DFA selects members awards
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Seven dairy farm families who are members of Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA) will receive the Cooperative’s Member of Distinction award at the annual Delegate Meeting on March 20 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City, Mo.

The 2007 DFA Members of Distinction include the owners and operators of Weir Farms of Hanover, Mich; Crosswinds Dairy of Portales, New Mexico; Anthony’s Dairy of Americus, Ga.; Diamond
Three Dairy of Shelley, Idaho; Three Star Dairy of McCook, Neb.; RV Dairy of Winton, Calif. and Walker Farms of Fort Ann, N.Y.

One of this year’s recipients is Bruce and Phil Weir, Weir Farms of Hanover, Mich. Weir Farms is a 600-cow operation that has received numerous awards for their environmental stewardship practices, quality milk production and cleanliness. Owned and operated since 1972, Bruce and Phil Weir recently added their sons to the partnership. In addition to the dairy operation, the Weir family also farms 4,000 acres.

Weir Farms and the six award winners will be recognized with a video presentation during the general session of the annual delegate meeting. There also will be a special recognition at the banquet held on the evening of March 20.

The DFA Member of Distinction program was created this year to celebrate the Cooperative’s diversity and to recognize DFA members for their vision, leadership and innovation in the dairy industry.

For more information on Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., call 888-332-6455, 888-DFA-MILK or visit www.dfamilk.com

Indiana Soybean honors Miller
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — The Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) honored Director Bill Miller with a gift to the Vigo County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) scholarship fund. ISA Director Phil
Carter presented a $5,000 check during the district’s annual meeting March 15 in memory of Bill Miller, who passed away in July 2006.

Miller, who lived and farmed in Vigo County, served as a farmer-director on the Indiana Soybean Development Council and Indiana Soybean Board from 1995 to 2004 – helping to oversee the investment of Indiana’s soybean checkoff dollars. At the time of his death, he was in his first term as a director of the Indiana Soybean Growers Association, which represented soybean farmers’ policy interests. Miller was one of 48 farmer-directors involved in the merger of the state’s two soybean organizations into the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) in early 2006. He also served many years on the Vigo County Soil and Water Conservation Board.

“The Indiana Soybean Alliance and its directors wanted to recognize Bill’s years of service to the state’s soybean industry in a way that would honor his legacy,” said Carter, a Vigo County farmer. “Bill was a champion for conservation on his farm, in his community and throughout the state. Bill was a past national winner of the American Soybean Association’s Conservation Legacy Award, as well as being a well-respected board member who contributed to the betterment of our organization and our industry.”

The ISA’s contribution benefits Vigo County SWCD’s Harry and Norma O. Miller Scholarship, which is named after Bill Miller’s parents. With this donation, the names of Bill and his wife, Pat, have been added to the scholarship. Vigo County students pursuing a post-secondary degree in agriculture or conservation are eligible to apply for this scholarship. For more information, go to www.indianasoybean.com

Mohr re-elected to Land O’Lakes
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — Land O’ Lakes recently re-elected Ronnie Mohr of Greenfield, Ind., to their Board of Directors.

Mohr, along with two of his sons and his brother, farm 4,000 acres of corn and soybeans; operate a hog-finishing operation; and manage a grain bin and equipment sales business.

Mohr has played an active role in numerous cooperatives and organizations including Countrymark, Ag-One Cooperative, Central Indiana Power Cooperative, Wabash Valley Power, the Indiana Corn Growers, Green Township Volunteer Fire Department, Hancock County Drainage Board and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Merit Board.

Land O’Lakes, Inc. is a national farmer-owned food and agricultural cooperative that markets a full line of dairy-based consumer, foodservice and food ingredient products as well as agricultural supplies and services worldwide.

This farm news was published in the March 21, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.