NOVI, Mich. — The Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) was recognized as the Cooperative Communicator of the Year at the National Milk Producers Federation’s (NMPF) annual meeting yesterday in Arlington, Texas. The honor is part of NMPF’s annual cooperative communications contest, celebrating outstanding work in dairy communication across the country.
MMPA received five first-place awards, five second-place awards and five third-place awards in the contest, competing among 11 cooperatives and 102 total entries. The cooperative’s entry titled “The Low Down on FMMOs,” a story originally published in the January/February 2025 issue of the Milk Messenger, earned Best of Show: Writing, a top honor selected from all first-place winners across the contest’s four main categories: publication, writing, graphics and special projects.
“These awards reaffirm our cooperative’s mission to inform, engage and advocate for our member-owners,” said Joe Diglio, MMPA President and CEO. “Our communications team plays a critical role in strengthening the connections that unite our membership and sharing the story of MMPA’s impact across the broader dairy industry.”
Through its Milk Messenger magazine, digital platforms and member engagement initiatives, MMPA’s communications team continues to deliver meaningful content that informs and unites members across its four-state membership region.
This year’s recognition follows MMPA Board Chairman Doug Chapin’s honor as the 2024 NMPF Farmer Communicator of the Year, marking back-to-back national communications accolades for the cooperative. Together, these awards underscore MMPA’s ongoing commitment to strong, authentic communication.
“This recognition is a testament to the strength of MMPA’s communications,” said Doug Chapin, MMPA Board Chairman and 2024 NMPF Farmer Communicator of the Year. “Winning multiple awards, including Best of Show, reflects our commitment to keeping members informed and engaged.”
During MMPA’s 109th Annual Meeting, MMPA, CoBank and Michigan 4-H commemorated the establishment of the Joseph M. Diglio 4-H Dairy Youth Endowment, a lasting investment in the next generation of dairy youth leaders. Pictured in the front row (L-R): Brian DeMann, MMPA District 2 Director; Brian Preston, MMPA District 2 Director; Aaron Anticic, MMPA Chief Financial Officer; Julie Chapin, Michigan 4-H Foundation Trustee; Abbey Miller, Michigan 4-H Foundation Director; Joe Diglio, MMPA President & CEO; Doug Chapin, MMPA Board Chairman; Brad Parks, MMPA Chief Operating Officer; Amy Martin, MMPA District 3 Director; Sheila Burkhardt, MMPA Chief Corporate Affairs Officer; and Scott Lamb, MMPA District 5 Director. Pictured in the back row (L-R): Kris Wardin, MMPA At-Large Director; Bruce Benthem, MMPA At-Large Director; Aaron Gasper, MMPA At-Large Director; Kendra Van Order, 4-H Dairy Extension Educator; Joe Boulger, CoBank Credit Officer; Michael Minnihan, CoBank Vice President, Lead Relationship Manager; Corby Werth, MMPA District 4 Director; Eric Frahm, MMPA Board Treasurer; and Tony Jandernoa, MMPA Board Vice Chairman.
NOVI, Mich. – The Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA), in partnership with CoBank, is proud to announce the establishment of the Joseph M. Diglio 4-H Dairy Youth Endowment. This permanent fund, to be managed through the Michigan 4-H Foundation, is dedicated to supporting the next generation of dairy youth leaders in Michigan.
“The Joseph M. Diglio 4-H Dairy Youth Endowment will provide unending support helping to ensure young people who are passionate about the dairy industry and agriculture have opportunities to grow, learn and lead, just as many in the industry have had the chance to do,” said Doug Chapin, MMPA Board Chairman, during the endowment’s announcement at MMPA’s 109th Annual Meeting on March 19, 2025.
Partial funding for the endowment’s establishment is a result of MMPA President and CEO Joe Diglio being named the 2025 Robert B. Engel Farmer Co-op Manager of the Year by the National Council Farmer of Cooperatives (NCFC) in February 2025. The award was based on Diglio’s role in delivering solid financial results and benefits to MMPA member-owners, fostering a culture of excellence, communication skills, contributing to community partners and understanding the co-op model. With his passion for youth development and the future of the dairy industry, Diglio selected the Michigan 4-H Foundation as his awarding charity and the NCFC Foundation made a contribution in his name.
“I am honored to be recognized as NCFC Co-op Manager of the Year, but even more grateful for the opportunity to give back in a way that supports the future of our industry,” said Joe Diglio, MMPA President and CEO. “Investing in Michigan’s dairy youth through this endowment ensures that the next generation has the tools, resources and education that they need to carry our industry forward.”
“The Michigan 4-H Foundation is proud to partner with MMPA on this initiative,” said Abbey Miller, Michigan 4-H Foundation Director. “This endowment ensures that young people passionate about the dairy industry and agriculture have 4-H opportunities for years to come.”
To further extend the impact of Diglio’s recognition, the MMPA Board of Directors unanimously voted to match the donation with additional funds through CoBank’s Sharing Success program, establishing a permanent endowment dedicated to supporting dairy youth.
“CoBank is honored to support the Dairy Youth Endowment,” said Leslie Hagle, CoBank’s Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility. “Investing in the next generation of agricultural leaders aligns with our mission, and we are proud to partner with MMPA and the Michigan 4-H Foundation to ensure youth have the resources they need to be future leaders in the dairy industry.”
Cumulatively, these funds create an endowment that will serve as a long-term resource to support dairy youth programming, scholarships and leadership development opportunities through Michigan 4-H Youth Development. For more information about the Joseph M. Diglio 4-H Dairy Youth Endowment and how to contribute, please visit mi4hfdtn.org/4hdairyendowment.
About Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA)
The Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) is a member-owned and operated milk marketing cooperative known for producing high-quality, award-winning dairy products. Established in 1916, MMPA is the 9th largest U.S. dairy farmer-owned cooperative serving members in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin. At MMPA, commitment to milk quality begins on the farm and extends through all four of their SQF version 9.0 certified processing facilities: a cheese plant in Indiana, a dairy product plant in Ohio and two dairy ingredient plants in Michigan.
About CoBank
CoBank is a cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 78,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country. CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.
About Michigan 4-H Foundation
Founded in 1952, the Michigan 4-H Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in East Lansing, Mich. Led by a board of trustees, the foundation solicits, manages, grants and stewards funding from private individuals, organizations, foundations and corporations to support the mission and vision of Michigan State University Extension 4-H Youth Development.
On Thursday, October 17, the Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) welcomed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Alexis Taylor, for a Women in Agriculture Roundtable.
Under Secretary Taylor led a discussion at MMPA’s Novi, Michigan, headquarters with over a dozen of women in leadership roles within Michigan’s agriculture community. The session highlighted USDA programs and resources that support U.S. agricultural exports and served as a platform to discuss key issues impacting women in agriculture.
“We were honored to host Under Secretary Taylor and engage in meaningful conversations with women leaders in agriculture,” said Joe Diglio, MMPA President and CEO. “The discussion not only showcased the importance of USDA’s programs, but also emphasized the critical role women play in advancing agriculture industries.”
MMPA is proud to have 50% of their senior leadership team and 28% of their total leadership roles filled by women and recognizes the importance of gender diversity in driving success. MMPA’s commitment to fostering inclusivity extends across every level of the cooperative, with 27% of their over 600 employees identifying as female. MMPA is committed to making business decisions that positively impact their members, employees, stakeholders and communities they live and work in.
This roundtable was part of USDA’s efforts to promote the United Nations’ designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. Under Secretary Taylor’s visit to MMPA is part of her nationwide tour to engage with agricultural leaders and promote the contributions of women to the industry’s future.
NOVI, Mich. – The Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Aaron Anticic as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). In his new role, Anticic will be responsible for managing and overseeing all financial activities of MMPA, ensuring the organization’s long-term financial stability, and supporting its strategic vision.
Anticic brings a wealth of experience to MMPA, having spent over 13 years at Mastronardi Produce, one of the largest produce companies in the world. Starting his tenure at Mastronardi as a financial analyst, Anticic advanced to the position of VP Finance, most recently leading the finance team at the Mastronardi BerryWorld Americas joint venture. During his tenure with Mastronardi Produce, Anticic built and led various accounting and finance teams which played a central role in the development of strategy and in managerial decision making throughout the organization.
“We are excited to welcome Aaron to our executive team,” said Joe Diglio, MMPA President & CEO. “His proven track record in financial leadership and experience with the agriculture industry will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen and grow our cooperative. We are confident that Aaron’s expertise and vision will greatly contribute to the future success of MMPA.”
Aaron holds a Master of Business Administration with distinction from the Richard Ivey School of Business in London, Ontario, Canada. He lives in the Metro Detroit area with his wife and children. In addition to his CFO role with MMPA, Anticic has been appointed as an officer of the MMPA Board of Directors.
“I am honored to join MMPA and work with such a dedicated team,” said Anticic. “I look forward to leveraging my experience to support MMPA’s dairy-farmer owners by ensuring the cooperative’s financial health and contributing to its strategic initiatives.”
NOVI, Mich.—The Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA), the 10th largest dairy cooperative in the U.S., recently named Tom Downey to serve as chief financial officer (CFO).
As CFO, Downey will direct strategic planning and oversee all financial activities of MMPA. Downey is a results-oriented professional with a proven track record of operational and financial acumen.
“As MMPA continues our journey toward innovation and advancing our position within the industry, Tom’s forward-thinking vision and experience will be a great complement to our leadership team,” MMPA President and CEO Joe Diglio said.
Most recently, Downey worked for Alvarez & Marsal as a senior director where he advised client across multiple industries to help improve bottom line results. Downey previously held positions with Lighthouse Investment Partners and Ernst & Young. Downey has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in accounting from Michigan State University. He lives in the Metro Detroit area with his wife and twin daughters.
The Michigan Milk Producers Association–established in 1916–is a member-owned and operated milk marketing cooperative and dairy processor serving dairy farmers throughout Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana. In addition to a cheese plant in Indiana, MMPA operates two SQF Level 3 dairy ingredient plants in Michigan, producing butter, nonfat dry milk powder, condensed skim milk, cream and whole milk powder.
