Lang has been an active dairy industry leader for more than 60 years and an active leader in dairy promotion since the 1970s. He played a key role in the creation of Dairy Management Inc.™, which manages the national dairy checkoff program. He also served as NDB chair from 1996 to 1998, leading dairy checkoff strategies that helped increase sales and keep dairy top-of-mind with consumers.

In addition, Lang was co-chair of the Midwest Dairy Association, helping unite dairy producers from nine states to better use checkoff dollars and bring together producers in a merger between the then Midland Dairy Association and American Dairy Association/Dairy Council Upper Midwest. “The merger’s success was largely due to Maynard’s skills in building consensus among dairy producers,” said Clauss.

Rutherford, who currently serves as president and chair of Dairylea Cooperative, Inc., has been an integral part to the success of the dairy checkoff’s strategic business plan that was implemented in 2006. Rutherford worked tirelessly to bring dairy checkoff and dairy company leaders together to identify ways the industry can work in partnership to grow sales for U.S. dairy producers.

He played a key role in the establishment of the producer-created Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, established earlier this year. Rutherford serves as treasurer for the Innovation Center, which is an industry-wide forum to identify solutions that will help dairy producers and the industry survive and thrive in the future.