Milk Messenger: May/June 2022 by Michigan Milk Producers Association

MAY / JUNE 2022

VOL. 104

/ NO. 7

BORN IN DETROIT. BUILT TO PROMOTE. CHERI CHAPIN, EXCELLENCE IN DAIRY PROMOTION AWARD RECIPIENT

FROM FARM TO FOOD PANTRY

MILESTONE MEMBERS

Your cooperative farm supply source, available online mimilk.com/farm-supply-store

ONLINE PRODUCTS INCLUDE Sanitation Chemicals

Udder Care & Milk Prep

Minerals & Milk Replacers

Hoses & Filters

Inflations & Rubber Parts

Testing Equipment & More

Shop the Farm Supply Store online! •

Browse a wide variety of products available at competitive pricing and just a click away.

•

Minimum order for direct shipments reduced to $250. Flat-rate shipping of $10 on orders under $250. The MMPA Farm Supply Store sells products only to customers in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin.

•

The store is a cooperative resource, returning all profits back to member-owners every February along with cash patronage refunds.

1996 Gover Pkwy, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 989-317-8370 » fssonline@mimilk.com www.mimilk.com/farm-supply-store

features

14 Excellence in Dairy Promotion: Born in Detroit, Built to Promote

Cheri Chapin, the Excellence in Dairy Promotion award recipient presented by the United Dairy Industry of Michigan, uses her personal consumer background to share dairy’s story as an owner of Chapin Family Farms.

FROM FARM TO FOOD PANTRY MMPA’s partnership with the Food Bank Council of Michigan helps supply food pantries with dairy products in all 83 Michigan counties.

MILESTONE MEMBERS: EVIDENCE THAT MOVING FORWARD IS POSSIBLE As long-time members of MMPA, 35- and 50-year members’ experiences overcoming the industry challenges over the past many years serve as evidence that moving forward is possible. milk messenger / MAY-JUNE 2022

contents

ASHLEY KENNEDY TESTIFYING AT THE SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE’S FIRST HEARING DEDICATED TO THE UPCOMING FARM BILL.

PARKER BIVENS USES TECHNOLOGY AND AUTOMATION TO IMPROVE HIS FARM'S SUSTAINABILITY.

05 06

08 10 12 19 20

EDITOR’S NOTE MILK MINUTE Bringing Superior Dairy’s experiences to MMPA

QUALITY WATCH How can you develop your farm’s human resources?

NEWS & VIEWS LEGISLATIVE WATCH OYDC FINALISTS FROM FARM TO FOOD PANTRY

26 30 32 33 34 35

MICHIGAN DAIRY MEMORIAL AND SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT: PARKER BIVENS YOUR DAIRY PROMOTION AT WORK FREELINERS & CLASSIFIEDS FARM SUPPLY STORE STAFF MEMBER MOMENT

“If I'm not sustaining, I’m not going to be here, and I want to pass it on to the next generation like my grandpa has to my uncle.” PARKER BIVENS, MMPA MEMBER (PAGE 26)

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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

Editor & Advertising Manager Emily Kittendorf, messenger@mimilk.com, 248-474-6672, ext. 234 Publication Designer reZüberant! Inc., Stacy Love rezudesign.com

The weather this spring has given us a run for our money, but at least based on calendar dates, summer is essentially here. For those in the dairy community, ice cream season may be year round, but the warmer months officially kick off in June with dairy being celebrated all thirty days.

On the Cover An entire month of dairy promotion is right up Cheri Chapin’s alley. I had the opportunity to catch up with her on her family’s farm in Remus, Michigan. She grew up in the metro Detroit area and didn't have any prior dairy background before marrying Doug Chapin, MMPA Board Chairman. She quickly learned the ropes, jumped right into promoting dairy, and earned UDIM's Excellence in Dairy Promotion award earlier this year. Learn more about her unique path and dairy promotion experiences on page 14.

In this Issue Dairy promotion also has its roots in ensuring that those who can’t afford dairy’s deliciousness have access to it through their local food pantries. MMPA partners with the Food Bank Council of Michigan and Kroger's Michigan Dairy to help supply milk to those who are food insecure. You can learn more about how dairy ends up in the hands who need it most and how you can help ensure your food pantry has access to a fresh supply of milk on page 20. I also met with Parker Bivens from Ladine Dairy Farm to talk about their farm’s automation

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 e: messenger@mimilk.com 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: mimilk.com/subscribe MMPA members - 50¢ per year Non-members - $5 per year Circulation: 2,600 (ISSN 0026-2315)

and sustainability efforts (26), with many of the members recognized for achieving 50 years of MMPA membership this year (28), and with OYDC finalists Adam and Charlie Freis (19). Everyone in the dairy community has an important story to tell, you included! milk messenger / MAY-JUNE 2022

MILK MINUTE

Bringing Superior Dairy’s Experiences to MMPA BY BRAD PARKS, DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

ichigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) acquired Superior Dairy at the end of last year and together we have continued to transition plant operations while strengthening the synergies between the two organizations. As MMPA’s new Director of Business Development, and former president of Creative Edge Design Group, a subsidiary of LEL Operating Company along with Superior Dairy, I wanted to introduce myself and share more about MMPA’s new Canton, Ohio plant. I grew up in and around the dairy industry. My grandfather worked as a dairy herdsman in Sparta, Michigan, and my father, Delton Parks, had a long successful career in the dairy industry in Michigan. He grew Country Fresh from a single plant in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to over seven operations regionally.

BRAD PARKS

Many of my family members worked at Country Fresh Dairy in various positions as we were needed, including myself. I started working for Country Fresh during my college years and then began my professional career as a plant controller in the Livonia, Michigan plant before transferring to the McDonald plant in Flint, Michigan, which was a former MMPA plant acquired by Country Fresh. As the plant controller, I learned all facets of the dairy business and eventually went on to become general manager, overseeing the operation for 10 years. I helped transformed the business, adding extended shelf-life technology. It was at that plant, and the others that I went on to work for, where I gained appreciation for the value of the high-quality milk supplied by MMPA. The quality of the products the plant produces starts with the milk. I started at Superior Dairy in 2013 as president of the Creative Edge Design Group. In this role, I helped redesign the caseless bottle, secured other manufacturing licenses and worked with regional and national customers to form strategic partnerships. At Creative Edge, we focus on innovation and technology that keeps pace with the everchanging consumer. While the caseless bottle continues to be a major success, we are continuing to look at areas where we can innovate the packaging and technology required to satisfy evolving consumer diets. We are working to meet consumers’ needs for dairy products that have a longer shelf life and are higher in protein, while adding more value to milk. At Superior Dairy, we predominantly co-pack private label for customer brands. We bottle fluid milk and manufacture cottage cheese, sour cream, ice cream mixes, five-quart pails of ice cream and ice cream cakes. Our products are distributed to 45 states, and we are known for our innovative packaging and processing concepts. A few examples of Superior Dairy products include Sam’s Club and Costco milk, Sam’s Club five-quart pails of ice cream and Aldi’s cottage cheese and sour cream. Our plant code is 39-13, so be sure to look for that on the side of your favorite dairy products to see if it was manufactured in Canton, Ohio. Now as the Director of Business Development for MMPA, I will continue to simplify the complex dairy industry issues while working with customers to provide nutritious food products to consumers and their families. I have been successful in leading consumer product manufacturers to record levels of sales and profits, consistently exceeding goals in turnaround situations, and transforming poorly performing plants, organizations and personnel into top performing organizations. I’m excited to bring that experience to MMPA.

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QUALITY WATCH

How can you develop your farm’s human resources? WE ASKED THE EXPERTS:

Sarah Michalek MMPA Sustainability Supervisor I haven’t met a farmer who has told me they got into dairy farming because they wanted to manage employees. Most farmers enter the industry as part of a family tradition and/or a love of cows. Employee management doesn’t typically make the top of the list. And yet, employees are the most important asset on the farm. Family and non-family employees alike deserve a safe and healthy work environment. To assist farmers in mitigating risks and protecting their employees, the Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) program developed the Workforce Development silo as a voluntary evaluation to help employers identify which practices would be most beneficial to their situation. The evaluation looks at both human resources as well as safety practices. The program recognizes what you’re doing now and helps determine if you should keep doing it and it also identifies what you’re not doing and whether it’s something you should start. What’s more is that the program provides numerous resources and templates for these practices that can be tailored to fit the farm. There is no required follow-up to the evaluation and no action plans generated. The FARM Workforce Development silo is to be used as an informational tool to help farmers with employee management. If you’re interested in the evaluation or resources, please contact Deb Gingrich at dgingrich@mimilk.com or me at smichalek@mimilk.com.

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Nicole Ayache

Dr. Michelle Borek-Stine

FARM Workforce Development (WFD) focuses on the people who work year-round to provide excellent cow care and produce wholesome milk: dairy farm families and their employees. FARM WFD equips dairy owners and managers with free, high-quality resources to support their efforts to become an employer of choice, increase employee retention, and enhance onfarm safety and culture. The FARM Human Resources (HR) Manual addresses topics like hiring, communication, housing, training, wages/payroll, performance management and more. Self-assessment questions accompany each chapter. We also have downloadable HR templates and samples that can be tailored to fit the needs of the individual farm, like a sample Employee Handbook, a New Hire Checklist, and a Job Description Worksheet. The HR Manual and templates have been translated into Spanish for ease of use. Finally, our state and federal legal fact sheets summarize laws and regulations on various labor topics, including wages, paystubs, youth employment and more. Links to more information and resources are provided throughout. In addition to FARM resources, our website also highlights external resources available to dairy owners and managers. Building a successful HR management program takes some time and effort. It can feel more manageable by picking one single template or topic to start with.

Set yourself up for success. Your new employee’s first day is the most important. Often times new dairy employees have been thrown into their role with no training or guidance at all. The figure-itout-as-you-go mentality can work, but on today’s dairy farms that is not good enough. Even if you are short-handed, within the first two days of employment, schedule one to two hours to sit down with your employee. Ask them about what experiences they have, what they are interested in and what they want to learn or achieve in their role. The answers to these questions can dramatically change your training focus. They have also helped us create new employee welcome packets. Taking this time to get to know your employee initiates building trust and a working relationship. The individual who takes time to know the employee, should also take on the role of overseeing the training for the new employee. This person doesn’t always have to be well versed at training on each area of the farm, whether it be feeding, milking or equipment operator. That being said, a designated trainer per specific area is recommended. In each of these areas, it is critical that the specified trainer is the one who does the training and that new employees are not being trained second and third hand as key factors may be miscommunicated or left out. After the lead trainer has formed the trust bond with the employee, they can serve as the go between with the farm owner or manager. The farm owner or manager should meet with the lead trainer on scheduled weeks to ensure that training is progressing.

NMPF Vice President, Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability

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NEWS & VIEWS

MMPA photo contest entries due July 1 UPCOMING

EVENT

The fifth annual MMPA member photo contest opened on May 1 with submissions due before July 1. Contest applicants are encouraged to submit photos that are reflective of what encompasses our cooperative and captures a wide variety of the dairy farm lifestyle. Phone photographers are encouraged to submit entries! First, second and third place will be selected based on composition, quality and character of the image, suitability and/or creativity and overall impression of the photo. People’s Choice and Staff Choice awards will

July 1

be selected based on public and staff input.

MMPA Photo Contest Deadline for Entries

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For more information and to see last year’s award-winning photos, visit www.mimilk.com/ photo-contest.

MMPA Task Force Formed The MMPA board of directors authorized the formation of a task force to closely review MMPA’s membership structure and make recommendations for any changes. The task force will explore ways to modernize MMPA’s membership organizational structure. Two representatives from each district, including an Advisory Committee member from each district have been appointed:

MMPA producers scoring 95 percent or higher on Grade A Surveys and Federal Check Ratings LAWLER DAIRY FARM* FREDERICK L & CANDICE M INBODY* BRADLEY R BOOMS*

District 1:

District 6:

Clark Emmons

Ken Wieber

Frank Burkett

Mike Halfman

District 2:

District 7:

Josh Gamble

Rod Fowler

Bob Baker

Matt Bennett

WEAVERLAND FARMS DANIEL & GRACE SCHROEDER ROCKY POINT FARMS LLC* OWEN C YODER* RODNEY & LINDA GOEDEL DALE KOLONCHUK TROYLAND ACRES LLC AARON YODER JOSEPH WEAVER

District 3:

District 8:

Burke Larsen

Darwin Sneller

Scott Norris

Kip Siegler

District 4:

Board Chairman:

Marv Rubingh

Doug Chapin

Jonathan Miller District 5:

MUTTI DAIRY FARMS LLC JEFF HERSHBERGER LAVERN D SCHLABACK STEINHURST FARMS LLC* ANDREW J FELDPAUSCH NOBIS DAIRY FARMS DAVID J & LISA M WARNKE EVERGREEN DAIRY FARM LLC

Board Vice Chairman: Tony Jandernoa

WAMHOFF FAMILY DAIRY FARM LLC* WELCHKIN ACRES LLC VICTOR PUSCHEL

Amy Martin

Board Treasurer:

Amanda Goodfellow

Eric Frahm

LYNN, DOUGLAS, AND TERRY HUFF PLEASANT VIEW DAIRY DENNING FARMS LLC GETZ-MILK DAIRY LLC* DALE P & WENDY FISK* DRAYTON FAMILY DAIRY LLC VANDRESE FARMS KRANIAK BROTHERS ROBERT A & SCOTT J PAIDL

$4.1 Million Paid to MMPA Members MMPA made cash payments totaling $4.1 million in equity retirements to members in April. This is in addition to the $1.1 million in cash patronage from 2021 earnings paid earlier this year. MMPA’s strong financial position allows us to return allocated equities to members on a ten-year revolving basis. Members can access their equity information on the member portal.

SHERWIN WILSON KEITH & EMILY MARTIN* RDJ DAIRY* WEST END DAIRY INC* MARK R RAMER ANSCHUETZ DAIRY FARM LLC FOOR FARMS LLC LAVON HOOVER BENNETT DAIRY FARMS LLC BRAD & NICOLE WREN* TIM, AARON & JACOB OSTROSKI *100

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LEGISLATIVE WATCH

MMPA Member Outlines Dairy Needs in Farm Bill Kickoff Hearing in Michigan Michigan dairy farmer Ashley Kennedy, a member of the Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA), testified on behalf of MMPA and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) at the Senate Agriculture Committee’s first hearing dedicated to the upcoming Farm Bill, the twicea-decade reauthorization of all USDA programs. “I couldn’t have come back to the family farm if it were not for many of these programs,” said Kennedy, whose family milks 240 cows in east-central Michigan, at the field hearing held recently at Michigan State University in East Lansing. “Being a part of the conversation is essential to see a future that reflects opportunity and success.” Addressing Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), who presided over the hearing, Kennedy discussed her perspective as a third-generation farmer on the successes and shortcomings of current dairy policies and programs Congress must address in the next reauthorization. Kennedy thanked the committee, and Chairwoman Stabenow in particular, for overhauling the dairy safety net during the last farm bill and providing producers with access to crop insurance-like risk management tools, which puts dairy farmers on par with producers of other commodities.

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Kennedy praised the Dairy Margin Coverage program as “essential to our farm and family’s financial success last year” and called attention to recent improvements that accounted for modest production increases and better reflect dairy farmer feed costs.

“

I couldn’t have come back to the family farm if it were not for many of these programs. Being a part of the conversation is essential to see a future that reflects opportunity and success.”

Still, the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic for the dairy sector in Michigan and nationwide need to be incorporated into the next reauthorization of federal farm programs, she said in her written testimony. The effects of federal programs on milk pricing deserve special attention, she said. “The combined effects of the change made to the Class I mover in the last farm bill, and the government’s heavy cheese purchases, cost dairy farmers over $750 million in Class I skim revenue during the last six months of 2020.” The dairy industry, under NMPF leadership, is seeking consensus on a range of improvements to the Federal Milk Marketing Order system, including but not limited to the Class I mover, that can be taken to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for consideration in a national order hearing.

Advisory Committee DISTRICT 1 Art Riske...........................................517-524-6015 Clark Emmons...................................419-466-4471 Samantha Mamarow ........................734-845-6275 Eric Bleich.........................................517-204-0677 Dan Minnis .......................................517-719-5894

DISTRICT 2 Danny Ransler ..................................269-998-3802 Josh Gamble .....................................574-360-7828 Richard Thomas ................................574-202-5198 Mark Crandall ...................................269-660-2229 Michael Oesch...................................574-825-2454

DISTRICT 3 Burke Larsen.....................................231-425-8988 Jonathan Acker .................................616-648-7037 Max Carlson......................................231-638-2183 Arden Eadie ......................................616-550-3875 Gary Nelsen ......................................231-834-7610

DISTRICT 4

Beyond economic policy, Kennedy also advocated for additional investments in conservation programs to help dairy farmers build on their ongoing sustainability work; urged a doubling of funding for key trade promotion programs; and spoke to the importance

“

The combined effects of the change made to the Class I mover in the last farm bill, and the government’s heavy cheese purchases, cost dairy farmers over $750 million in Class I skim revenue during the last six months of 2020.”

of farm bill nutrition programs as “the bedrock of linking the food we produce as farmers to households across the country.” Kennedy closed by offering a personal take on the need for significant mental health policy in the farm bill. “Stress in rural America is not talked about enough, which is unfortunate, because it’s a problem we can only solve by working together.” Kennedy thanked the committee for reauthorizing the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network in the last farm bill but urged that even more robust resources be provided. The Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to hold an additional field hearing in Arkansas, the home state of Ranking Republican John Boozman, in the coming weeks.

Ron Lucas .........................................989-379-4694 Dave Folkersma.................................906-630-1957 Paul Ponik.........................................989-464-5924 Marvin Rubingh................................425-533-8106 Russ Tolan.........................................989-471-2993

DISTRICT 5 Jack Jeppesen ...................................989-330-1905 Trevor Bollinger ................................989-621-2981 Mark Bontekoe .................................231-510-0764 John Black ........................................231-846-7252 Amy Martin ......................................231-388-0496

DISTRICT 6 Steve Thelen .....................................989-640-1075 Renee McCauley................................616-283-6411 Ken Wieber .......................................989-292-1187 David Reed .......................................989-274-8147 Brad Ritter........................................586-405-4749

DISTRICT 7 Chris Daniels.....................................989-240-5031 Philip Gross.......................................989-289-0670 Jason Elenbaum................................989-274-1974 James Weber ....................................989-297-1850 Rodney Fowler..................................989-302-2299

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

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EXCELLENCE IN DAIRY PROMOTION

EXCELLENCE IN DAIRY PROMOTION… 14

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BORN IN DETROIT. BUILT TO PROMOTE. Cheri Chapin, the Excellence in Dairy Promotion award recipient, uses her personal consumer background to share dairy’s story as an owner of Chapin Family Farms.

Life rarely follows a linear path. It often seems more like an approach with three steps forward and one step backwards that ends up with you leaving a zigzagging trail behind you. Regardless of the path though, the moments where you change direction are pivotal, and for Cheri Chapin, the recipient of the Excellence in Dairy Promotion award presented by the United Dairy Industry of Michigan, those moments changed her entire life. “I was raised in the Detroit area. My brother and I both went up to Michigan State University for college and it ended up that my brother and Doug were thrown together as roommates,” Chapin said about meeting her now husband, Doug Chapin, a dairy farmer. “That’s how I met Doug. I never would have met a farmer otherwise. That doesn’t happen in the college of business.” And now here she is, an owner of Chapin Family Farms in Remus, Michigan. Together, along with her husband and current MMPA Board Chairman, Doug Chapin; her son, Sam; and her daughter-in-law, Micah, they milk over 700 cows in a double-18 parlor. “Who would have thought I’d end up on a dairy farm?” Chapin said. “Honestly even in my wildest dreams, I never would've thought.”

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A Dream Unimagined Chapin’s original plans with her business degree were to go into travel, either becoming an interpreter or a travel agent. Now, she’s utilizing that passion to promote dairy on international missions. “Now I get to travel as much I want to,” Chapin said. “When I was on the National Dairy Board, I got to go to Tokyo and Hong Kong on a dairy mission trip. We were promoting American cheese.” The mission trips are filled with receptions with key stakeholders, visits to markets that promote dairy products, and trips to area culinary schools. For Chapin, the trip was “six days of nonstop” promoting. “We’d start first thing in the morning and go until whatever reception or dinner was in the evening. It was great.” “Hong Kong was really cool because that's the kind of place where I never thought I'd go,” Chapin said. “We went to the top of this huge skyscraper and to look out and see nothing but people and realize how dense their population is, it was very overwhelming to think of how many people they have to feed and how American dairy can be a part of that.” For Chapin though, her initial interest in promoting dairy and seeing it as a solution to markets hungry for dairy, like what she experienced in Hong Kong, began on her own farm with MMPA’s Dairy Communicator program.

The World of Dairy Promotion “Doug was an officer for the Alma Local and they had to put someone’s name down on the ballot as Dairy Communicator,” Chapin said. “They wanted to add one more name, so he said, ‘I put your name down.’ And I said, ‘Oh really? What do I have to do?’” From there, Chapin jumped headfirst into the world of dairy promotion, realizing that she had the background to make a significant difference.

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“

Because I didn’t have a farm background, I was aware of misconceptions that the general public has, and I thought it was important that we get the right story out.”

“Because I didn’t have a farm background, I was aware of misconceptions that the general public has, and I thought it was important that we get the right story out,” Chapin said. “I knew what people wanted to know. I knew what kind of questions they had. For example, how many teats does a cow have? Do they all have the same? You know, it sounds like a stupid question, but it's not. There are no dumb questions.” Seeing things through consumers’ eyes, Chapin and her sister-in-law began working with schools to do farm tours.

Her sister-in-law would do an ag in the classroom presentation and then Chapin would help her conduct the farm tour. “We formulated our own stations for the farm tours,” Chapin said. “We had a show cow that we'd bring out so the kids could come up close and touch, we'd have cows in the parlor so that they could actually strip a cow out, and then at the end of the tour everybody got an ice cream bar.” Their farm tours made a lasting difference in their community. “I'll talk to people who are adults with their own kids now and say, I still remember going to your farm when I was a kid,” Chapin said. Her promotion work extends beyond farm tours as well, including donating milk to local 5Ks, organizing grocery store dairy sampling and more.

A Story to Tell For Chapin, every moment can be used to promote dairy. When Chapin Family Farm was hit with a tornado last summer that destroyed a barn and injured animals, she used the commotion from the press to make lasting relationships with news reporters. Those relationships have since made her their contact of choice

when it comes to any dairy related stories, and she ensured that she invited them back out after the barn was rebuilt to help share a positive story about dairy, showcasing recovery from the natural disaster and a dairy farm doing what they do best, caring for animals in the best way possible.

“

I was told right from the get-go, if you ever have a question that you don't know the answer to, you say, ‘I can't answer that, but I can find it out for you.’”

While media attention is something that most farmers shy away from, Chapin embraced it. She went from someone who knew nearly nothing about dairy when she first married Doug, to now promoting it around the world. Her success and aptitude for promoting dairy, wouldn’t have been possible without relying on the advice she had received from others over the years. “I was told right from the get-go, if you ever have a question that you don't know the answer to, you say, ‘I can't answer that, but I can find it out for you. Let me get your name and number and I will call the right people.’” Chapin said about the advice she received in the Dairy Diplomat program, a former UDIM program that served as a local outreach arm. “I've relied on that a lot of times. I've done some research for people when I haven't known an answer.”

Chapin’s willingness to learn and share what she’s learned with consumers is what earned her the Excellence in Dairy Promotion award announced from the United Dairy Industry of Michigan during the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in early 2022. “I enjoy it when I can share information that really surprises people. When you can tell them a fact about dairy and they say, ‘Really? I did not know that.” Chapin said. “That makes it all worthwhile. Dairy has a great story, we just have to share it.”

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Dairy Care ACADEMY

Dairy Care Academy is ONLINE, ON DEMAND! Help your farm meet training requirements for the FARM program by accessing the on-demand, FARM program compliant online training platform. The curriculum covers six different topics and is available for unlimited use whenever a new employee is hired, retraining is necessary or simply to brush up on your skills. Watch videos, complete a quiz and receive a printable certificate for each of the following topics:

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MILKING PRACTICES

DAIRY STOCKMANSHIP

FITNESS TO TRANSPORT

NON-AMBULATORY

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ANIMAL MGMT

CALF CARE

EUTHANASIA

Access the online platform on the member portal at producers.mimilk.com or by contacting your member representative.

OUTSTANDING YOUNG DAIRY COOPERATORS

ADAM & CHARLIE

FREIS

Local: U.P. West Central District: 4 Number of Milk Cows: 230

Adam and Charlie are the definition of a true team. On their family’s farm, Freis Dairy LLC, Adam milks, feeds and does the field work, while Charlie cares for the calves, manages the breeding program and is responsible for the herd’s health. Together, they’re also raising six-year-old Rylyn who loves every part of the dairy farm! Adam and Charlie are high achievers with both of them receiving Menominee County Farm Bureau Young Farmer Achievement Awards.

Q&A: Q: What's your favorite season on the farm? Why? Adam: Spring. Who doesn’t like chisel plowing? Charlie: Summer because everything is easier when it’s warm. Q: What do you love about being a farmer? Adam: Everything but the bills. Charlie: The lifestyle. Q: Ultimate cow? Sired by who? Average production? Adam: Any HoJo sired by an excellent JUI bull. Production… infinite. Charlie: 189 sired by Lazarith. Peak production at 127 lbs. Q: Why do you milk cows? Charlie: It all started from a hobby. Q: Farm management style in three words. Adam: Work in progress Q: If you were given $1 million dollars to invest in your farm, what would you do with it? Adam and Charlie: Pay it off Q: What are you known for on the farm? Adam: Muscle. My wife’s the brain. PHOTO BY: TBD

ON THEIR FARM If you visit their farm in the western U.P., you’ll directly see the impact of Adam and Charlie’s forward-thinking nature. They recognize the challenges facing the dairy industry today and are proactively managing potential risks by breeding the majority of their herd to A2A2 sires in the event that the A2 milk market reaches them. In the future, they’d like to grow their farm and build a heifer facility. milk milkmessenger messenger/ /MAY-JUNE MAY-JUNE2022 2022

1919

FROM FARM TO FOOD PANTRY

ichigan Milk Producers Association’s (MMPA’s) partnership with the Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM) helps provide all 83 counties in Michigan with a supply of nutritious dairy products for those struggling with food insecurity. Kath Clark, Director of Food Programs at FBCM answered a few commonly asked questions:

What is the Food Bank Council of Michigan and what is your relationship with member food banks? The Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM) was founded in 1984 through the cooperative efforts of the state’s regional food banks. FBCM purchases food and distributes it to member food banks who service a specific geographical region and provide food and resources to pantries in their communities. Food pantries can “shop” the regional food bank to acquire food that meets the needs for their own community programs and services. How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect your organization? We distributed almost 50 percent more food than any other time we ever have. We went from using brick and mortar pantries to doing mobile distributions, a safer and more efficient model for our older, higher-risk volunteers. The shutdown happened so quickly that many people were not prepared, and we all remember how bare the shelves at grocery stores were. It was hard to find food and we had a lot of people utilizing our services for the first time in their lives.

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What challenges are you facing today? The supply chain challenges are hitting us hard, and inflation is staggering. We all see the effects of those challenges when we go to the grocery store and buy our own family’s groceries. When we are buying a truckload of groceries at a time and see the prices go up the same way, our food banks are telling us that they are easily 25 percent over budget for food purchases. Within the last month with gas prices skyrocketing, we are beginning to see an increase in the number of people visiting food pantries again, all at a time when our capacity to purchase had decreased because of inflation. What is your relationship with MMPA? MMPA is the organization that taught us how to handle milk in our food banks. Milk has always been the most requested item at food pantries, and it used to be that the milk that we received, more often than not, was milk near expiration donated by local grocers or retail outlets. Obviously that milk didn’t have a long shelf life and we would just get it out as fast as we could to the places we could. Having fresh milk donated by MMPA that had time on it and that we could properly distribute to everyone who needed it was a luxury we never had before. MMPA is the cornerstone of our milk program and it’s now one of the great examples that Feeding America showcases at a national level. Our relationship with MMPA is special. How can someone help donate milk to their food bank? Someone looking to donate dairy to the Food Bank Council of Michigan can buy gallons of milk online at https:// vfd.fbcmich.org/shopping/. You can also contact your regional food bank to make a donation designated for purchasing dairy products.

Food Bank of Eastern Michigan – Flint South Michigan Food Bank Greater Lansing Food Bank Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southwest Michigan Detroit Disitribution Center and Main Headquarters – Detroit Gleaners South Campus Distribution Center – Taylor Livingston Distribution Center – Howell Pontiac Distribution Center – Pontiac Forgotten Harvest – Oak Park (Serves Oakland, Macomb, Wayne) Food Gatherers – Ann Arbor Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank – Comstock Park Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank – Cadillac Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank – Benton Harbor Manna Food Project – Petoskey Western Upper Peninsula Food Bank – Houghton Food Rescue of Northwest Michigan – Traverse City

Food Bank Contacts Feeding America West Michigan Abigail LaLonde - (616) 389-6365 Food Bank of Eastern Michigan Terry Nix - 810-396-0225 Food Gatherers Markell Miller - 734-761-2796

YES

Is the food pantry part of the Food Bank Council of Michigan network?

Is the food pantry interested in receiving a milk cooler AND is there a need for milk in the food pantry's community?

Forgotten Harvest Kelli Kaschimer - 248-967-1500 Gleaners Mollie Allard - 313-308-0626 Greater Lansing Food Bank Erin Reinke - 517-908-3691 South MI Food Bank Tammi Morgan - 269-964-3663 Ext 427

YES

Is there a need for milk in the food pantry's community?

Encourage the pantry to join the Food Bank Council of Michigan network to access nutritious dairy products. They can call their regional food bank, using the contacts indicated above the map, to join.

Contact the United Dairy Industry of Michigan to complete a grant application for a milk cooler before helping fill the cooler with milk.

Milk may not be needed right now in the community, but there may be a need in the future. Establish a relationship with your food pantry to help service any future needs they may have.

YES

The food pantry can contact their area's food bank and place an order for milk.

Milk may not be needed right now in the community, but there may be a need in the future. Establish a relationship with your food pantry to help service any future needs they may have.

KATH CLARK

milk messenger / MAY-JUNE 2022

Journey from the Farm to the Food Insecure Supplying fresh milk to all 83 counties in Michigan requires extensive reliance on numerous industry partners and precise transportation logistics. The unique partnership between MMPA, the Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM) and Kroger's Michigan Dairy makes what was once an improbable feat of supplying those in need in all corners of Michigan with fresh dairy, into a well-oiled machine providing a mainstay product that those who are food insecure can rely on today. The donation model that MMPA helped establish with FBCM and Michigan Dairy, has since been replicated in other states in the country. Take a look at the journey milk takes from MMPA member farms to the food insecure in your local communities.

MMPA Member Farm

Processor

Food Bank

Every donation of milk begins on member farms. Dairy farms are critical components of their local communities and caring for those in need comes second nature. For nearly a decade now, MMPA has worked with their member owners to facilitate their generous donation of fresh, wholesome milk. Since 2015, MMPA has donated nearly 342,000 gallons of milk.

After donated milk is picked up from the farm, it is brought to Michigan Dairy, a Kroger plant in Livonia, Michigan. At the plant, the milk is unloaded and is pasteurized and bottled into gallon jugs that are ready for consumers. Michigan Dairy generously donates the use of their plant and the milk’s processing and packaging.

From Michigan Dairy, the gallons of milk are distributed to the seven food banks in Michigan based on the orders they place to the FBCM. Each food bank is allocated a certain amount of milk determined by Feeding America and based on the number of people who are food insecure in the region. The allocation process ensures that milk is distributed fairly based on communities’ needs.

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Food Pantries

Mobile Distribution Centers

The Food Insecure

The 2,800 brick-and-mortar food pantries that the FBCM partners with can then place their order online with their region’s food bank to either pick up their milk or have it delivered. A challenge with supplying food pantries with dairy is their infrastructure and access to keep milk safely in a cooler. The FBCM’s partnership with the United Dairy Industry of Michigan looked to overcome that by supplying food pantries grant opportunities to receive a milk cooler.

Milk can also be distributed via mobile distribution centers. The nearly 3,000 distribution sites were a major success during the COVID-19 pandemic because they allowed volunteers to distribute food outdoors. The distribution center orders food online from the food bank, just like the brick-and-mortar food pantries. After receiving their shipment, the milk is held in a large, refrigerated truck and cars line up to receive a box of food filled with fresh produce, dairy products and other goods.

Finally, from the food pantry and mobile distribution center, the gallons of milk end up in the hands of those in need, supplying the nine essential nutrients and helping round out a healthy diet. Today, approximately 1.9 million Michiganders are food insecure and with the current economic climate, the number is predicted to continue to grow. MMPA, FBCM and Michigan Dairy are committed to continue fighting hunger and providing dairy to those in need.

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23 23

(L-R): JARED SANDERSON, MADISON WIELAND, ADALEE THELEN, BROOKE VOELKER, KRISTEN BURKHARDT, KELSEY PASCH, MONIKA DZIUBA, MORGAN MATHEWS AND CHASE RIEVERT.

The Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation grant MSU students scholarship awards for 2021-22

he Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation and endowments honoring Howard Cowles and Rolland Patenge have awarded over $100,000 in scholarships to Michigan State University (MSU) students pursuing dairy industry-related programs of study for the 2021-22 academic year. The following students were awarded a named Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation Scholarship. Named scholarships are established endowments within the MDMSF that each have specific criteria related to the individual the scholarship is named after. The 2021-22 MDMSF named scholarship recipients include:

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/ MAY-JUNE 2022

Glenn & Anne Lake Scholarship, $7,500: • Kristen Burkhardt, a senior in Agribusiness Management from Fowlerville, MI

Russel Erickson Scholarship, $5,000: • Chase Rievert, a senior in Animal Science from Bay Port, MI

Donald & Valera Murray Scholarship, $4,000: • Rajrsri Raghunath, a senior in Food Science and Human Nutrition from East Lansing, MI

John & Barbara Dilland Scholarship, $4,000: • Adalee Thelen, a freshman in Animal Science with an Agribusiness Management minor from St. Johns

Archie Studer Scholarship, $4,000: • Calvin Bontekoe, a junior in Animal Science from Howell, MI

Nick Bellows Scholarship, $4,000: • Kelsey Pasch, a senior in Animal Science from Beal City, MI

George & Shirley Hazle Scholarship, $4,000: • Brooke Voelker, a junior in Animal Science from Paris, MI

Red and Edna Cotter Scholarship, $4,000 • Ellen Launstein, a fourth-year student in Veterinary Medicine from Mason, MI

Harold and Lillian Gremel Scholarship, $4,000: • Emmy Schuurmans, a third-year student in Veterinary Medicine from Caledonia, MI

Velmar Green Scholarship, $4,000: • Drew Neyer, a second-year student in Ag Tech Dairy Management from Shepherd, MI

Gary and Carolyn Trimner Scholarship, $4,000: • Monika Dziuba, a third-year student in Veterinary Medicine from Riverview, MI

The following five MSU students were awarded $3,500 scholarships from the Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation: • Katie Butler, a senior in Animal Science and Microbiology from Gaylord, MI • Mikayla Bowen, a junior in Animal Science from Addison, MI • BreAnna Laughlin, a sophomore in Animal Science from St. Louisville, OH • Cora Schau, a senior in Animal Science from Buchanan, MI • Serenity Bonilla, a senior in Animal Science from Whittier, CA

One student pursuing a two-year certificate in the MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology (IAT) dairy management program earned a $2,000 scholarship from the Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation: • Rachael Bosse from Moline, MI

One first-year student was awarded the Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation Freshman Scholarship worth $1,500: • Madison Wieland, Animal Science major from Cass City, MI

Two veterinary students were awarded the Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation Scholarships worth $2,000: • Morgan Mathews, a first-year student from Glencoe, MN

Coverage on another level. Dairy Revenue Protection is a flexible, producer-driven risk management tool you can use to protect your margins. Call your local GreenStone crop insurance specialist today to see how Dairy Revenue Protection can enhance your milk marketing plans.

800-444-FARM

• Jared Sanderson, a third-year student from Sandusky, MI

Thanks to the generous support of donors, the Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation oversees the largest scholarship program in the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and one of the largest at MSU. The MDMSF was established in 1957 through contributions made in honor of individuals who have served the dairy industry. Income from the endowment has generated scholarships for deserving students who want to pursue careers associated with the dairy industry.

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

milk messenger / MAY-JUNE 2022

SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT

Parker Bivens BY EMILY KITTENDORF

MMPA IS COMMITTED TO COOPERATIVE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE SUPPLY CHAIN. AT THE FARM LEVEL, MMPA MEMBERS ARE ALSO ON A SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY. WE’RE CHECKING IN WITH A HANDFUL OF MEMBER FARMERS LEADING THE CHARGE WITH THIS SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT SERIES.

ike many other farms, sustainability on Ladine Dairy Farm begins out of necessity and desire to pass the farm on through generations. “If I'm not

sustaining, I’m not going to be here, and I want to pass it onto the next generation like my grandpa has to my uncle,” Parker Bivens (District 2, Bellevue, MI), owner of Ladine Dairy Farm said. For Bivens, sustainability is at the root of his efforts to automate his operation. What started as a love of technology, coupled with the recognized labor challenges they were facing, turned into installing technology in all facets of their farm.

FARM

HERD

LAND

Ladine Dairy Farm LLP Bellevue, Michigan

120 milking

380 acres of alfalfa, corn, soybeans, rye and wheat

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“

I had to talk my dad into installing robot milkers, but he’s looking closer to retirement so it was once he realized how easy it would get, he was on board.” “I had to talk my dad into installing robot milkers, but he’s looking closer to retirement so it was once he realized how easy it would get, he was on board,” Bivens said. “Now, he’s glad that we did it because installing the robots helped us deal with labor, employees,

receives the proper amount of nutrients

what’s wrong with them. The software

for their age, and a robot feed pusher

shows us which cows are suspected

that helps provide cows consistent

for ketosis and it takes into account

access to a well-balanced diet. The

rumination and activity while using

robots have created an ecosystem of

protein and fat as an inversion as well.

technology on the farm, simplifying the

It’s all in there.”

transition for heifers.

For Bivens, the technology is also a

“A big correlation with the heifers when

way to ease his worries when it comes

they calve in is the technology they’re

to carrying for his cattle. “I don’t

exposed to when they are younger.

sleep at night when I have a calf that

They do really well because we’ve

isn’t doing as well as what it should. I

been setting up for it over the last

worry about every animal’s health and

four years,” Bivens said. The forward-

stress when I have sick animals.”

thinking nature also allows Bivens to

Parker’s automation efforts underscore

recognize that the “technology is a decade of investment, but over a long period of time we will have healthier cows as a result.”

his desire to provide the best quality care for his cattle, all while sustainably approaching his smart farming practices. Perhaps fittingly, when asked

and now one of us can do it all day long

The technology on Ladine Dairy Farm

what his definition of sustainability is,

or even for a couple of days straight

also allows Bivens to monitor metrics

he recommended, “Ask Google.”

with no problem.”

that evaluate a cow’s health without just

At the end of the day, Parker’s goal on

Ladine Dairy Farm transitioned to robot

relying on visible signals.

his farm is to “be more successful with

milkers in February 2021. While it was

“I’ve been able to catch sick cows

what we’ve been given” and that’s what

a rough first few weeks, they have since

faster,” Bivens said. “Usually when

sustainability is all about.

seen significant improvements in their

rumination begins to drop, I try to see

herd’s health. “The biggest gain we’ve gotten from the robots is the labor savings and cow health and longevity just from not

KEYWORDS

being on their feet for so long waiting

Smart Farming: A BROAD RANGE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT PROVIDE DATA

to get into the parlor,” Bivens said.

TO GUIDE ON-FARM DECISIONS AND PLANNING. THIS COULD INCLUDE SENSORS

“We have seen a huge increase in conception rates, too. We were averaging probably 35-40% conception

FOR ALMOST ANY VARIABLE OF INTEREST; EVERYTHING FROM SOIL MOISTURE SENSORS FOR IRRIGATION CONTROL TO ELECTRONIC MONITORS FOR LIVESTOCK

rate and now some months will be up

HEALTH. DRIVING THIS REVOLUTION IS THE INTERNET OF THINGS, AN EVER-

to 60%. That’s something too that will

GROWING NETWORK OF SENSORS AND DEVICES WITH INTERNET AND MACHINE-

just keep getting better over time.”

TO-MACHINE CONNECTIVITY.

In addition to the robot milkers, Ladine Dairy Farm also utilizes automatic calf

SOURCE: USDA RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS INFORMATION SYSTEM

feeders which ensure that every calf

VERIFICATIONS

MMPA SUSTAINABILITY MISSION

MMPA Sustainability Survey, Nutrient Management Plan, Farmers Assuring Responsible Management Animal Care, MAEAP Verified in Livestock and Farmstead Systems

To continually strive for a more sustainable future for our community, our environment, our economy’s health, and for the lives and world around us.

milk messenger / MAY-JUNE 2022

MANAGEMENT: IN 1972, GLENN LAKE WAS SERVING AS MMPA PRESIDENT AND JACK BARNES WAS GENERAL MANAGER.

OYDCS: BILL AND PATRICIA OSWALT OF VICKSBURG, MICHIGAN, SERVED AS THE 1972 OYDCS.

MILESTONE MEMBERS: EVIDENCE THAT MOVING FORWARD IS POSSIBLE As long-time members of MMPA, 35- and

35 Year Members:

Iris R Stout

50-year members’ experiences overcoming

Everett William Bone

Carol Baker

the changes in markets, regulations and

Duane G Cumper

David Klamer

leadership within the industry over the

John W Cumper

50 Year Members:

past many years serve as evidence that

Brian Eldred

Richard Fettig

Jack D Fisk

Wayne Hecksel

Martin C Fox

Richard Heyboer

Fred Heinze

Donald Judge

James A Huggett

Kenneth Van Polen

moving forward is possible. The knowledge and wisdom that they share within their community ensures the success of the dairy industry and MMPA for many years to come.

Peter Kurncz

Our cooperative wouldn’t be the same today

Bruce Litwiller

without their presence and leadership. Thank

Jane Mamarrow

you, 35- and 50-year members for your

Michael J Rasmussen

dedication and service to MMPA.

Gary Schultz milk messenger / MAY-JUNE 2022

MILK: IN 1972, MMPA MARKETED 2.8 BILLION POUNDS OF MILK, WITH EACH MEMBER FARM

DRIER: A NEW DRIER WAS INSTALLED AT THE OVID PLANT IN 1972, INCREASING THE PLANT’S MILK DRYING CAPACITY BY 65% TO A TOTAL OF 2,500 POUNDS OF MILK POWDER PER HOUR.

“The increasingly complex and wide-ranging issues of tomorrow demand the best in leadership, know-how, and organization. And we can’t afford to settle for less. But even more important is the required unqualified commitment of All of us to the Total effort of working together – and living together. Let’s not just talk about what we have done or what we are going to do – let’s do it and let it speak for itself.” – GLENN LAKE, 1972

Dick Fettig Hometown: Petoskey, Michigan Contract Date: February 1972 Number of Generations on the Farm: 3 Milking Herd Size: 200 How was your farm started? My dad started it with a stall barn milking about 30 cows in the 50s. Where do you think the future of the industry is heading? Looks like it’s getting bigger and bigger farms. How has MMPA helped your farm succeed? The milk truck is there every other day! For a long time, I had a 1,300-gallon tank and I filled it and they came every day for 30 years. I just put a new tank in. What’s made you remain an MMPA member for so long? Well I’ve been a delegate for the last 25 years. What words of wisdom would you like to share with fellow members? I would say take care of the younger ones because they are the generation that’s coming up. Pass the farms on if you can. .

Donald Judge Hometown: Shepherd, Michigan Contract Date: March 1972 Number of Generations on the Farm: 4 Milking Herd Size: 475 How was your farm started? My dad bought it in 1936. He milked 13 cows by hand for the first two or three years and then got a milk machine and it grew from there. What do you enjoy most about being a dairy farmer? The cows and calves. Where do you think the future of the industry is heading? Well, it’s pretty decent. It’s a lot of up and down stuff all the time. How has MMPA helped your farm succeed? Got a good market for our milk. What words of wisdom would you like to share with fellow members? Just keep up the good work.

milk messenger / MAY-JUNE 2022

YOUR DAIRY PROMOTION AT WORK

YOUR DAIRY CHECKOFF AT WORK Dairy Checkoff Enters Collaboration With Mayo Clinic The dairy checkoff has begun a fiveyear collaboration with Mayo Clinic to explore research and consumer outreach efforts to improve public health and advance dairy’s benefits. Teams comprised of National Dairy Council scientists and registered dietitians, Mayo Clinic physicians and health professionals as well as Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy experts will lead initiatives focused on three areas, including whole milk impacts on cardiovascular health and metabolic conditions, communicating dairy’s strong body of evidence and research with the scientific community, health and wellness professionals and consumers, and debunking dairy myths and help consumers maintain confidence in dairy foods, farms and businesses through digital platforms.

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Milk Monday Makes a Splash Purdue University’s Dairy Club welcomed students from across campus to kick off Ag Week with grilled cheese sandwiches and ice-cold milk on Milk Monday. American Dairy Association Indiana supported student efforts through communications trainings leading up to the event and providing the dairy foods to make the event a success. Students learned how to connect with their non-farm peers, sharing personal stories to build trust and understanding of dairy farming. Two calves also generated interest and conversation among students. Over a thousand sandwiches and glasses of milk were enjoyed while experiences were shared.

Chocolate Milk and Coaches In Indiana, we launched a pilot program to get chocolate milk into the hands of student athletes. Through the “Chocolate Milk and Coaches” program, school systems will be able to have coolers stocked with chocolate milk directly in weight rooms and available for athletes after workouts. The benefits of refueling with chocolate milk have been well-known for some time, but the access to the protein-packed beverage has not been a previous focus. Programs at Huntington North and Zionsville Community Schools show promise to educate young athletes on the important role of chocolate milk, while improving their overall health and performance.

UNITED DAIRY INDUSTRY OF MICHIGAN

Dairy Farmer Spokesperson Network training Nationally-recognized trainer Joan Horbiak worked with Indiana dairy farmers, cooperative members, state agriculture staff and other dairy community leaders for a day-long intensive media training. Attendees practiced speaking with consumers and telling their dairy story in a way that connects in person and online. Graduates of the course become part of a network used to fill media requests and host tours across the state for important thought leaders. If you are interested in attending a future training, reach out to Allie Rieth at 317-443-2296 or rieth@ winnersdrinkmilk.com.

313 Day with The Detroit Pistons On March 13 over 19,000 fans piled into Little Caesars Arena to watch the face-off between The Detroit Pistons and The Los Angeles Clippers. The game was played on Detroit’s 313 Day which is a special day that the community celebrates its history, businesses and successes of the city. UDIM leveraged our partnership with The Detroit Pistons as we supplied milk and canned lattes to fans leaving the arena. Our You’re Gonna Need Milk for That branding featuring Saddiq Bey was in full effect with in-arena advertising and on the concourse.

Dairy-Great Breakfasts are Best Paired with a Book The UDIM 2022 Breakfast and a Book Series wrapped up with the Bucket Lady, Carol McCloud. Students were able to virtually meet the author of “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” and get a glimpse of a dairy farm. Renee McCauley hosted the event on a chilly morning inside a freestall barn. The students learned ways to fill other’s buckets with kindness, not to dip from someone’s bucket and how to fill their own bucket. A crowd of 4,636 students joined the live event on Zoom and even more participated on YouTube and Facebook. Teachers appreciated how the events connected the importance of breakfast with learning and focusing at school. Each event also discussed how students can grab a free breakfast with milk at school. Educators from across the county also tagged Milk Means More on social media sharing pictures of their classrooms enjoying the book readings!

Consumers Donate 46,671 gallons of Milk to Michigan’s Food Banks Busch’s Fresh Market Milk Drive continues to demonstrate strong support from retail shoppers. The spring drive, now in its seventh year, took place from March 13-27 and raised 46,671 gallons of milk for local food banks. 15 local teams and organizations supported stores via social media encouraging their communities to donate. Jake Vedder, recent 2022 Olympian, visited his hometown Busch's Fresh Food Market in Pinckney, Michigan to generate enthusiasm and support for the milk drive. Busch’s Fresh Market is scheduled to host their fall drive kicking off September 26!

milk messenger / MAY-JUNE 2022

FREELINERS AND CLASSIFIEDS

TO SUBMIT FREELINERS AND CLASSIFIED ADS, CONTACT MMPA VIA EMAIL AT MESSENGER@MIMILK.COM OR VISIT MIMILK.COM/FREELINER-CLASSIFIED.

Freeliners 2009 NEW HOLLAND H7450 DISCBINE, drawbar

FOR SALE: 1,000-GALLON DE LAVAL BULK TANK with

Freeliners Policy

swivel hitch, good rolls, one owner, $15,300.

compressor and tank washer. $2,000 or best offer.

The Freeliners column is open to current MMPA

Call 989-305-2659.

Call 231-414-1140.

or services relating directly to their dairy farm

DOUBLE 16 SURGE MAG 40 with all vacuum pumps,

FOR SALE: CALVES AND HEIFERS FOR YOUR 4-H KIDS

operations.

air compressors, free heaters, H20 softener, a 2,000

TO SHOW AT THE COUNTY FAIR. Jersey, Ayrshire and

• An item submitted will be published for no

gal and 4,000 gal bulk tanks with all units and

Holstein available. Call 989-271-8757.

members who wish to advertise—at no charge—goods

more than two consecutive issues (one issue,

washers, Dematron take offs, 32 ft air crowd gate,

unless otherwise requested). After that, it will be

Mirafount H20’s, gates, fans, lights. Parting out or

FOR SALE: GOOD QUALITY FRESH COWS 1ST

withdrawn.

take all. Midland, MI 989-980-0793.

LACTATION AND 2ND PLUS. Fully vaccinated, SCC under 100. Call for more information and availability.

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

H&S 9-FOOT MERGER. Good condition, field-ready,

the item by writing or calling the Novi office.

stored inside. Kuhn 4220 rotary rake like new.

• Reference to a name of a firm or other commercial

FOR SALE: HOLSTEIN BULLS READY FOR SERVICE.

$9,000. Call 810-728-6237.

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.

734-776-0285.

Out of dams of over 30,000 of milk and top AI sires. 1 CASE OF BOUMATIC MAGNUM 400 VENTED

$1,200-1,500. Call LaDine Dairy Farm 269-419-9475

INFLATIONS. PN 8510895. QTY. 100. Best offer.

(Lynn) or 269-274-5076 (Parker).

Call 810-728-6237. FOR SALE: HIGH QUALITY HAY, 1st, 2nd & 3rd cutting stored in plastic bale wrap. $95 a bale.

Classifieds Classifieds Policy

all 231-414-1140.

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.

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!

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

Non-GMO products available

Michigan and other states. No interest payment Contact merchandisers at ZFS, Inc: MI/IN/OH: 866.888.7082 WI: 800-523-6760 www.zfsinc.com/divisions/ingredients

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

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Classifieds - continued A SURE WAY TO KEEP YOUR COWS UPRIGHT! Concrete grooving/texturing provides high quality traction in new and old concrete, fast service. NIENOW GROOVING. Call Cliff at 989-635-1494. 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. Call 989-723-1886 or 989-277-1414. ALFALFA HAYLAGE (excellent & fair grades)

Fly Control Fly population control is very important on dairy operations during the warm time of the year. Minimizing disease transmission to livestock and humans and preventing product contamination are extra challenges during fly season. The MMPA Farm Supply Store stocks two products members can use as tools in their fly management program:

Prozap LD-44Z – Farm Insect Fogger The active ingredients, Pyrethrins and Piperonyl Butoxide, repel and kill a host of insects. Prozap LD-44Z contains no CFC’s and may be used in milkrooms and livestock housing areas, if used according to label directions. STOCK #: 5501 PRICE: $13.58/20 OZ. AEROSOL CAN

QuikStrike Strips The active ingredient, Nithiazine, kills flies seconds after they feed on QuikStrike. The flies are attracted to the sugar base matrix and a strong fly pheromone attractant. The best placement is two to four foot above ground level in an area protected from children, animals, direct sunlight, wind and rain. QuikStrike strips are effective for six to eight weeks and are helpful in controlling flies in calf raising areas, milking barns and feed storages. QuikStrike is available in a box containing two strips per package. QuickStrike is not approved for use in the milkhouse. STOCK#: 5503 PRICE: $17.38/PKG.

& CORN SILAGE. Please call 989-723-1886 or 989-277-1414. NEW KATOLIGHT PTO GENERATOR, 60 KW, keep 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. SEED CORN - "Minnesota 13" Open Pollinated 85

THREE WAYS TO ORDER MMPA MERCHANDISE FROM THE FARM SUPPLY STORE 1 Order online at www.mimilk.com/farm-supply-store 2 Call in your order: Main Line: 989-317-8370 Toll Free: 877-367-6455 Orders (Novi): 800-572-5824 then dial 2 3 Fax in your order: 989-317-8372

Day Yellow Field Corn Seed. High Protein, High Yield, High Fat, Fast Drydown. Great Digestibility! 80,000 graded seeds $100.00 JanksSeeds.com 989-284-5052. BARN WHITE WASHING AND CLEANING WITH HIGH PRESSURE AIR: Serving all Michigan and Indiana. Miller Spray Service, Inc. 574-825-9776.

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

ECOLAB 24-Hour Medical Emergency Hotline: 1-800-328-0026 Service Message Center: 1-800-392-3392 Service Representatives:

REGISTERED HOLSTEIN BULLS. #12 Surge Pulsators=

» Pat Mitchell – 517-403-0928 - 7273 N. Rollin Hwy., Addison, MI 49220

$50 each. #12 Omni Automatic Takeoffs= $200.

» Jason Wolfe – 540-553-5755 - 1890 Canter Drive, Riner, VA 24149

Each. 810-724-8825 milk messenger / MAY-JUNE 2022

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 Ben Chapin, Remus, Field Services Manager.......................... 989-289-0731 Doug Soehnlen, Member/Superior Supply Representative....330-575-4643

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

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

Member and Government Relations Sheila Burkhardt ..........................................................................ext. 208

Frank Brazeau, Oconto, WI........................................................ 906-250-0337 Brandon Ewers, Coldwater, Sustainability................................231-414-4539 Laura Gucwa, Bad Axe................................................................248-826-6294 Ashley Herriman, Herron ...........................................................269-245-6632

Management Information Systems Andrew Caldwell ..........................................................................ext. 304 Chief Financial Officer Tom Downey.................................................................................ext. 240

Brittni Tucker, Eagle....................................................................248-880-3785

Chief Operations and Business Development Officer Greg Soehnlen...............................................................................ext. 341

Sarah Michalek, Dewitt, Sustainability Supervisor................517-937-9061

Director of Business Development Brad Parks .....................................................................................ext. 341

Rachel Brown, Charlotte............................................................ 248-826-7243 Alyssa DeWitt, Elkhart, IN ..........................................................269-967-7351 Lyndsay Earl, Ludington, Animal Care ......................................231-519-2455 Deb Gingrich, Leroy, Animal Care/Sustainability .....................248-520-3580 Lindsay Green, East Lansing, Animal Care /Sustainability .....989-488-8159 Joe Packard, Manchester, Animal Care .....................................248-520-3481

MMPA Labs

Laboratory Supervisor Patti Huttula................................................................................. ext. 219 Quality Sudeep Jain..................................................................................ext. 305 Member Services Emily Keranen ..............................................................................ext. 203 Human Resources Kelly Kerrigan............................................................................... ext. 301

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

Sales and Supply Chain Judy Lofgren................................................................................. ext. 333

In Michigan..........................................................................800-572-5824 Toll Free .............................................................................. 800-233-2405

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

Ovid (Daily, 6 a.m.-10 p.m.) ............................................ 989-834-2515

Communications Emily Kittendorf...........................................................................ext. 234

Constantine (Daily, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.) .................................800-391-7560

Corporate Controller Jeannie Strain ...............................................................................ext. 312

Farm Supply - Mt. Pleasant

Member Relations Jessica Welch................................................................................ext. 303

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 Merchandise Coordinator, Energy Auditor

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

Jake Riley, Mt. Pleasant...................................................... 248-912-5070 John Lehman, Elsie, Bulk Tank Calibration................................248-444-6775

Manufacturing Plants Canton, Ohio Chris Soehnlen, Plant Manager.............................................330-477-4515 Constantine, Michigan Dave Davis, Plant Manager ..................................................269-435-2835

Ovid, Michigan Mike Hedlund, 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.

milk messenger

/ MAY-JUNE 2022

Board of Directors Officers Doug Chapin, Board Chairman Tony Jandernoa Board Vice Chairman Eric Frahm, Treasurer Joe Diglio, President and CEO Sheila Burkhardt, Secretary Tom Downey, Assistant Treasurer Greg Soehnlen, COO 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 Bruce Benthem, McBain 231-920-1615 Kris Wardin, St. Johns 989-640-9420 District Directors 1 Brian Preston Quincy 517-376-1350 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

Cows in barns and those on pastures, raised by farmers, men and women who are masters. Crops that are no-till and those that are tilled, planted by Farmall, John Deere or whatever you will. Farms in rural areas and those near cities, caring for the land and toasting to dairy.

PHOTO BY: JULIA TROYER, LAOTTO, IN

milk milkmessenger messenger/ /MAY-JUNE NOV-DEC 2022 2021

P.O. Box 8002 Novi, MI 48376

PHOTO CREDIT: SHELDON THOMAS, “EARLY MORNING SUNRISE”

MMPA Photo Contest The 2022 MMPA Photo Contest is accepting entries through July 1! Photos reflective of what encompasses our cooperative, like cattle, crops, equipment, dairy events and families working together, are eligible to compete. mimilk.com

For more information, visit www.mimilk.com/photo-contest

Milk Messenger: May/June 2022

Articles inside

BORN IN DETROIT. BUILT TO PROMOTE.

SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT: PARKER BIVENS

MILK MINUTE

EDITOR’S NOTE

QUALITY WATCH