Josh Lott and Lesley Schumacher-Lott of Mason were selected as the runner-up cooperators
Kris and Carla Wardin of St. Johns were selected as the state winning 2012 MMPA Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperators (OYDC). They represented Michigan Milk Producers Association's (MMPA) District 6 and the Mid-Michigan Local in the annual OYDC conference, Aug. 16-17. The Wardins were selected to participate in the program earlier this year by fellow dairy farmers in their district.
Kris and Carla farm as a corporation, managing their herd of 260 cows and farming 750 acres. Kris serves as MMPA Mid-Michigan Local secretary/treasurer, state delegate a state Resolutions Committee member. Carla has served as an MMPA Dairy Communicator for three years. They are both active in their county and Michigan Farm Bureau.
Kris and Carla Wardin of St. Johns were selected as the state winning 2012 MMPA Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperators (OYDC).
As the state winning cooperators, Kris and Carla will represent MMPA at various industry and Association activities. Josh Lott and Lesley Schumacher-Lott of Mason were selected as the runner-up cooperators. Selection of the OYDC is based on the applicant's farming operations, farm-related and community activities and demonstrated leadership abilities.
The State OYDC Conference, held at MMPA headquarters in Novi provides participants with information about milk marketing activities, cooperatives, milk testing procedures and other current events within the dairy industry. The program has been held annually the past 62 years.
"The OYDC program identifies outstanding young leaders in our organization and provides an opportunity for them to gain a greater understanding of milk marketing activities and MMPA," says Ken Nobis, MMPA president.
All the MMPA District OYDCs will be officially recognized at MMPA's 2013 Annual Meeting to be held next March in Lansing.
MMPA is a member-owned and operated cooperative serving over 2,100 dairy farmers throughout Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana.