheese Festival, participants sampled many unique mac and cheese recipes.

Connect with us If you would like to attend events with us next year, please call the office at 517-349-8923, we need all the dairy voices possible! milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

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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 The Freeliners column is open to current MMPA members who wish to advertise—at no charge—goods or services relating directly to their dairy farm operations.

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

• It will be published again for no more than two consecutive months only if the member resubmits the item by writing or calling the Novi office.

• 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.

• Freeliners must be received by the 10th of the month preceding desired month of publication.

SERVICE AGE HOLSTEIN BULLS. Call Steve Alexander, 810-6228548 evenings or 810-404-8548.

10-20 HEAD 1ST AND 2ND LACTATION COWS FOR SALE. They are averaging 86lbs/day on 2x milking SCC for herd runs about 115.

Call 734-776-0285. Willing to sell in smaller groups as well.

3000 GAL. MUELLER BULK TANK with (3) 5hp condensing units and (2) 120 gal. free heaters. Call 517-812-1663 or 517-812-1662.

MUELLER 3000 GALLON MILK TANK, (2) 5hp scroll compressors $15,000 or best offer. 100 gal. Freheater $2000 or best offer.

Uddergun system $3000 or best offer. Double 8 Germania Protime Herringbone Parlor, all stainless steel, rapid exit, including (2) 7.5hp lobe pumps and 3-inch pipeline, $8000 or best offer. 810-348-5500.

1985 WHITE 8920 COMBINE flex head 4x4 6 row corn head, 20 ft grain head, floating cutter bar. $9500.00 comes with many extra parts. Field Ready. 2007 Meyer 8865 Manure Spreader 4200 gal. Big 1000 PTO Large Flotation tires $13,000 Ready to spread. Call David 269-317-1419.

500 GAL. MUELLER MILK TANK with washer and 5 hp. compressor about 4 yrs. old. Milk-Veyor with 150 ft. of hose.

Siemen tank. Vacuum pump. 231-843-8871.

800 GAL. HIPERFORM MUELLER BULK TANK, $2,500. Two compressors $500 each. 260-768-7697.

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

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

LEGENDAIRY.

Cell: 1-716-353-1137

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!

Non-GMO

products available

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

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milk messenger / NOV-DEC 2019

FARM SUPPLY STORE

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

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

BLUE RIBBON HOOF TRIMMING, LLC. 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.

Ecolab The MMPA Farm Supply Store and Ecolab have partnered for many years to provide quality teat dips, CIP chemicals and other specialty products to our members. We are happy to report that we have negotiated reduced pricing from Ecolab on their entire line of chemicals. Prices have been reduced by at least 5% and in some cases as much as 7%. As part of this negotiation, some low volume products may be discontinued.

We are happy to be able to provide the same high-quality products and save our members a little money at the same time. Please contact us for an updated price list of these products.

N-Dex Gloves We are always open to suggestions from our members on which products to carry or in some cases discontinue. Due to several requests, we have decided to bring back the N-Dex line of disposable gloves as a stock item. We had replaced them with a less expensive, biodegradable alternative, but some of our members had concerns about the strength and durability of the glove. As always, if you have a product you would like us to consider stocking, please contact us at the MMPA Farm Supply Store.

STOCK NUMBER

SIZE

MEMBER PRICE

5008

SMALL $11.13/EA.

5007

MEDIUM $11.13/EA.

5006 5010

LARGE $11.13/EA. X-LARGER $11.13/EA.

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

THREE WAYS TO ORDER MMPA MERCHANDISE FROM THE FARM SUPPLY STORE 1 Place your order through your milk hauler 2 Call in your order: Duane Farmer, Supervisor: 989-317-8370 Toll Free: 877-367-6455 Orders (Novi): 800-572-5824 then dial 2 3 Fax in your order: 989-317-8372

NEW KATOLIGHT PTO GENERATOR, 60 KW, keep everyone warm and producing if there is a power outage. Call Brent at 248-770-5122.

CHEMICAL, SANITIZER AND TEAT DIP CONTACTS

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

ECOLAB

800 GALLON MUELLER BULK TANK WITH WASHER and 3 year old compressor, $1,000. 269-793-3306 or karenfifelski2016@gmail.com.

FREE spent grain for cattle feed available near Lansing. Pick up and haul yourself. Call 702-809-6504 for more information.

These are SERVICE personnel only. Order your supplies through your hauler.

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, Allegan, Member Services Director......................231-679-0337 Steve Lehman, Ithaca, Raw Milk Compliance.............................989-330-1638 Kendra Kissane, Byron Center, Sustainability........................... 248-880-4234

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

Ben Chapin, Remus, Field Services Manager........................... 989-289-0731 Anna Tucker, Mt. Gilead, OH........................................................ 248-533-2288 Christy Dinsmoore, Vassar, Supervisor.....................................248-513-7920 Frank Brazeau, Oconto, WI......................................................... 906-250-0337 Ashley Herriman, Herron............................................................269-245-6632 Laura Gucwa, Bad Axe................................................................ 248-826-6294 Dirk Okkema, Blanchard..............................................................248-756-2062 Elyse Martin, Charlotte.................................................................810-701-6460 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, Otisville, 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

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

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

President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Diglio.......................................................................................ext. 202 Chief Financial Officer Josep Barenys...............................................................................ext. 240 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 Human Resources Kelly Kerrigan................................................................................ ext. 301 Credit/Insurance Cheryl Schmandt........................................................................... ext. 210 Communications Allison Stuby Miller.......................................................................ext. 296 Emily Kittendorf............................................................................ext. 234 Controller Shelly Sowers................................................................................ext. 259 Supply Chain Therese Tierney..............................................................................ext. 217 Member Relations Jessica Welch................................................................................ext. 303

Manufacturing Plants Constantine, Michigan

Dave Davis, Plant Manager...................................................269-435-2835

Merchandise Coordinator, Energy Auditor Katie Pierson, Mt. Pleasant.................................................. 989-289-9686

Ovid, Michigan Ron Steinhorst, Plant Manager............................................. 989-834-2221

Farm Supply Sales Representative Jake Riley, Mt. Pleasant......................................................... 248-912-5070

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 / NOV-DEC 2019

Board of Directors Officers Kris Wardin, Board Chairman Doug Chapin, Board Vice Chairman Eric Frahm, Treasurer Joe Diglio, President and CEO Josep Barenys, Asst. Board Treasurer Todd Hoppe, General Counsel Directors-At-Large Kris Wardin, St. Johns 989-640-9420 Gertie van den Goor, Marlette 989-550-8453 Carlton Evans, Litchfield 517-398-0629 Mark Iciek, Gladwin 989-387-4767 Aaron Gasper, Lowell 616-291-4092 District Directors 1 Hank Choate Cement City 517-529-9032 2 Tim Hood Paw Paw 269-657-5771 3 David Pyle Zeeland 616-772-1512 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

It’s the little things in life that fill a farm with cheer: like a Jersey head in sight popping through a tear.

Though the curtain needs repair, the mischief is a reminder to take a break and give thanks for your family, farm and life.

PHOTO: KATIE ROTTENBERG, VASSAR, MICHIGAN WORDS: EMILY KITTENDORF

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P.O. Box 8002 Novi, MI 48376

Give the gift of your dairy delights this holiday season On sale now! Heritage Ridge Creamery holiday gift boxes featuring cheese and butter made from MMPA milk.

BOX #1 - $25

BOX #2 - $40

Pepper-jack, Colby, Amish Creamery, Colby-jack (1 lb. each)

Roll butter (2 lb) and Pepper-jack, Colby, Amish Creamery, Colby-jack, Thunderjack (1 lb. each)

TO ORDER: Call: 574-825-9511, ext. 104 Click: www.heritageridgecreamery.com Visit: Heritage Ridge Creamery

11275 W 250 N

Middlebury, IN 46540

MEMBERS-ONLY DISCOUNT: 20% OFF ONLINE ORDERS Use code MEMBER20 and checkout using the email associated with your account on the members-only website.

Heritage Ridge Creamery is a brand of Middlebury Cheese Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Michigan Milk Producers Association.