Dairy Farmers of America

Don't miss it—Elle St. Pierre, a Vermont dairy farmer and U.S. Olympian, secured her place in the Women's 1500m semifinal in Paris yesterday and will compete for a medal on Saturday, Aug. 10, at 2:15 p.m. EST. We're excited to continue cheering her on! Elle is a fantastic representative of the United States and the dairy community. Check out these amazing photos from the track, shared by the Saint Albans Messenger, and find out how you can watch the final race >> https://bit.ly/3AesLnk.

For many dairy farmers, it’s essential to step away from the farm (when they can!) to invest in their professional development. “Joining the Dairy Experience and Agricultural Leadership Program (DEAL) was a step forward in my leadership journey," says Elizabeth Golombiecki, a DFA farmer-owner in Morris, Minn. Elizabeth, along with DFA farmer-owners Aaron Stewart and Nicolas Dodson, were three of the 15 farmers selected to take part in the latest DEAL class. Over 18 months, young farmers participating in the DEAL program through Midwest Dairy learn how to engage consumers, conduct media interviews and network with industry leaders and peers. They also gain a deep understanding of Midwest Dairy, the dairy checkoff program for dairy product promotion, research and nutrition education in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. “In my first DEAL meeting, I learned a lot more about the checkoff program and what it is doing for us as dairy farmers and, in turn, for our Cooperative,” Elizabeth says. “And that was just one meeting!” Similarly, Elizabeth has also participated in DFA’s Young Cooperator (YC) program, which provides dairy farmers aged 45 or younger with personal and professional growth opportunities and ways to get involved with DFA and the dairy industry. “I'm super excited to grow within both the YC and DEAL programs,” she says, “It’s great to be able to use each experience to make the other better.”  Elizabeth says she has already been inspired by the stories and experiences of her fellow program members. “I want to be more active in the dairy promotion space,” Elizabeth says. “I believe getting to know other farmers and how they interact with the local community can help me gain ideas to bring back to my own farm, helping us share our story.”

When DFA farmer-owners and employees at our Wilbraham, Mass., plant, which produces DFA farmer-owned Friendly's Ice Cream, come together, it’s all about connecting over a love for great dairy. Members of the Northeast Area Council recently toured the facility and swapped stories with the employees who help turn our farmer-owners' milk into delicious treats. It was a day of learning and sharing about what goes into every delicious bite. “It is a privilege to host the Northeast Area Council team,” says Tim Fontaine, general manager at the plant. “We are so impressed with the wonderful farmer-owners of DFA.” DFA farmer-owner and Northeast Area Council member Natasha Sutherland loves making these connections. “I think we can appreciate the story of Friendly’s. It pairs well with our history. It matches our farm’s story. That symmetry is appreciated,” she says. The day ended with everyone enjoying Friendly’s famous sundae cups and homemade ice cream flavors — a perfect way to beat the summer heat!

This summer, 52 bright and enthusiastic interns are diving deep into the world of dairy and investing their time and talent throughout our Cooperative. Recently, Emily Tran, a DFA Insurance intern, joined 11 fellow interns on an exciting journey to Springfield, Mo. Their adventure included an exclusive tour of a DFA farmer-owned dairy in Monett, Mo., a visit to our Retort Solutions plant and time at our cutting-edge innovation center. “This tour has made me so much more appreciative of the dairy industry because there are so many things that are happening behind the scenes,” Emily says. Get a sneak peek into Emily’s #DFAIntern adventure as she reveals three fascinating insights she gained during her behind-the-scenes experience.

They say sisters make the best friends — but they can also be great co-workers. April and Amy Gokey celebrate #NationalSistersDay every day on Stargo Dairy, their family’s farm in Malone, N.Y. Though they come from a family of eight, April and Amy, 25 and 21 years old, respectively, share a special bond strengthened by their love of dairying. “I really appreciate the closeness that working together on the farm has brought us,” April says. “Agriculture is such a rewarding job already, but getting to do it with someone I’m close with in a way that helps our family is really special.” With 350 Holsteins to milk three times a day, there’s plenty of work to go around, but the sisters each bring their own set of strengths to the family operation. In addition to calf management, bookkeeping and communicating with employees, April manages breeding for nearly half of Stargo Dairy’s herd. Amy, on the other hand, ensures farm equipment is in working order and handles some of the farm’s field work. When they’re not on the farm, April is involved in DFA’s Young Cooperator program and Amy works part-time as a dairy educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Franklin County. Like many farm kids, April and Amy have ventured off the farm to attend college and explore career opportunities, both obtaining bachelor’s degrees in agricultural business management. But they couldn’t stay away long. “I never liked anything as much as I like farming,” April says. “I had an internship that I loved, but I still couldn’t wait to get back to the farm on the weekends. That’s how I knew I was supposed to come home.” The Gokey sisters hope that their drive and dedication on the farm helps continue their family’s legacy into the next generation. “Farmers have to be safe, efficient and progressive in order to continue to thrive,” she says. “There’s a lot at stake for family farms and we take that seriously. Our parents started the farm when they were our age, and we want to make them proud.” We are #DFAProud to support the sisters — and families — that work hard to preserve the legacy of the family-owned dairy farm.

It’s #NationalGeorgiaDay, and DFA farmer-owner Adam Graft built his dream — his very own dairy farm — in the state he calls home. After completing his doctor of veterinary medicine degree at the University of Georgia, Adam worked as a veterinarian on dairy farms in the heart of California for four years. As he spent his days helping dairy farmers and the cows he loves, in the back of his mind he always had a goal of having a dairy farm to call his own. In 2004, he moved back to Georgia and made it happen. While building his dairy farm from the ground up, Adam also began building a family with his wife, Jane, who grew up in the dairy industry. Together, they have four children. On his farm, Leatherbrook Holsteins, Adam focuses on two important elements: “All farm decisions are made with the environment and cow comfort as our top priorities,” he says. Known for its Southern hospitality and natural beauty, Georgia also presents challenges for dairy farmers thanks to its hot, humid summers. When Adam started the dairy, he built freestall barns to house the cows, so they can roam as they please. Decked out with fans, misters and sand beds, the barn keeps the girls clean and cool. “Every investment directly supports our cows,” he says. “We want to minimize the effects of our hot Georgia summers and take care of the land for generations of cows and owners to come.” Other ways Adam helps preserve the planet include recycling water, turning cow manure into renewable energy with a methane digester installed on the farm and upcycling local food by-products that humans can’t eat as feed for his cows, such as wet brew from a local brewery, along with cottonseed and soybean and canola meal. We’re #DFAProud to have Georgia families like the Grafts as our farmer-owners, providing high-quality dairy to Georgia communities and beyond. Learn more about DFA farmer-owners’ sustainability efforts and how you can join #DFAInAction >> sustainabledfa.com

Happy International Beer Day! 🍻 Did you know the dairy industry has a special connection to this celebration? Dairy farmers are promoting sustainability and reducing waste by upcycling brewer's grain into cow feed. Grounded by the Farm Podcast host Janice Person, in partnership with Midwest Dairy, visited Brian Riegel, a DFA farmer-owner in Washington, Mo., to learn more about how he uses sustainable practices — including upcycling brewer’s byproduct into his herd’s feed. The third-generation dairy is just 50 miles west of St. Louis. Brian says there is no shortage of locally-sourced byproducts. “We have been using brewer's grain for over 10 years,” says Brian. “Brewer's grain is one of those byproducts that has a good amount of protein and fiber that cows can take advantage of. It's cost-effective without any drawbacks, too.” Janice appreciates the whole process. “Love that it gets upcycled rather than trashed — that protein goes back into cows making milk for my high-protein yogurts and all,” she says. Check out her article on her visit with Brian >> https://bit.ly/3WvFBFj.

When we say our farmer-owners are #FoodHeroes, we don’t just mean it because of the high-quality #dairy they produce for you and your family. They are food heroes for their herds, too! Stacy Rethman, a DFA farmer-owner from Seneca, Kan., recently shared a great video with some interesting stats on her Instagram page about how 77% of their cows’ diets are grown within a 2-mile radius of their barn. She writes: “We start planting half our land early spring, then harvest our winter cover crop from the other half only to turn around and plant land again to grow more corn through the summer. We bale and store hay multiple times through the summer and then chop corn silage in August and September. Only to turn around and plant the winter cover crop after that! So, a lot of time and labor goes into making food for our cows, who then turn it into food for us!”

When you think of lactose-free milk, you may think of the many dairy alternatives — but it is, in fact, real dairy, and it’s growing in popularity. Lactose-free milk has all the nutrition of conventional milk, like calcium, vitamin D and potassium, just with the lactose removed. One of DFA’s farmer-owned brands in the Northeast, Garelick Farms®, is making it easier for all dairy lovers to get the benefits of milk with lactose-free fresh milk. Made with the same high-quality, local milk bottled in Massachusetts and enjoyed by Northeastern families for decades, it’s now offered in lactose-free whole and 2% gallons. Some lactose-removal methods can compromise the taste of the milk, but this lactose-free milk is pasteurized through high-temperature short time (HTST) processing to preserve the fresh taste. Unlike ultra-high temperature pasteurization, HTST uses lower temperatures to pasteurize the milk, eliminating bad bacteria but keeping the healthy bacteria our bodies need. We’re excited to keep milk lovers coming back to the dairy aisle with all the taste and benefits of real milk and none of the potential tummy aches. More families enjoying farm-fresh milk means more value for our dedicated farmer-owners — just another reason to be #DFAProud! To read more about Garelick's launch, check out this Dairy Processing article >> https://bit.ly/3WgBrkv.

We're #DFAProud that our Cooperative leaders embrace a never-finished-learning approach. DFA leaders from various divisions, teams and disciplines participated in our innovative personal development program, Extend Your Mark. The Extend Your Mark program is all about boosting collaboration and nurturing leaders who will drive an inclusive and engaged culture. This year, 20 leaders completed the program, focusing on future division or Cooperative-level leadership. “Programs, like Extend Your Mark, foster a more connected Cooperative by bringing together participants from all areas, encouraging innovation and growth,” says Lj Haney, senior director of talent and organizational development. “By learning alongside each other, these leaders develop compassion, curiosity and collaboration. Their new relationships will become the bedrock on which the organization succeeds as one DFA—delivering value to our family farm-owners,” she says. Participants recently celebrated their graduation with a group cooking class. They also reflected on their key takeaways and how these insights will continue to benefit our Cooperative and their teams. Join us in congratulating these change-makers!