EDITOR’S NOTE

BY EMILY KITTENDORF

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