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New this year, NMPF is recognizing a dairy farmer who has made significant contributions to inform the public and media about NMPF policy positions and tell dairy’s story through the 2021 Famer Communicator of the Year Award. 

Charles Krause is a fifth-generation dairy farmer in Buffalo, MN, where he and his son milk 300 cows at Krause Holsteins. Charles has been a strong advocate on behalf of the entire dairy industry. From teaching the basics of dairy farming to kids in a local classroom, at his farm or even virtually, to authoring a column regarding the importance of dairy dialogue at the UN Food Systems summit to inviting his local Congressman to spend time at his farm, Charles is an unwavering spokesperson on behalf of his own farm, as well as the entire industry.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic diminishing in-person events this past year, Charles continued to adapt and be present in the social media space, as well as other outlets to continue communicating about dairy.

Charles takes it upon himself to educate others but is also willing to partner with others in the industry, including DFA, DMI, UDIA and others to promote the good dairy brings to the table. He understands the importance of grassroots communications, that it takes farmers themselves telling their story to consumers to establish new waves of trust in their most wholesome product.

Charles was nominated by his cooperative, Dairy Farmers of America.

2021 CO-OP COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR

Associated Milk Producers Inc. was awarded 2021 Cooperative Communicator of the Year in recognition of outstanding achievement in the fields of
public relations, publishing, writing, photography, advertising and special projects to advance the interests and objectives of America’s dairy farmers.

BEST OF SHOW

Publications: Dairymen’s Digest, Associated Milk Producers Inc. Communications Team – Sarah Schmidt & Nickie Sabo

Writing: A Little Magic in the Kitchen, Michigan Milk Producers Association – Allison Miller

Special Projects: 2021 Social Responsibility Report, Dairy Farmers of America Communications Department

PUBLICATIONS

Member Magazine

1. Dairymen’s Digest, Associated Milk Producers Inc. Communications Team – Sarah Schmidt & Nickie Sabo
2. Half & Half Summer 2021 and Fall 2021, Dairy Farmers of America Communications Department
3. Milk Messenger, Michigan Milk Producers Association Communications Team

Member/Employee Newsletter

1. MDVA’s Pipeline, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association – Daniela Roland, Taylor Mickelberry, Lindsay Reames and Ann Marie Ternullo
2. thescoop Spring 2021; thescoop Summer 2021, Dairy Farmers of America Communications Department
3. Creamery Scenery, Tillamook County Creamery Association – Chandra Allen

Annual Report

1. 2020 Land O’Lakes, Inc. Annual Report, Land O’Lakes, Inc. Communications
2. 2020 Annual Report, Tillamook County Creamery Association Corporate Communications
3. 2020 Annual Report, Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc.

Cover Design

1. Making a BOLD Statement – Spring Issue, Dairymen’s Digest, Associated Milk Producers Inc. Communications Team – Sarah Schmidt & Nickie Sabo
2. 2020 Maryland & Virginia Annual Report Cover, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association – Sabeena Karnik
3. Cover from Half & Half Magazine Summer 2021, Dairy Farmers of America Communications Department

Photography

1. When In Doubt, Add More Butter., Associated Milk Producers Inc. Communications Team
2. Jack Gourley’s Cows Find Him Quite A-Moosing, Darigold – Alyse Young
3. Why We Do It, Southeast Milk Inc. – Travis Senn

WRITING

Column/Editorial

1. Bridging the Digital Divide, FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative – Julie Sweney
2. There’s Plenty to Celebrate This June Dairy Month, Land O’Lakes – Natalie Long
3. Milk Minute: Food Safety is Priority Number One, Michigan Milk Producers Association – Sudeep Jain

Feature Story

1. A Little Magic in the Kitchen, Michigan Milk Producers Association – Allison Miller
2. FarmFirst Disaster Benefit Pays Following Derecho, FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative – Bob Dietzel and Julie Sweney
3. Five Ways Dairy Farmers Sequester Carbon, Darigold – Tafline Laylin and Georgie Smith

News Story

1. New Methane Math Could Take The Heat Off Cows, Darigold – Tafline Laylin and Georgie Smith
2. New Upgrades at the St. Albans Plant, Dairy Farmers of America – Corrine Dorrian
3. Shared Vision Led To Forming American Dairy Cooperative, Associated Milk Producers Inc. Communications Team

News Release

1. Land O’Lakes, Inc. Unveils Dairy 2025 Commitments, Land O’Lakes, Inc. – Jon Miller
2. Dairy Farmers of America Launches “Nerd Herd” Campaign to Showcase the Cooperative’s Sustainability Commitment, Dairy Farmers of America Communications Department
3. Maryland & Virginia Establishes MDVA Fund and Makes $10,000 Contribution to Honor its Official 100th Anniversary, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association – Lindsay Reames

Speech Writing

1. HOME, Associated Milk Producers Inc. – Steve Schlangen

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Advertising

1. Maola — Giant/National Dairy Month Flyer, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Association – Eden Ng, The Partnership
2. The Washington Post: World Milk Day: What on Earth is a Nerd Herd?, Dairy Farmers of America Communications Department

Video

1. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at DFA with Dr. Dennis Davis and DFA leaders, Dairy Farmers of America Communications Department
2. United in Excellence, United Dairymen of Arizona – Roxy Helman, Resound Creative
3. Qualco Energy and the Restorative Relationship Between a Dairy and the Tulalip Tribes, Darigold – Tafline Laylin and Alyse Young

Website

1. Darigold Consumer Website, Darigold – Tafline Laylin
2. Alta Dena® Dairy Website, Dairy Farmers of America Dairy Brands

Campaign

1. 18 New Ways to Snack Campaign, Prairie Farms Dairy Marketing Team
2. #NDAFarmFridays, Darigold – Alyse Young
3. UDA Rebrand, United Dairymen of Arizona – Roxy Helman and Resound Creative

Single Issue/Special Purpose Publication

1. 2021 Social Responsibility Report, Dairy Farmers of America Communications Department
2. Stewardship Report, Tillamook County Creamery Association Corporate Communications Team
3. SMILE Program, Southeast Milk, Inc. – Travis Senn

Winners will be announced soon.

Ken Nobis, Michigan Milk Producers Association

Ken has served as the MMPA representative on the NMPF board of directors since 2007, and serves on the NMPF executive committee as first vice chairman. Ken served on the MMPA board of directors from 1992 to 2019, including over 10 years as president. During his tenure on the MMPA board of directors, Ken displayed strong leadership skills in and outside the board room and conscientiously challenged himself and his fellow board members to make decisions in the best interest of all members, regardless of size or location.

Greg Wickham, Dairy Farmers of America

Greg served on the NMPF Board from 2006 to 2020, initially representing Dairylea, and later as an executive with DFA.  Since joining Dairylea Cooperative in 1997, Greg has held multiple positions as a dairy executive. Prior to joining DFA, he served seven years as chief executive officer of Dairylea Cooperative, which merged with DFA in 2014. He served DFA as chief financial officer, where he was responsible for information technology, finance and accounting and worked closely with the operating divisions on financial matters. He also has served as a board member for the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.

Winners will be announced soon.

In 1988, the National Dairy Board (NDB) established the Richard E. Lyng Service Award to recognize distinguished service to dairy promotion and research.  Richard E. Lyng was the Secretary of Agriculture when the National Dairy Board was formed in 1983 and was the first recipient of the award.

Kenton Holle is a dairy farmer from Mandan, ND, and served as NDB Chair 2013-2014.