2010 Annual Meeting

Focused on Today, Committed to Tomorrow. This theme set the stage as more than 1,200 DFA members and industry leaders gathered in Kansas City, Mo., for the Cooperative’s 12th Annual Meeting March 23–24.

Each year, the meeting brings together elected leaders from across our membership. After a historically tough year on the farm, changes in the dairy industry – both current and long-term – were a major focus of the two-day event.

Attendees had the opportunity to listen to guest speakers including Tom Gallagher, president of Dairy Management Inc., Brandon Solano, vice president, brand innovation for Domino’s Pizza, and Alex Conti, senior director of U.S. menu management of McDonald’s Corp., who discussed how the industry is working to increase consumption of dairy products.

Jackie Klippenstein, vice president of industry and legislative affairs, moderated a presentation on the value of cooperatives. During this session, Chuck Conner, president and chief executive officer of National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, and Chris Policinski, president and chief executive officer of Land O’Lakes, shared their insights.

In addition, DFA President and Chief Executive Officer provided an update. He reported on the strength of the Cooperative and the need to find increased ways to assist producers.

The annual resolutions process also took place during the meeting. This process is central to our grassroots structure and an opportunity for members to voice their opinions about Cooperative business, how we approach dairy policy and more.

Annual Meeting also provides an opportunity to focus on the members who make the Cooperative what it is.

During the Annual Banquet, seven family farms were honored as Members of Distinction for their exemplary vision, leadership and innovation in the dairy industry:

• Boening Brothers Dairy, Floresville, Texas
• Estes Farm and Dairy, Fountaintown, Ind.
• Hillcrest Dairy, Elmwood, Ill.
• Ideal Dairy Farms, Hudson Falls, N.Y.
• Mac Pate Dairy, Maryville, Tenn.
• Ornellas Dairy, Tracy, Calif.
• VanderVegt Dairy, Paul, Idaho

Throughout the meeting, we paid tribute to former DFA Chairman Tom Camerlo. During the Annual Banquet, we presented the inaugural Tom Camerlo Leadership Award to Clyde Rutherford, president and chairman of Dairylea Cooperative, Inc. In addition, the annual ice cream social honored Tom’s contributions to the dairy industry, and a special video highlighted his lifetime of achievements.