By Joe Diglio, MMPA President & CEO
As we close the chapter on fiscal year 2025, I’m proud to reflect on a year that clearly demonstrated what leadership looks like in action and what happens when a team commits to excellence at every level. From our member farms to our plants, our boardroom to our offices, MMPA’s collective efforts this year were not just noticed, they were recognized across the industry and beyond.
One of the highest honors came when MMPA Board Chairman Doug Chapin was named the
National Milk Producers Federation’s Farmer Communicator of the Year. Doug’s leadership in
critical conversations, whether testifying on Federal Milk Marketing Order reform or advocating for a measured response during the H5N1 outbreak, set the tone for clear and direct communication. His ability to represent dairy farmers and our cooperative with integrity continues to reflect the very best of who we are.
In February, I was humbled to be recognized as the Robert B. Engel Farmer Co-op Manager of the Year by the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. While the award bears my name, the accomplishments it honors belong to the entire MMPA team. Our association’s vision and unwavering focus on our mission, delivering value to our members, made that recognition possible. In that spirit, I was proud to designate the Michigan 4-H Foundation as my awarding charity. Together with CoBank and the MMPA Board of Directors, we’ve now established the Joseph M. Diglio 4-H Dairy Youth Endowment, a permanent investment in the future leaders of our industry.
We also celebrated another leader within MMPA, as Sheila Burkhardt was recognized with the Industry Service Award by the Michigan Dairy Industry Conference. Her commitment to advocacy and service continues to strengthen our cooperative’s voice.
Our farms continued to lead as well. Fifteen MMPA members were recognized in the National Dairy Quality Awards, including a platinum award winner and several gold and silver honors. Combined with recognitions like MMPA Vice Chairman Tony Jandernoa’s operation being named the 2025 Michigan State University Dairy Farm of the Year and MMPA member Larsen Farms earning our inaugural Food Bank Legacy Award, it’s clear that MMPA members are setting the bar for milk quality, animal care and community impact.
That same commitment to excellence extends to our plants. In 2025, three MMPA processing facilities earned outstanding Safe Quality Food (SQF) audit scores. Canton, Ovid and Constantine each received near-perfect or perfect ratings in food safety and quality. The Constantine plant also earned the IDFA Worker Safety Award for the second year in a row. These results are a reflection of our culture: safety, quality and excellence, every day.
The DD Biofuel plant in Constantine, operated through the Dairy Distillery Alliance, is under construction and nearing production. With equipment on its way from India and installation slated for late fall, we anticipate our first ethanol tanker to be produced in early 2026. This innovation demonstrates how leadership and vision are paving new paths for sustainability in dairy.
We’ve also continued to expand our partnerships, like those with Amul and Nurri, to deliver what today’s customers are seeking and to create new opportunities for our members. Looking ahead to 2026, we do so with momentum. With a growing product mix and new initiatives on the horizon, we’re prepared to meet the future with strength and purpose.
Leadership and excellence are not about receiving awards. They’re about delivering results that matter for our members, for our cooperative, and for the communities where we live and work. And in 2025, MMPA did just that.
I look forward to another year of progress, together.
This article was originally published in the November/December 2025 issue of the Milk Messenger. Subscribe »