Major U.S. dairy cooperative highlights “Connect. Collaborate. Innovate.” theme at national gathering in Kansas City.
Source: Dairy Farmers of America
DFA’s 17th Annual Meeting began in Kansas City, Mo., today with reports from Board Chairman Randy Mooney, President and Chief Executive Officer Rick Smith and special guest speakers.
Highlighting the theme of the meeting — Connect. Collaborate. Innovate. — Mooney focused on the
Cooperative’s initiatives related to innovation, from the farm to DFA’s plants and products.
“Increasing innovation is not a short-term objective — it is a long-term commitment,” he said. “A commitment that takes patience and a willingness to stick to a plan even when the benefits may be years into the future.”
In addition to Smith’s update on DFA, which included information on the Cooperative’s activities in the global marketplace, an update on the financials and an overview of DFA’s commercial investments, guest speaker Tim Hunt, global dairy strategist for Rabobank, gave an outlook for the global dairy markets.
A panel comprised of Kevin Gilbert, senior vice president of strategic planning for Edelman, Julia Kadison, chief executive officer of Milk Processor Education Program, Barbara O’Brien, president of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, and Jay Waldvogel, DFA’s senior vice president of strategy and global development, discussed consumer trends in dairy, and how DFA and the industry can capitalize on them.
Prior to the start of the Annual Meeting, about 800 members attended the members-only Annual
Leadership Conference, where they discussed the business of the Cooperative, and heard from special
guest Peder Tuborgh, chief executive officer of Arla Foods.
For more information, including blog posts and photo galleries, visit dfaleader.com.
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