Delegates attend Family Dairies USA 39th Annual Member Meeting

 2/16/2011

Madison , WI - More than 280 delegates, members and guests attended the Family Dairies USA 39th Annual Member Meeting held Saturday, February 12th, 2011 at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin . 

This year attendees were given the opportunity to attend “Early Bird” presentations on both Friday and Saturday. The Friday afternoon featured three sessions: “Don’t Lose Your Future: Keep Your Calves Alive and Healthy” presented by Dr. Tom Earleywine of Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Products; “Planning Your Future: Farm Succession & Transition” presented by Michelle Birschbach of Steimle Birschbach LLC and “Building a Future with Lessons from the Past” presented by Gary Sipiorski of Vita Plus Corporation. The Saturday morning presentation “Timeless Art of Cheese Making: Breaking New Ground” was led by Adam and Teena Buholzer of Klondike Cheese Company.  At Saturday’s business session, Steve Etka, Midwest Dairy Coalition Coordinator of which Family Dairies USA is a member of was on hand to discuss dairy policy and changes in Washington D.C. 

At the Friday evening awards banquet the Meritorious Service Award honor went to former Senator Russell Feingold in recognition of 18 years of representation and dedication to dairy farmers not only within the Cooperative but throughout the United States . The Lifetime Achievement Award was posthumously presented to Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture Rod Nilsestuen for having given a lifetime of leadership, dedication and guidance to the dairy industry. Mr. Nilsestuen’s two sisters Wilda Nilsestuen and Karen Peterson were in attendance to accept the award on the family’s behalf. A Longevity Award was also presented to Family Dairies USA staff member Bob Hodgson of Dyersville , Iowa for his 25 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Cooperative.