Nominations for dairy farmers in the American Dairy Association North East six-state territory are being accepted for its Dairying for Tomorrow awards that showcase on-farm practices to help sustain the dairy industry now and into the future.
Applications are being accepted through April 30, in three award categories: animal care, community/consumer outreach, and environmental stewardship. Dairy farms in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and northern Virginia are eligible for nomination. Farmers may nominate themselves, or an organization, neighbor or colleague may nominate a farm.
The Lesher family of Way-Har Farm in Bernville, Pennsylvania, was a 2017 Consumer and Community Outreach winner. Lolly Lesher encourages dairy farmers to fill out the application.
“As farmers, we work hard to produce a safe and nutritious product, but are often so busy caring for cows and our farms that we forget to talk about the innovative work we do,” said Lesher. “However, it is important for us to share our stories to help close the gap between ourselves and consumers. The Dairying for Tomorrow award is a great way to highlight our efforts.”
The award will recognize up to 24 regional winners in eight regions within the ADA North East service area. The overall winner in each category will receive a $1,000 donation for milk to their regional foodbank, or to implement a yogurt smoothie program in their local school. Overall winners will also receive a video and photo shoot of their farm. The honorable mention in each category will receive a photo shoot of their farm.
For more information, and to submit nominations, please visit here.
Winners will be selected by a panel of judges in May and notified by June 15, and awarded during the New York State Fair Dairy Day breakfast or Ag Progress Days in Pennsylvania in August.
About American Dairy Association North East
American Dairy Association North East (ADA North East) is the dairy farmer-funded organization funded by participating dairy farmer’s checkoff investment to build demand and sales for milk and dairy foods throughout the local region. Representing more than 12,000 dairy farm families in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New York, New Jersey and northern Virginia, ADA North East develops and implements local programs to drive milk and dairy sales at retail outlets and in schools. The organization also conducts consumer education about dairy through events, traditional and social media, and in collaboration with health professionals through National Dairy Council®. ADA North East works closely with Dairy Management Inc.™, the national dairy checkoff organization, to support nutrition research, national partnerships and developing export markets for dairy to bring a fully integrated promotion program to the region. For more information, visit American Dairy.