DFANEWS SPLASH

A U G U S T 2 0 1 1 DFA QUICK LINKS | 2 | Interns gain more than experience | 3 | Welde retires after 39 years | 3 | ELS driver honored | 4 | June Dairy Month recap| 4 | Staples customer appreciation discountStrategy guides Cooperative

Last month, DFA’s Board of Directors met for the Cooperative’s July Board and Strategic Information Session in Napa, Calif., to review DFA’s strategic vision and plan and assess the Cooperative’s progress. Adopted in 2008, DFA’s strategic vision outlines priorities for the Cooperative and a path to achieve those goals.

In 2010, the Board approved a strategic plan that was developed from that vision. The plan expanded on the priorities set by the vision and included specific actions that would move the Cooperative forward.

“With this strategic plan, we first confirmed we had our vision, values and priorities right,” says Jay Waldvogel, senior vice president of strategy and international development. “We then went deeper and created something a little more tangible that advanced and reordered some of our priorities.”

After spending much of the last few years fixing immediate problems by exiting underperforming joint ventures, strengthening the balance sheet and ensuring that DFA has the right people in the right places, the Cooperative is now stronger and more stable than it was in 2008.

According to Waldvogel, DFA also is better positioned to deliver additional value to members. One way to do that, and a key priority in the strategic plan, is to grow the Cooperative.

“There is a world of opportunity available,” Waldvogel says. “We are prepared to pursue new opportunities and I think that is shown by our actions.”

Evidence of DFA seizing opportunities lies in recent acquisitions of La Vaquita and Kemps; both of which grew the Cooperative’s Consumer Brands Division.

“Our acquisition of Kemps shows we want to have more control over our own destiny, it balances our portfolio of investments and was important because it gives us the ability to participate in the fluid milk category,” Waldvogel says.

Another strategic initiative is to convert the wide variety of data collected throughout the Cooperative into useful information that can be used by staff and members to make faster, better and smarter decisions. Project ONE is a major part of accomplishing this initiative.

While the strategic plan is always evolving, the foundation of DFA is, and remains, the core values listed in the plan – integrity, quality, accountability, innovation, community and passion.

“The Cooperative’s values reflect our owners and how they think and behave,” Waldvogel says. “They attract employees with similar values and show that we are going to do the right thing in the right way.”

Strategic initiatives

More than a foot in the doorDFA’s internship program offers students unique experienceFor some students, interning for a company can help them get their foot in the door, but for DFA’s summer interns, it gets them much more.

This summer, there are 27 students interning with DFA throughout the country, experiencing hands-on opportunities that sharpen their abilities and skills.

Kali Parrish, Central Area field representative intern, travels to member farms to discuss DFA policies and regulations and to serve as a communication link between the Cooperative and its members.

Parrish says she enjoys the chance to experience something new every time she walks onto a different DFA member farm.

“I get hands-on experience every day in an industry I’m interested in,” Parrish says. “I’m working with passionate field representatives and farmers, and I get to meet a ton of great people.”

Danelle Bender, an intern mentor and DFA’s director of finance, hopes the experience will help interns explore career fields they want to enter after school.

“The intern program is a win-win for both DFA and the students,” Bender says. “Interns bring a fresh perspective to the company.”

Every summer in Kansas City, Mo., the mentors plan a trip for the interns to tour manufacturing plants and visit member farms.

This year, interns traveled to Springfield, Mo., where they met with DFA member Mike Meier and received a look into his dairy grazing operation. They also toured the DFA plant in Springfield, Mo., where they learned how Starbucks products are bottled.

“As interns, we hear about all of the products that DFA manufactures,” says Jessi Ertzner, Kansas City human resources intern. “It was interesting to see how some of the products are manufactured and the process it goes through.”

Interns also plan, organize and participate in community service events, strengthening DFA’s community outreach efforts.

Throughout a 10-week period, DFA’s Kansas City interns planned a total of six community service projects, four of which were fundraisers for the Kansas City chapter of the American Red Cross. The fundraisers included an ice cream social, a bake sale, a pancake breakfast and a Jeans Day that allowed employees to pay $5 for the chance to wear jeans to work. Proceeds from these events totaled nearly $2,000, doubling an initial goal of $1,000.

Andrea Mitchell, a Mideast Area communications intern, also coordinated a community service project during June Dairy Month for 17 employees at the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank.

DFA internships are available each summer throughout the United States. Students interested can email careers@dfamilk.com or call 816-801-6628 for more information.

A complete list of DFA’s 2011 summer interns is available online at www.bit.ly/dfaintern.

Clockwise from top: Kansas City, Mo., interns remove nails from recycled paneling while volunteering at the Habitat for Humanity Kansas City ReStore.

Interns from Kansas City, Mo., and Springfield, Mo., pose for a picture with DFA member Mike Meier following a tour of his grazing operation.

Kali Parrish, a DFA Central Area field representative intern, moves a newborn guernsey heifer to a hutch at University of Missouri Foremost Dairy, a DFA member farm in Fayette, Mo.

Dave Welde retires after 39 yearsAfter 39 years of service and a successful career with DFA, Dave Welde retired in June from his position as senior vice president of quality assurance and compliance.

During his time with DFA, he worked his way through five job titles, multiple offices and countless experiences.

Welde says the most enjoyable part of his experience has been the people with whom he has had the opportunity to work.

“I’ve had a lot of great relationships built over the years,” Welde says. “We really do have a great group of people working in our offices and plants.”

Mark Korsmeyer, president of Global Dairy Products Group (GDPG) and executive vice president of DFA, says Welde was a leader in the Cooperative and the industry.

“Dave has left a lasting impact on DFA,” Korsmeyer says. “He realized the importance of food safety and security and held himself and the Cooperative to the highest standard.”

Ed Tilley, senior vice president of operations and business development for GDPG, worked with Welde for 20 years, and says Welde worked tirelessly his entire career, with food safety being his guiding principle.

“Through Dave’s leadership and early adoption of facility food safety and security audits, we have continued to remain ahead of the learning curve,” Tilley says. “Dave always talked about protecting the consumer, the customer and our farmer-owners.”

As a result of Welde’s detailed understanding of food manufacturing, DFA’s plants have been able to comply with requirements from changes in food safety laws. With new policies set forth, Welde helped plants make transitions through protocol changes and communicated to others what needed to be done. Welde recognized those who helped make his accomplishments possible.

“I have to give credit to the employees I worked with for making my career successful and memorable,” Welde says. “It also was rewarding to receive recognition for excellent service, supplier of the year or from our customers for the quality of our work.”

Now that he is retired, Welde plans to visit Alaska with his wife and looks forward to spending time with loved ones.

ELS driver honoredAt Eastern Laboratory Services (ELS), DFA Mideast Area’s raw milk testing laboratory, it all begins with drivers such as David Lasky. As a sample collection driver for ELS, it is Lasky’s job to ensure that samples are delivered to the lab on time.

Thanks to his outstanding effort and focus, Lasky has been awarded the ELS Driver of the Year Award for 2011. This is his second time receiving the award. Now in his 10th year with ELS, Lasky has driven more than 400,000 accident-free miles with no vehicle or property damage.

“I really enjoy my job,” Lasky says. “It’s great to be a part of the dairy industry as a sample driver.”

ELS, a full-service, state-of-the-art dairy and water testing laboratory, conducts a wide variety of quality tests and chemical analysis to determine the content of milk samples. These results factor into the price dairy farmers are paid for their milk, assist them in monitoring their milk quality and help with important management decisions.

Lance Smith, sample collection supervisor, said Lasky is one of the Area’s best drivers.

“Hard work, dedication and love of the job are all reasons why Lasky was chosen,” says Smith.

Dave Welde is recognized for his service at DFA’s June Board meeting. David Lasky, ELS Driver of the Year

Welcome new hiresPlease welcome these new employees:

Taking the initiativeThroughout June Dairy Month, DFA employees and members were asked to display one of the Cooperative’s core values — community — to help fight hunger across the United States. They answered the call in a big way.

DFA members and staff made nearly 100,000 meals for the hungry possible in June, doubling the original goal.

Employees and members gave nearly 700 hours of volunteer time, donated more than 7,700 pounds of food, sorted and packaged another 65,000 pounds of food during volunteer events, and contributed more than $5,000 in cash and grocery gift cards. The majority of these efforts benefitted affiliates of Feeding America, the nation’s largest network of food banks.

Members and staff in DFA’s Mountain Area organized Dairy Cares Day — a simultaneous event spanning three cities. Volunteers spent the morning sorting and packaging food, as well as delivering meals to those in need. They also had the opportunity to fill reusable grocery bags with non-perishable food items, which their milk haulers assisted in collecting.

“June Dairy month is about bringing attention to the many positives that come from the dairy industry, and what better way to do that than to get out in the community and roll up your sleeves,” says Trevor Blackann, Mountain Area director of membership development. “Our Young Cooperator leaders took the initiative to maximize our efforts across the Area.”

The June campaign was part of a larger DFA hunger and nutrition effort, which encompasses policy advocacy and legislative outreach, as well as collaboration with federal and local hunger and nutritional programs.

Ivan Adkins • Henderson, Colo.Karla Albert • Plymouth, Pa.Victor Argenzio • Henderson, Colo.Cody Baker • West Middlesex, Pa.Steven Bear • Springfield, Mo.Michael Bow • Salt Lake City, UtahMarvin Boyer • Springfield, Mo.Ashley Campbell • Kansas City, Mo.Joshua Carter • Kansas City, Mo.Metta Cecil • Fort Morgan, Colo.Jennifer Colley • Kansas City, Mo.Guy Conley • Winnsboro, TexasMichael Connell • Henderson, Colo.Curtis Copp • Middlebury Center, Pa.Jennifer Cortinas • Springfield, Mo.Ronald Crouch • Springfield, Mo.Berva Davis • Cabool, Mo.James Davis • Salt Lake City, UtahRobert Downey • Henderson, Colo.

David Dupler • Springfield, Mo.Robert Durbin • Springfield, Mo.Stephen Durney • Cabool, Mo.William Evans • Springfield, Mo.Justin Evans • Kansas City, Mo.J Socorro Fernandez • Goshen, Ind.Andrew Fidler • Kansas City, Mo.Sue Gates • Springfield, Mo.Edward Goff • Henderson, Colo.Blas Gomez • Henderson, Colo.Ronald Graham • Henderson, Colo.Vicki Guynn • Springfield, Mo.Ross Hadler • Zumbrota, Minn.Cynthia Harris • Wyomissing, Pa.Jeremy Hill • Winnsboro, TexasDerek Ingvaldson • Zumbrota, Minn.Bradley Jones • Henderson, Colo.Rayford Jones • Fort Morgan, Colo.Sherri Kindt • Reading, Pa.

James Koehler • Monett, Mo.Jasmine Lewis • New Wilmington, Pa.Nathan Lippert • Grand Rapids, Mich.Richard Magnuson • Henderson, Colo.David Mayr • Plymouth, Pa.Charles Miller • Kansas City, Mo.Wilfredo Mina • Ventura, Calif.Gregory Minnich • Mechanicsburg, Pa.Kelly Nestor • Fort Morgan, Colo.Derek Neumann • Zumbrota, Minn.Ronald Pelesko • Reading, Pa.Brian Poshak • Plymouth, Pa.Larry Powell • Kansas City, Mo.Gary Pritzlaff • Plymouth, Pa.Gayle Purgason • Monett, Mo.Sharleen Salmon • Reading, Pa.James Schmidt • Zumbrota, Minn.Anthony Shepard • Monett, Mo.Linda Shipman • Kansas City, Mo.

Cody Smith • Winnsboro, TexasThomas Smith • Henderson, Colo.Crystal Spence • Cabool, Mo.Matthew Staudt • Wyomissing, Pa.Dalton Thomas • Springfield, Mo.Rodney Tuggle • Kansas City, Mo.Alvaro Vasquez • Henderson, Colo.Chad Vierrether • Monett, Mo.Mark Vincent • Springfield, Mo.James Volkerts • Hughson, Calif.Sarah Westerman • Plymouth, Pa.Robert Whittemore • Middlebury Center, Pa.Ryan Wilson • Springfield, Mo.Rachel Woolf • New Wilmington, Pa.Lawrence Wright • Winnsboro, TexasKia Yang • Plymouth, Pa.Karl Ziebert • Plymouth, Pa.

Staples® shows its appreciationStaples Advantage is celebrating Customer Appreciation Week by offering all DFA employees a 10 percent discount at any Staples store. To take advantage of this offer, simply print this coupon (http://bit.ly/dfastaples). No registration is required. You may use this offer as many times as you like through Saturday, August 13.

To learn more about Staples Advantage and other employee discounts, click on the HR/Payroll tab in the Portal and select the Employee Discount page.

Brian and Jilean Ercanbrack, Mountain Area Young Cooperators, and their family deliver meals to the elderly on behalf of the Utah Food Bank in Salt Lake City, Utah, as part of DFA’s Mountain Area Dairy Cares Day.