Tag: National Young Cooperators Program

Minnesota Dairy Farmers Elected to Lead Young Cooperators Program

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

Megan and Tim Schrupp, farmer-owners of NexGen Dairy and members of First District Association, were elected by their peers to lead the National Young Cooperators (YC) Program Advisory Council in 2025.

Megan and Tim own and operate NexGen Dairy with Megan’s parents in Eden Valley, Minnesota. The third-generation family farm is home to 1,200 Jersey and Jersey-cross cows producing high-component milk used to make cheddar cheese at First District Association. NexGen Dairy also manages 1,400 acres of crops and has embraced sustainability through on-site solar panels and advanced cow monitoring technologies.

Both Megan and Tim are deeply involved in the dairy industry and their community. Since 2014, they have served on First District Association’s YC board and led initiatives like “Dinner on the Dairy,” connecting farms with their local community. Megan, a dairy veterinarian and graduate of the University of Minnesota, also operates Dairy Performance Service, specializing in dairy medicine and reproduction. Together, the couple are enthusiastic about mentoring youth, leasing dairy cattle to 4-H participants and supporting the future of the dairy industry through leadership and advocacy.

“We are strong advocates for modern family dairy farming and look forward to working with fellow YCs to address challenges, share experiences and strengthen the dairy industry,” the Schrupps said.

Nicole Engelken, an Iowa dairy farmer and Prairie Farms member-owner, was elected vice chair of the program.

The National YC Program has provided training and leadership development opportunities to beginning dairy farmers for 75 years. It aims to provide producers with the education, tools and resources they need to improve their leadership skills, profitability and resilience through year-round virtual and in-person programming.

NMPF manages the program funded by its members with support from stakeholders including Farm Credit, Ever.Ag and Monument Advocacy. Employees and owners of dairy farms that are members of an NMPF member cooperative and under the age of 45, as well as co-op staff, are invited to participate. Click here for more information and sign up here for program updates.

FARM Leads discussion on H5N1, NMPF Talks FMMO, YCs Plan Future at World Dairy Expo

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

NMPF and the FARM Program held sessions Oct. 3 and 4 exploring current industry happenings at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI. Dairy farmer members, NMPF staff and other industry experts participated, sharing insights and discussing ongoing efforts to drive the industry forward.

NMPF’s National YC Program kicked off Oct. 3 with a panel discussion on farm transition planning. NMPF members Ben Smith of Cool Lawn Farms in Remington, VA, Steve Ohlde of Ohlde Dairy in Linn, KS, Hannah Lansing of J&K Dairy in Sunnyside, WA and Myron Czech of Pike Hills Dairy in Little Falls, MN shared their experiences and insights with farm transitions.

Later that day, the FARM Program partnered with Uplevel Dairy Podcast to bring Expo attendees exclusive insights into the ongoing H5N1 animal health outbreak. Veterinary and producer perspectives were shared during the panel discussion, which discussed best practices for mitigating H5N1 risks and preparing for a potential outbreak. NMPF’s Miquela Hanselman shared recommendations to strengthen producers’ disease preparedness plans.

The day concluded with another panel discussion featuring Peter Vitaliano, NMPF’s Vice President of Economic Policy and Market Research, who examined the short- and long-term impacts of the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) modernization process on dairy farmers. He was joined by Land O’Lakes’ Pete Kappelman and Somula Schwoeppe, owner of Schwoeppe Dairy Farm. The panel discussed the USDA’s proposed updates and next steps in the FMMO modernization process.

NMPF’s National YC Program partnered with the Dairy Girl Network on Oct. 4 to host a panel featuring women leaders in the U.S. dairy industry. The event, which reached over 1,500 attendees and livestream viewers, included Krysta Harden of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, Joanna Shipp of Bowmont Dairy, Krista Knigge from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and Gertie van den Goor of Goma Dairy Farm. The discussion highlighted leadership experiences, strategies for overcoming industry challenges and the evolving role of women in dairy.

Young Dairy Leaders Convene for Annual Leadership and Development Program

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

Nearly 90 young dairy farmers and co-op coordinators representing 12 NMPF member cooperatives and 23 U.S. states convened for an intensive leadership training during the National Young Cooperators (YC) Program’s annual Leadership and Development Program, held in conjunction with the Joint Annual Meeting.

The professional development event held Oct. 20-21 included a workshop on building skills for effective cooperative governance; a presentation on intergenerational communication; a co-op leadership panel; a session on managing a team and a tour of Danzeisen Dairy, a Phoenix dairy processing company offering milk in glass bottles throughout the Southwest.

“Taking on this leadership role has expanded our perspectives, sharpened our skills and reinforced the importance of working cooperatively as an industry to achieve common goals,” said Chairpersons Matthew and Hannah Lansing of J&K Dairy in Sunnyside, WA. “Through our participation in the YC Program, we’ve gained a strong network of peers who share the same passion and dedication to the future of dairy. The connections we’ve made—both with other young farmers and with industry leaders—have been invaluable.”

The National YC Program has provided training and leadership development opportunities to beginning dairy farmers for more than 70 years, and aims to provide producers with the education, tools and resources they need to improve their leadership skills, profitability and resilience through year-round virtual and in-person programming.

The program is managed by NMPF and funded by its members with support from stakeholders including Farm Credit, Ever.Ag and Monument Advocacy. Employees and owners of dairy farms that are members of an NMPF member cooperative and under the age of 45, as well as co-op staff, are invited to participate.

Click here for more information and sign up here for program updates.

NMPF, FARM Program Lead Industry Discussions at World Dairy Expo

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

NMPF and the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program will be hosting educational and outreach engagements this week at the World Dairy Expo, in Madison, WI.

Sessions will include farm transition planning, biosecurity, and Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) modernization.

Highlights include:

  • The National Young Cooperators (YC) Program is hosting a panel discussion on lessons learned in dairy farm transition planning, beginning at 8:30 a.m. CT on Thursday, in Mendota Room 2. The panel will feature dairy farmers sharing their experiences with transitioning farm ownership and management.
  • At 10:30 a.m. CT in the same room, the FARM Program will present a panel on H5N1 prevention strategies and best practices with animal health and biosecurity experts including NMPF’s Miquela Hanselman, along with Brent Wilson, a Michigan dairy farmer with firsthand experience managing an H5N1 outbreak. The panel will provide actionable strategies to help dairy farmers navigate the ongoing challenges posed by H5N1.
  • At 1 p.m. CT, also in Mendota Room 2, NMPF will host a session on Federal Milk Marketing Order modernization. Panelists including NMPF Economic Policy Committee Chair Pete Kappelman and NMPF Chief Economist Peter Vitaliano will explore the immediate effects of potential updates and the long-term structural adjustments necessary to ensure the FMMO system continues to support a fair and competitive dairy marketplace.
  • The National YC Program will also cohost with the Dairy Girl Network a panel discussion on Friday from 12:30 to 2 p.m. CT. As part of the Tanbark Talk series, this session will feature industry leaders who will explore the unique challenges and opportunities women face across the dairy supply chain, from local farms to international markets.
  • The FARM Program’s booth, #4508, in the Exhibit Hall will be open throughout the week for discussions with farmers and allied industry higlighting recent updates for FARM program areas. Farmer resources including posters, manuals and prep guides will also be available.

Annual Meeting Nears

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

NMPF’s annual meeting Oct. 21-22 in Phoenix is in its final planning as dairy leaders from across the nation prepare to address critical industry issues.

The event will feature discussions on topics that matter most to United Dairymen of Arizona farmer-owners and the broader dairy community. Attendees will gain valuable insights into key export markets, including the dairy products and ingredients that promise the greatest returns. NMPF economists will offer in-depth analysis of the current dairy economy, a forecast for 2025 and insights into factors that will influence milk supply, demand and pricing in the year ahead.

NMPF’s annual Young Cooperators (YC) Leadership and Development Program, which runs concurrently with the annual meeting, this year will both provide perspective on dairying in the southwest while providing a platform for YCs to engage in meaningful discussions on issues, with a focus on building skills for effective cooperative governance and navigating labor pressures.

The annual meeting is co-hosted with the United Dairy Industry Association and the National Dairy Board.

Young Dairy Leaders Champion Key Issues on Capitol Hill

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

NMPF hosted young dairy farmer leaders from across the United States June 3-4 for the National Young Cooperators (YC) Program’s annual Dairy Policy and Legislative Forum in Washington, D.C.

Forty-nine young dairy farmers and cooperative coordinators from 17 states representing ten member cooperatives participated in discussions about political engagement and dairy policy issues along with training on how to be an effective advocate and spokesperson for dairy. YCs then headed to Capitol Hill to speak with members of Congress and their staff about NMPF priorities including the 2024 Farm Bill, dairy labeling and foreign market access.

“There are so many things that affect us, but they don’t affect us in a way that we see every day,” Matthew Lansing, an Iowa dairy farmer who co-chairs the National YC Program, said in a Dairy Defined Podcast released before the fly-in. “Keeping involved and up to date as much as we can and pushing for things that we need on a farm on a day-to-day basis is really key for us to propel forward into the future and be what we need to be for consumers going forward.”

Speakers for this year’s event included NMPF Executive Committee members Jay Bryant, president and CEO of Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, and Doug Chapin, chairman of Michigan Milk Producers Association. Both shared about their backgrounds and leadership experiences while emphasizing the importance of political engagement. YCs also toured the U.S. Capitol with Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-NY and heard remarks from Rep. Kim Schrier, D-WA, at this year’s congressional breakfast.

Since 1950, the National YC Program has provided emerging dairy leaders with a better understanding of issues facing farmers and their cooperatives. The program is open to younger and beginning dairy farmers who own or are employed on a dairy farm that is a member of one of NMPF’s member cooperatives. Click here and check the National YC Program box to stay up to date on program activities.

NMPF’s YC Program Empowers Up-and-Coming Dairy Leaders

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

More 75 younger dairy farmers and co-op coordinators representing 14 NMPF member cooperatives convened for intensive leadership discussions—and a trip to Orlando’s historic Milk District—during the National Young Cooperators (YC) Program’s annual Leadership and Development Program held parallel to the Joint Annual Meeting.

The professional development event held Nov. 12-13 included two leadership workshops; a co-op leadership panel; an overview of dairy production in Florida; and a tour of the largest cow-calf operation in the United States and a visit to Orlando’s historic Milk District.

“It’s truly the people I have met that have made this experience so great,” Lorilee Schultz, Illinois dairy farmer and chairperson of the National YC Program, said in her remarks to the NMPF Board of Directors. “I love hearing from other young dairy producers and learning about the amazing things they are doing on their farms.”

The National YC Program has provided training and leadership development opportunities to beginning dairy farmers for more than 70 years, and aims to provide producers with the education, tools and resources they need to improve their leadership skills, profitability and resilience through year-round virtual and in-person programming.

The program is managed by NMPF and funded by its members with support from stakeholders including Farm Credit, Phibro Animal Health, Ever.Ag, Monument Advocacy, Cornerstone and Viral Nation. Employees and owners of dairy farms that are members of an NMPF member cooperative and under the age of 45, as well as co-op staff, are invited to participate.

Click here for more information and sign up here for program updates.