Last week, the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management Program announced the winners of the third annual FARM Excellence Awards.
Through these awards, the FARM Program recognized three farms and one evaluator who go above and beyond industry standards through their commitment to innovation and continuous improvement.
“The FARM Program would not be able to demonstrate the high quality of U.S. dairy without the dedication of our producers and evaluators,” Executive Director of the FARM Program Emily Yeiser Stepp said. “The 2023 FARM Excellence Award winners embody the FARM Program principles and inspire others to do the same.”
The 2023 FARM Excellence Award recipients
Animal Care & Antibiotic Stewardship: Ingleside Dairy Farm, Inc. (Dairy Farmers of America)
Ingleside Dairy Farm, Inc. is in Lexington, Virginia, and is a member of Dairy Farmers of America. Ingleside Dairy Farm was awarded the 2023 FARM Excellence Award in Animal Care & Antibiotic Stewardship for their constant efforts to create the ideal environment for their cows and their forward-thinking mindset that has served as an example for farms across the Southeast.
Workforce Development: Newmont Farm LLC (Agri-Mark, Inc.)
Newmont Farm LLC is in Fairlee, Vermont, and is a member of Agri-Mark, Inc. Newmont Farm was awarded the 2023 FARM Excellence Award in Workforce Development for their dedication to employee safety and implementing practices to communicate safety measures to their employees, customers, and community.
Evaluator of the Year: Jim Kauffman (Associated Milk Producers Inc.)
Jim Kauffman, field representative and FARM Animal Care Evaluator for Associated Milk Producers Inc. was awarded the 2023 FARM Evaluator Excellence Award for his unparalleled commitment to the farms he represents and the work he does to create program awareness through conversations with milk haulers, equipment dealers, veterinarians, and others who work directly with supporting dairy farmers.
The 2023 FARM Excellence Award for Environmental Stewardship was awarded to a Dairy Farmers of America farm that wished to remain unnamed.
The FARM Excellence Awards were created in 2021 to celebrate farms dedicated to continuous improvement in one or more FARM Program areas and a FARM Program evaluator for their exceptional care and attention to the farms they evaluate. FARM Farmer Advisory Council members and other subject matter experts judge the awards. Farms and evaluators can be nominated by fellow dairy farmers and evaluators, members of their communities, extension, cooperative or processor staff, veterinarians, or other industry professionals.
Winners were announced Tuesday, Nov. 14, at the 2023 Joint Annual Meeting of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, National Milk Producers Federation, and United Dairy Industry Association in Orlando, Florida.