MMPA hosts the cooperative’s 100th Annual Meeting, celebrates anniversary
Lansing, MICH.—The Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) today hosted its 100th Annual State Delegate Meeting, welcoming Governor Rick Snyder to launch the meeting in the morning. The governor commended MMPA on reaching one century of serving Michigan dairy farmers.
“Michigan’s food and agriculture industry is one of our state’s largest, contributing $101.2 billion annually to our state’s economy,” Snyder said. “The dairy industry plays a critical role in this success, and I thank all of Michigan’s dedicated dairy farmers and leaders for their contributions to making Michigan grow stronger.”
Snyder is a supporter of Michigan agriculture and has traveled around the globe to tell the story of Michigan’s food and agriculture products. The governor declared March “Michigan Food and Agriculture Month,” thanking farmers and noting the valued role of the agriculture sector to the state’s economy. He joined around 500 attendees which included agriculture industry stakeholders and MMPA members, employees and customers at the association’s annual meeting.
“Our goal is ‘to market our members’ milk to the greatest advantage possible’ and we must meet the challenge of making that happen in today’s complex world,” Ken Nobis, dairy farmer and president of MMPA said in his address today.
“We know that by working together, we are stronger than the sum of the parts, a reality that has not changed over time. We started with a firm foundation, we adapted as the world changed and I think we are well prepared for the next 100 years.”
MMPA was founded on May 23, 1916 at Michigan State University’s predecessor, the Michigan Agricultural College when 400 dairy farmers met at the college to establish a reliable market for their milk. Their foundation developed over 100 years into the cooperative it is today.
The cooperative recognized its anniversary today at the meeting, with plans for other celebrations throughout 2016 including publications and events. A notable item of celebration is MMPA’s release of a history book titled, Stronger. Together. Celebrating 100 Years of the Michigan Milk Producers Association.
Michigan Milk Producers Association is a member owned and controlled milk-marketing cooperative serving over 2,000 dairy farmers in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio.