More than 1200 members and industry guests are in Kansas City this week for the 10th annual Dairy Farmers of America annual meeting.

With the theme, “Ten Years and Building,” the two-day event features a line-up of dynamic speakers, as well as the annual delegate meeting, election of board members, member recognition and trade show.

Kicking off the meeting was Tom Camerlo, of Florence, Colo., chairman of DFA’s Board of Directors. He looked back on the first 10 years of DFA, highlighted 2007 and looked ahead to the future. He discussed the progress of DFA, industry trends and issues, and new areas such as sustainability.

“As a cooperative and an industry, we are making tremendous progress,” says Camerlo. “DFA has developed and changed significantly in 10 years, and as an industry, we are working more closely together than ever before. Growing worldwide dairy demand and the success of Cooperatives Working Together are just two examples of what can be accomplished with hard work, team work and determination.”

At DFA’s annual banquet, seven ‘Members of Distinction’ are being recognized for exhibiting vision, leadership and innovation in the dairy industry. The 2008 honorees, which represent DFA’s diverse membership, include: Abo Dairy, Sulphur Springs, Texas; DeBoer Dairy, Tulare, Calif.; Empire Dairy, LLC, Wiggins, Colo.; Esh Dairy Farm, Paradise, Pa.; Royal Farms Dairy, LLC, Garden City, Kan.; Spadgenske Dairy, Menahga, Minn.; and Wright Dairy, Lebanon, Ky.