LANSING, Mich.—Twenty-three MMPA members were recognized with 35 or 50 year member awards at the MMPA 101st Annual State Delegate Meeting, March 23, 2017. MMPA has traditionally recognized 35-year members and last year added the new MMPA Milestone award to honor those holding membership for 50 years.
MMPA President Ken Nobis congratulated and praised the 35-year members for their dedication to the cooperative: “We commend you for your dedication and loyalty to MMPA and the dairy industry over the years.”
After the 35-year members were recognized, Nobis recognized the group of MMPA Milestone award winners who joined MMPA in the year 1967.
A video presentation showcased the vast changes the Michigan dairy industry has undergone the past several years and since these members began dairy farming.
The presentation highlighted information from 1982 and 1967, when these members joined MMPA. In 1982, there were 6,046 MMPA members in who marketed a total of 3.4 billion pounds of milk, while in 1967 membership totaled 7,973 and marketed 2.6 billion pounds of milk. Today, MMPA has approximately 1,200 members and marketed over 4.8 billion pounds of milk in the 2016 fiscal year.
MMPA—established in 1916—is a member owned and operated dairy cooperative serving approximately 2,000 dairy farmers in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin.
35-Year Members
- Kenneth Vredenburg, Alma Local
- Albern Olson, Alma Local
- Nelson E. Frye, Constantine Local
- Gary Zuiderveen, Evart Local
- Louis & Karen Fifelski, Kalamazoo Local
- Jeanne Drummond, Mid-Michigan Local
- Raymond Zimmerman, Mid-Sanilac Local
- Richard Kaufman, Mid-Thumb Local
- William Gruppen, West Michigan Local
- Robert Gruppen, West Michigan Local
- Dennis Raterink, West Michigan Local
50-Year Members
- Larry Crandall, Barry-Eaton Local
- Robert Lee, Evart Local
- William Stein, Evart Local
- Larry L. Keinath, Frankenmuth Local
- Ronald N. Keinath, Frankenmuth Local
- Petzold Dairy Farms Inc., Frankenmuth Local
- MSU Dairy Farm, Ingham County Local
- Thomas Goodman, Mid-Michigan Local
- David J. Lee, Mid-Sanilac Local
- Harland Schultz, Mid-Sanilac Local
- Leonard Schaub, Upstate Local
- Darwin Huff, West Michigan Local