Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA) honored members during it’s Annual Meeting. Congratulations to all the honorees!
During DFA’s annual banquet, seven Members of Distinction were recognized for their vision, leadership and innovation in the dairy industry. The 2009 honorees, one from each of DFA’s regional areas, include Gillins Dairy, Inc., Minersville, Utah; Koepke Farms, Inc., Oconomowoc, Wis.; Koster Dairy, Comanche, Texas; Lumbra Dairy, Enosburg Falls, Vt.; Pine Tree Dairy, LTD, Rittman, Ohio; Tjaarda Dairy, Shafter, Calif.; and Tri-M-Valley Farm, LLC, Cane Hill, Ark.
Also honored were 11 scholarship recipients. Now in its second year, DFA’s Scholarship Foundation provides $1,500 awards to deserving students pursuing careers in the dairy industry. Awardees in 2009 include Brenda Arnold, Drexel, Mo.; Curtis Beidel, Springfield, Penn.; Tyler Boyd, Parrotsville, Tenn.; Amber Ettinger, Kinards, S.C.; Stephanie Heilman, Kittanning, Penn.; Rosemary Liskey, Harrisonburg, Va.; Benjamin Meyer, Linn, Kan.; Megan Schrupp, St. Paul, Minn.; Ashley Sears, South Deerfield, Mass.; Kira Tate, Larsen, Wis.; and Hannah Young, Clifton Springs, N.Y.
Retiring director Charles Beckendorf of Tomball, Texas, and Dave Parrish of Maricopa, Ariz., who recently retired as chief operating officer for the Western Area Council, were recognized at the banquet.