The 99th annual Dairylea Cooperative Inc. Annual Meeting on Tuesday, October 17, 2006 was a day fulled with awards.
Dairylea Cooperative’s Milk Quality Management Award Program recognizes and rewards members who produce quality milk for 12 consecutive months. Members receiving recognition attributed their high quality results to placing importance on cleanliness, consistent milking procedures and cow comfort.
Dairylea member-farms honored this year are: Alleger Family Farm, Cameron, N.Y.; Balsam View Dairy, McDonough, N.Y.; Charles and Beth Bartels, Meshoppen, Pa.; Henderson Farms, Schaghticoke, N.Y.; David and Tina Houde, St. Johnsbury, Vt.; Scipio Springs Dairy, Union Springs, N.Y.; Shoemaker Farm, New Woodstock, N.Y.; Howard Sutton, Califon, N.J.; and Vaughan Farms, LLC, East Thetford, Vt.
Two member farms were recognized for achieving 50-years of membership. This year’s 50-year members are: Austin and Steven Artley of Muncy, Pa., and Kenneth Lamb of Hamilton, N.Y.
Rick Smith, former Chief Executive Officer of Dairylea, was presented with the prestigious Pride of Dairylea Award. This is the first time the award has been bestowed upon a non-member in its ten year history. The annual award, which is usually presented to member farms, recognizes leadership, passion and an unparalleled commitment to the dairy industry.
Dairylea Cooperative Inc. is a farmer-owned agricultural marketing and service organization based in Syracuse, N.Y. It has more than 2,400 member farms located throughout the Northeast. Dairylea is a provider of valuable programs and services such as insurance coverage, loan programs, milk price risk management service, business planning, livestock marketing and investment and retirement planning through its holding company, Agri-Services, LLC.