Dairy Farmers of America

Every time Dana Clark visits the grocery store, she takes a detour down the ice cream aisle — and not just because it’s #NationalIceCreamMonth. She’s not shopping for something to satisfy a sweet tooth; she’s checking on the ice cream products she helps make at DFA’s manufacturing plant in Rochester, Minn., which churns out a variety of ice cream, ice cream sandwiches, frozen yogurt and sherbets, all under our beloved farmer-owned brand: Kemps®. “I have to make sure it looks good,” she says. “You only want the best out there, so I always check. It feels good to know that I put it out there.” With 25 years of experience at the plant, Dana knows what goes into making good ice cream. She has worked in the wrapper room, where the ice cream gets shrink wrapped before it goes on to be delivered; the mix department, where ice cream mix is made; and currently as a line operator on the production floor. Her day-to-day requires putting empty pails into a machine to be filled with ice cream that then go on to be hardened, and when the ice cream flavor calls for goodies like cookies and cream (known as inclusions), she makes sure those get added in, too. “I like everything about my job,” she says. “Everybody works together, so that’s a plus. That makes the job easier.” When asked what people think when she tells them she works at an ice cream plant, she says, “They just want to know if I can get them some.” While she can’t hand out freebies, she occasionally indulges, and when she does, it’s always Kemps’ Simply Crafted Chocolate Chip. What’s next for Dana? She plans to continue working as a line operator and is secretly hoping for some grandkids. We’re #DFAProud to have dedicated employees like Dana as part of our Cooperative!

What does DFA farmer-owned butter have to do with barbecue? For DFA employee Jen Canfield and her husband, Troy, it meant winning first place! Jen, a trade analyst at DFA, didn’t know she was destined to be a pitmaster. But when her husband started up a passion for barbecue competitions, Jen wasn’t far behind. “In 2019, Troy and his friend were competing in the largest competition in Minnesota,” Jen says. “At the last minute, his friend couldn’t make it. So, I hit the road bright and early to save the day.” Call it beginner’s luck, but with Jen at the grill, the duo took home seventh place in the chicken category. Hungry for more wins, Jen and Troy were hooked on competing and learning how to perfect their meats. The trick? DFA farmer-owned Plugrà Premium European Style Butter. “We were using Kerrygold® at first due to the fat content,” Jen says. (A high-butterfat butter helps lock in the flavors of sauces and rubs while keeping the meat from drying out during the barbecuing process.) When Jen’s boss suggested she try Plugrà, an 82% butterfat option made from our farmer-owners’ milk, the results were clear. Once they made the switch, Jen and Troy’s team, Pittie Q BBQ, took home first place in chicken for the first time. “At a competition, you’re judged off of one single bite,” she says. “So, you want that bite to pack a punch. Plugrà adds both flavor and moisture.” The wins didn’t stop there. Since switching to Plugrà, the Pittie Q BBQ crew has taken home a perfect score in turkey, fifth place team of the year in chicken and sixteenth place in turkey (out of 219 teams!) at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue. All that from DFA farmer-owned butter? We’re not surprised! Fanning the flame of their success, the Pittie Q BBQ team recently opened a restaurant by the same name in Roseville, Minn. If you get a chance to stop in, you’ll taste the difference for yourself. Can’t make the trip? Find Plugrà butter near you and add it to your next great recipe. >> https://bit.ly/4brJi4y

#FunFactFriday: Did you know that cows are red-green colorblind? Cows have dichromatic vision, meaning their retinas lack receptors for identifying the color red. Instead of seeing a full spectrum of colors, they perceive the world in shades of blue, yellow/brown and gray. Here's an image showing the difference between human vision and what cow vision may look like!

Check out the smart technology keeping our farmer-owners' cows healthy and happy! 🐄💡 Our farmer-owner and #DFACreator, Paul Windemuler, shared some of the innovations he uses to provide top-quality care for his gals. Here’s a glimpse of what Paul wrote about his first-generation dairy farm: "As @dfamilk farmer-owners, we're committed to using cutting-edge innovations to provide top-quality care for our gals. Here's a glimpse of our high-tech dairy farm that helps us work smarter and not harder: -- Smart Fans 🌬: Automatically adjust to keep cows cool in the heat. -- June the Feed Pusher 🤖: Ensures fresh feed is always within reach, which keeps our barns cleaner and reduces food waste. -- Rain Sensor Curtains ☔️: Close during rain to keep cows dry and snug. These tools enhance efficiency, ensuring our cows thrive and produce top-quality milk that goes from my family to yours. Follow for more behind-the-scenes farm insights!" For more behind-the-scenes look at Paul's family farm, follow Dream Winds Dairy on Instagram >> https://bit.ly/3JADoCn.

Turning cow poop into power? It's no bull! Ever wondered how our cow manure transforms into renewable energy at DFA? Think of an anaerobic digester as a supercharged garbage disposal. It takes manure from our farmer-owners and food scraps from local businesses to break it down and turn it into clean energy. This energy powers some of our farmer-owners’ dairy farms and even nearby communities, making sustainability a full-circle affair. The liquids produced help fertilize crops, and the solids provide cozy bedding for our cows. Want to learn more? Check it out here >> https://bit.ly/3wwmoVM.

You’ll never convince us that #CowAppreciationDay is *only* an unofficial holiday. From Holsteins to Jerseys and all the queens in between, the cows on our farmer-owners' dairies are more than just farm fixtures—they're the heartbeat of our dairies and the pride of our farmer-owners. “Caring for our cows well isn’t just our job, it’s our passion,” Arlene Vander Eyk, a DFA farmer-owner from Pixley, Calif. says, “There are a thousand things we could give our lives to, but ensuring our herds are healthy and happy, producing a high-quality product and nourishing our neighbors is our calling and we wouldn’t have it any other way.” So, raise a glass of 🥛 to our queens of the parlor and those who care for them. What dairy product, that they help make, do you appreciate most?

We’re #DFAProud of Kevin Strathman, our executive vice president and chief financial officer, on his recent appointment as chairman of the board of directors for Harvesters—The Community Food Network.         Kevin has been active with Harvesters since 2016 and has served as board treasurer and, most recently, president-elect in 2023.        Harvesters, according to their website, is a certified member of Feeding America and serves as a regional food bank for a 27-county area of northwestern Missouri and northeastern Kansas. Their mission is to mobilize the power of our community to create equitable access to nutritious food and address the root causes and impact of hunger.       “Addressing hunger in our communities is not just a responsibility, but a critical issue that we can help to alleviate by doing our part,” Kevin says. “I’m excited about stepping into this new role and working alongside passionate people invested in connecting those in our community with meaningful assistance, education and resources.” 

Red, blue and light blue caps — do you know what milk fat percentages they represent? The Dairy Alliance has a great article explaining it. Just remember: While the fat content in milk may vary, you can feel good knowing that all real milk contains the same 13 essential nutrients! What milk percent do you and your family buy? Learn more over at this article >> https://bit.ly/3VR0vhU.

Today, the United Nations celebrates the International Day of Cooperatives! DFA is a cooperative made up of nearly 10,000 diverse farmer-owners and a nationwide network of dedicated employees. We proudly call our nearly 10,000 members “family farm-owners" because, in addition to owning their farms, they all share ownership in our Cooperative. This #CoopsDay, we’re shouting from our parlor-tops that #CoopsBuildABetterWorld! Together, we are #DFAProud to bring opportunities for rural communities to thrive, share nourishment with those in need, preserve our natural resources and fuel many of life's greatest memories with high-quality, wholesome dairy.

"Liberty is the breath of life to nations." — George Bernard Shaw This Independence Day, we celebrate the dedication and hard work of our farmer-owners and employees who breathe life into our communities every day. From our family to yours, Happy 4th of July!