MMPA Delegates Gather to Conduct Association Business

Through navigating challenges in the supply chain to seizing partnership opportunities, the Michigan Milk Producers Association was focused on leading the cooperative through the new landscape of 2021 through the fiscal year. MMPA delegates who gathered for the 106th Annual Delegate Meeting of MMPA on March 24 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Michigan, learned how MMPA is taking charge of that change for the betterment of all cooperative stakeholders.

MMPA delegates and guests learned how the financial success achieved through 2021 laid the groundwork to drive more change within the industry through 2022 and beyond, which included the acquisition of three new subsidiaries: Superior Dairy, Creative Edge and LEL Logistics. The new combined organization creates a manufacturing and innovation campus with four facilities in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana and will provide a greater focus on go-to market strategies.

2021 was full of change—for our communities, our consumers and our cooperative. MMPA delegates gathered to conduct business during the Annual Delegate Meeting to take charge of that change for the betterment of all cooperative stakeholders.

MILESTONE MEMBERS, MARTIN FOX (L) AND MICHAEL RASMUSSEN (R), WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR 35-YEARS OF MEMBERSHIP WITH MMPA AND SHARED THEIR WISDOM AND INDUSTRY INSIGHT WITH MMPA DELEGATES.

Milestone Members

During the Annual Meeting, MMPA members reaching 35 and 50 years of membership were recognized.

35-Year Members:

  • Everett W. Bone, Frankenmuth Local, District 7
  • Duane G. Cumper, Mid-Sanilac Local, District 8
  • John W. Cumper, Mid-Sanilac Local, District 8
  • Brian Eldred, Alma Local, District 5
  • Jack Fisk, Grand Rapids Local, District 3
  • Martin C. Fox, Clare-Mt Pleasant Local, District 7
  • Fred Heinze, Mid-Michigan Local, District 6
  • James A. Huggett, Barry-Eaton Local, District 2
  • Peter Kurncz, Mid-Michigan Local, District 6
  • Bruce Litwiller, Alma Local, District 5
  • Jane Sias Mamarow, Saline-Ann Arbor Local, District 1
  • Michael J. Rasmussen, Alma Local, District 5
  • Gary Schultz, Mid-Sanilac Local, District 8
  • Iris R. Stout, Adrian Local, District 1
  • Carol Baker, Hillsdale-Litchfield Local, District 1
  • David Klamer, Grand Rapids Local, District 3

50-Year Members:

  • Richard Fettig, Upstate Local, District 4
  • Wayne Hecksel, Muskegon Local, District 3
  • Richard Heyboer, Lansing Local, District 2
  • Donald Judge, Alma Local, District 5
  • Kenneth Van Polen, Evart Local, District 5

 

MMPA Annual Meeting 2022

Joe Diglio, MMPA President & CEO
MMPA PRESIDENT AND CEO JOE DIGLIO DISCUSSED HOW MMPA IS TAKING CHARGE OF CHANGE THROUGH THE ACQUISITION OF SUPERIOR DAIRY, CONTINUOUSLY ASSESSING NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND REMAINING ALIGNED IN PURSUING A VISION.
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MMPA Annual Report: 2021 in Review

Heritage Ridge Creamery Cheese Places in National Championship Cheese Contest

Colby-jack and Pepper-jack cheese produced under the Heritage Ridge Creamery brand at Michigan Milk Producer Associations’ Middlebury, Indiana, cheese plant snagged two third-place awards in the National Milk Producers Federation cheese contest.

MMPA Milk Production Increases

MMPA milk production in fiscal year 2021 increased 3.24 percent compared to the prior fiscal year, with the later part of the fiscal year showing small growth rates.

MMPA Donates Milk to Support Benton Harbor Residents

MMPA partnered with Kroger Michigan Dairy, the United Dairy Industry of Michigan and the Food Bank Council of Michigan to donate milk to the residents of Benton Harbor, Michigan to help in their efforts to combat lead.

MMPA Dairy Care Academy Launched On-Demand Training

Dairy Care Academy, a free MMPA employee training program, launched an online training platform available on-demand at any time.

MMPA Butter Earns National Recognition

In the World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest, MMPA won first place in unsalted butter from the Ovid, Michigan plant, while butter from the Constantine, Michigan plant earned second place for salted butter.

This article was originally published in the March/April 2022 issue of the Milk MessengerSubscribe »