Some Udder Stuff

Midwest Dairy elects new officers to lead 2026 board

Elections for the Midwest Dairy Corporate and Division boards were held during the organization’s annual meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, early last week.

Elections for the 2026 Corporate board officer team are as follows: Charles Krause from Minnesota division, was re-elected as chair of Midwest Dairy; Tom Walsh from South Dakota division, was elected as first vice chair; Margaret Johnson from Minnesota division, was elected as second vice chair; Jonna Schutte from Iowa division, was elected as secretary; and Matt Schelling from Iowa division was re-elected as treasurer.

New members elected by their divisions to the Midwest Dairy corporate board include:

— Rita Vander Kooi – Minnesota

— Denise Rohweder – North Dakota

Illinois Division

— Chair – Brent Mueller, Garden Prairie

— Vice chair – Bill Deutsch, Sycamore

— Secretary – Amy Hildebrandt, South Beloit

— Treasurer – Megan Holland-Zito, Apple River

— Bob Dietzel was seated as a new board member of the Illinois board.

Iowa Division

— Chair – Jonna Schutte, Monona

—Vice chair – Lee Maaseen, Maurice

— Secretary – Patrick Jones, Spencer

— Treasurer – Matt Simon, Epworth

— Colleen Krogmeier, Marv Schelling, and Michael Nettinga were seated as new board members of the Iowa board.

Minnesota Division

— Chair – Kristine Spadgenske, Menahga

— Vice chair – Sarah Kuechle, Eden Valley

— Secretary – Mindi Arendt, Mazeppa

— Treasurer – Eric Sonnek, Foreston

— Elle Tibor and Rita Vander Koii were seated as new board members of the Minnesota board.

Nebraska Division

— Chair – Joyce Racicky, Mason City

— Vice chair – Larry Schuster, Pickrell

— Secretary/Treasurer – Jodi Cast, Beaver Crossing

North Dakota Division

— Chair – Denise Rohweder, Wishek

— Vice chair – Jon Qual, Lisbon

— Secretary – Jennifer Holle, Mandan

— Treasurer – Lilah Krebs, Gladstone

— Jon Qual was seated as a new board member of the North Dakota Division board.

South Dakota Division

— Chair – Kevin Van Winkle, Canistota

— Vice chair – Kevin Pearson, Flandreau

— Secretary – Rebecka Butz, Dolton

— Treasurer – Jogchum Andrenga, Brandt

— Steve Landman was seated as a new member of the South Dakota Division board.

Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative announces $10,000 in secondary

education scholarships available to its membership

Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative will once again offer $10,000 in secondary education scholarships to its membership. Edge is proud to award the children of its members who exemplify the voice of milk through their education, career aspirations and future goals. Applications are now being accepted and will remain open until April 17.

Two $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to current students pursuing a degree in a four- or two-year program, and three $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors.

Applicants must be high school seniors, graduates or college undergraduates. They must be enrolled or planning to enroll in a full-time course of study at an accredited four-year college or university or a two-year program at a technical, junior or community college. The area of study does not need to be agriculture-related, but applicants must be dependents of an Edge member. For more information about the Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative scholarships, contact Kayla Mayer at kmayer@voiceofmilk.com.

Rep. Josh Heintzeman named Minnesota Milk’s 2025 Legislator of the Year

Minnesota Milk Producers Association announced its 2025 Legislator of the Year, Rep. Josh Heintzeman (R-Nisswa).

The association formally presented the award to Rep. Heintzeman during its annual Dairy Dinner banquet Feb. 24, in St. Paul, which was followed by the annual Dairy Day at the Capitol on Feb. 25.

Rep. Heintzeman has shown his alignment with policies that positively impact Minnesota’s dairy farmers and businesses. He has made efforts to streamline permitting processes and currently serves as co-chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee. Heintzeman has demonstrated that practical, science-based initiatives can support Minnesota’s dairy community while maintaining environmental standards.

“I’m truly honored to receive this recognition from Minnesota Milk,” Rep. Heintzeman said. “Dairy farmers are essential to our rural communities and local economies, and I’m proud to support policies that keep family farms strong, reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens and ensure Minnesota agriculture can thrive for generations to come.”

Minnesota Milk recognizes influential legislators with this award as a token of appreciation for their dedication and support to the state’s agricultural community.

“We are honored to present this award to Rep. Heintzeman,” said Garrett Luthens, the president of Minnesota Milk’s board. “We value his support in enhancing agriculture across the state.”

For more information about Minnesota Milk’s Legislator of the Year award, visit mnmilk.org.

Wisconsin Leopold Conservation award seeks applicants

Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award.

The award honors farmers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land.

Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present Leopold Conservation Awards to private landowners in 28 states. In Wisconsin the $10,000 award is presented with Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others to consider conservation opportunities on their land. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold advocated for “a land ethic,” an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.

Applications may be submitted on behalf of a landowner, or landowners may nominate themselves. The application form can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA.

The application deadline is Aug. 1. Applications must be emailed to WisconsinLCA@sandcountyfoundation.org.

World Dairy Expo welcomes new board members­

World Dairy Expo® welcomed new industry leaders to its Board of Directors at the organization’s annual March meetings. The three incoming board members include Jon Schmidt, Associated Milk Producers Inc.; Paul Hunt, URUS Group LP; and Tim Abbott, at-large representative.

For a complete list of the World Dairy Expo Board of Directors, Commercial Exhibitor Committee and Dairy Cattle Exhibitor Committee, visit https://worlddairyexpo.com/pages/World-Dairy-Expo-Leadership.php.

Farmers in the upper

Midwest showcase sustainable farming commitment

Farmers in the Upper Midwest are expanding their sustainable farming efforts, according to Farmers for Sustainable Food’s recent member conservation survey. The survey results, released today, showcase the conservation practices utilized by farmers across Wisconsin and Minnesota, demonstrating continued advancement and positive environmental impacts.

This is the eighth consecutive year of documenting conservation practices with farmer-led groups, highlighting the farmers’ dedication to ongoing improvement and improving soil and water quality.

In 2025, 211 farmers from six different farmer-led groups supported by Farmers for Sustainable Food participated in the annual survey, encompassing 255,670 acres and 411,972 head of livestock.

Farmers involved in the groups are passionate about implementing sustainability initiatives and continuing to improve year after year.

“I believe sustainable farming is important. My dad taught me to always leave the ground better than you found it,” said Calumet Count Ag Stewardship Alliance member Lauren Danes of Danes Fairylane Farm. “Healthy soil is often what makes or breaks a crop, and improving the soil helps keep the environment that it supports thriving. You always want to make sure you’re taking care of it the best you can.”

“My parents did such a great job of taking care of this land where I grew up, and I want to do the  same thing for the next generation,” said Jeff Lueck, member of the Western Wisconsin Conservation Council. “We are truly stewards of the land, caring for it now, but maintaining it for future generations to come.”

The sustainable practices measured and recorded in the survey include soil sampling, nutrient management planning, cover cropping, reduced tillage, no-tillage, low disturbance manure application, variable rate fertilizer application, split nitrogen application, nitrogen stabilizer and planting green.

Results show potential environmental improvements due to sustainable farming practices. These conservation efforts provide valuable benefits to climate , soil health and water quality throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 28,918 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, equivalent to the emissions produced by 6,885 cars in a year.

Prevention of sediment loss from farm fields of 255,444 tons, equivalent to 25,544 dump trucks worth of soil.

Reduction of phosphorus runoff by 349,328 pounds of phosphorus, potentially preventing 174 million pounds of algae growth in local water bodies.

Data was analyzed by Houston Engineering, Inc. and Farmers for Sustainable Food.

“Farmers are making significant progress in sustainable agriculture, and this survey indicates that their efforts are creating positive results,” stated Jamie Fisher, managing director of FSF. “We are proud to collaborate with farmer-led groups that are making a meaningful impact on both the environment and their communities.”

The farmer-led groups participating in the survey include Calumet County Ag Stewardship Alliance, Driftless Area Ag Alliance, Lafayette Ag Stewardship Alliance, Peninsula Pride Farms, Sheboygan River Progressive Farmers and Western Wisconsin Conservation Council.

For more information about the farmer-led conservation groups supported by FSF, visit farmersforsustainablefood.com.

Twelve students earn National DHIA

undergrad scholarships

The National Dairy Herd Information Association Scholarship Committee selected 12 high school seniors and college students to each receive a $1,000 scholarship. Committee members ranked applicants based on scholastic achievements, leadership in school and community activities, and responses to DHI- and career-related questions. To be eligible for a National DHIA scholarship, applicants must be a family member or employee of a herd on DHI test, a family member of a DHI employee, or an employee of a DHI affiliate. The DHI affiliate for the herd or affiliate employee must be a National DHIA member.

This year’s National DHIA scholarship recipients are Ashley Brandel, Lake Mills, Wis. (parents: Matt and Tracy Brandel); Natalie Clemenson, Zumbrota, Minn. (parents: Brian and Tiffany Clemenson); Sarah Diehl, McVeytown, Pa. (parents: Joe and Kristin Diehl); Alaina Dinderman, Orangeville, Ill. (parents: Brian and Kristi Dinderman); Alaina Fisher, Waconia, Minn. (parents: Amanda and Brian Fisher); Logan Harbaugh, Marion, Wis. (parents: Lynn and Sara Harbaugh); Nicole Hauschildt, Zumbro Falls, Minn. (parents: Stephanie and Chad Domke); Chloe Lawrason, Beaverton, Mich. (parents: Jared and Lisa Lawrason); Lily Marshman, Oxford, N.Y. (parents: John and Sheila Marshman); Keegan Medeiros, Laton, Calif. (parents: Melvin and Christina Medeiros); Ella Raatz, Colby, Wis. (parents: Al and Teri Raatz); and Lindsey Rotz, Pelican, Rapids, Minn. (parents: Paul and Carolin Rotz).

Money generated from the annual National DHIA Scholarship Auction primarily funds the organization’s scholarship program. Investments and donations also help build the fund. To donate to the National DHIA Scholarship Fund, contact Leslie Thoman at 608-848-6455 ext. 108 or lthoman@dhia.org.

On July 1, the 2027 National DHIA Scholarship application will be posted on the National DHIA website at: www.dhia.org/scholarship.asp. Applications are due Oct. 31.