Dairy Farmers of America

July may be #NationalIceCreamMonth, but the data is clear – our favorite frozen treat is a fan favorite all year long! 🍦 #DYK: The average American eats enough ice cream per year to support the weight of 15,000 Statues of Liberty? Talk about a sweet support system! Let us know your favorite flavor and give your favorite DFA farmer-owned brand a shoutout! Not sure which one is near you? Find out >> https://bit.ly/3hnuVEB.

It’s state fair season and you butter believe we’re excited! 🧈✨ We're #DFAProud to have donated a portion of the 2,000 pounds of scrap butter, made from our farmer-owners' milk, for this year's Ohio State Fair butter sculpture. Presented by the American Dairy Association Mideast, the sculpture honors America's elite athletes, capturing their dynamic action in butter form. It was unveiled earlier this week and took professional sculptors more than 450 hours to create with 375 hours dedicated to sculpting inside the 46-degree cooler True to the dairy industry’s commitment to sustainability, all butter used will be repurposed into products like soap and industrial greases after the fair. Discover more about this year’s Ohio State Fair’s butter cow and athletes >> https://bit.ly/4fl7KHF.

This #NationalInternDay, we’re celebrating the fresh perspectives and incredible work ethic our 52 talented interns are bringing to DFA this summer. From projects and seminars to plant tours and on-farm support, our interns are diving deep and gaining valuable experiences. “DFA has an internship for every endeavor. It’s a chance to learn and grow,” says Constance Maxwell, a farm services intern. We’re #DFAProud of how each intern, whether in farm services, dairy policy, communications or elsewhere, contributes to our mission. “Every project I’ve worked on has a purpose: to return value to our farmer-owners,” says Katy Parcell, a dairy policy and industry relations intern. We believe our interns represent the future of the dairy industry and we couldn’t be more excited about their impact. Did an internship make an impact on your career? We’d love for you to share about it!

It may sound unfamiliar, but milk marketing optimization touches everyone across the milk supply chain, including you! So, what is it? Milk marketing means getting milk from farm to table. It’s the core of what we do at DFA. Optimization? That’s making the most of every drop. From picking up milk at our family farms every day 🐄, to hauling it to our local manufacturing plants or customer facilities 🏭, to producing quality products for you to enjoy 🍦🧀 and delivering them to their final destination across the country and around the world 🏪🌎, the mind-blowing scope of milk marketing is all in a day’s work. “No day is the same,” says Michael Lichte, chief insights and optimization officer at DFA. “Whether farms are producing a different amount of milk each day, or customers aren’t demanding the same amount of milk on a certain day, we have to adapt.” We know and appreciate the hard work that goes into producing high-quality milk every day, and our farmer-owners can count on us to find a home for it. “When we control our costs, we directly impact the net return provided back to our farmer-owners,” says Corey Gillins, chief milk marketing officer at DFA. “We’re committed to seeking the best revenue sources we can for the sales of their milk.” From the time the cow is milked to the moment the finished product reaches store shelves, a flurry of coordination and logistics take place, like a perfectly synchronized orchestra. When moving a highly perishable commodity like raw milk 365 days a year, efficiency is key, and we’re always looking to improve. Next on our list is optimizing the hundreds of scheduling decisions we make every day to move our milk and sell it more effectively. So, if you’ve ever wondered just how much work goes into those perfectly stocked shelves, now you know the answer. A lot! And we’re #DFAProud to do it every day.

Our farmer-owners are not only providing their communities with nutrient-rich dairy, but they are also making a difference through joyful giving! Meet Liza Schlintz, a dedicated DFA farmer-owner from Bangor, Wis. Recently, she visited the WAFER Food Pantry in LaCrosse, Wis. to deliver a monetary donation from DFA Cares, along with some delicious dairy products she personally selected to help stock their shelves. Liza put together a fun video and shared it on social media! Did you catch all the yummy Kemps, a DFA farmer-owned brand, products she found? Join #DFAInAction with a gift to DFA Cares, as we help even more communities in need >> https://bit.ly/46y4DXp.

What does your favorite ice cream flavor say about you?    Whether you’re as classic as vanilla or as vibrant as rainbow sherbet, swipe to see what flavor fits your personality best this #NationalIceCreamDay.🍦     Share yours and send to a friend who reminds you of one of these tasty treats! 

It’s #NationalPennsylvaniaDay! Between the diverse scenery, mild climate and good growing season, DFA farmer-owner Jeff Raney has a lot to love about his home state. Most importantly, he loves the dairy he shares with his family. Nestled on a large piece of family-owned land, Jeff’s operation is never short of helping hands. “I’m a first-generation dairy farmer,” Jeff says. “So, to have my son, daughter and their families involved and interested in the future of the dairy is very rewarding as a dairyman, but mostly as a dad.” Jeff’s children and grandchildren all live on the same land they farm, running back and forth from home to grandpa’s farm on utility vehicles. “Having my whole family involved gives me the opportunity to keep up with them and to see my grandchildren almost every day,” he says. “It’s the best of all worlds.” While Jeff loves being on the farm, he also takes pride in representing his fellow dairy farmers as a member of DFA’s Board of Directors, the National Milk Producers Federation board and the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion board. “They are important roles and I enjoy being a part of those groups and helping to guide policy and the future of dairying,” Jeff says. We are thankful for our dedicated farmer-owners who work hard to provide nutritious dairy today and for generations to come. How does Jeff enjoy the fruits of his dairying, you may ask? “There aren't very many days in the year where I don't have a bowl of ice cream at some point,” he says. So, serve yourself up a scoop today in honor of Jeff and all our farmer-owners.

We love how our farmer-owners are putting dairy fun spins on social media trends in a cleverly authentic way! #ICYMI over on Instagram: After a long day on the farm, DFA farmer-owner and #DFACreator, Josh Snider, knows how to show his love – with a sweet treat from Mayfield Dairy Farms®, a DFA farmer-owned brand. In honor of #NationalIceCreamDay coming up on Sunday, we want to know: What's your go-to ice cream order? Josh and his wife, Brook, are big chocolate fans!

Teams from our Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas offices volunteered last week at the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas, cooking up a storm and serving families. Dwain Wooley II, senior diversity, equity and inclusion specialist, reflected on this recent experience in a post on his profile. We're #DFAProud of how employees across our Cooperative continually exemplify our value of community by making a difference in the places we live and work.

We’re #DFAProud of Janelle Commodore, our director of strategy and insights, for being one of Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City's seven recipients of the Young Leaders in Agribusiness award. In her current role, she works across the Cooperative to drive DFA’s strategic planning process and ensure it’s a living component of the Cooperative’s culture. To do this, she collaborates with leaders throughout DFA to connect strategic priorities to existing business plans and performance goals. “It’s been fun watching Janelle grow as a leader at DFA — from her start in marketing to, now, her critical role with our Cooperative strategy,” Michael Lichte, chief insights and optimization officer, says. “She is an outstanding member of our team, and I’m thrilled to see her recognized in the Kansas City community.” Outside of work, you can find Janelle and her husband making pizzas at the Imo's Pizza location they franchise or spending time with their son and dog. Join us in congratulating Janelle on this award!