The Dairying for Tomorrow Awards, sponsored by American Dairy Association North East,designed to recognize local dairy farmers and showcase the unique actions they take, on and off the farm, to help sustain and improve the dairy industry.
Dairy farmers were recognized in three key categories: Animal Care, Community Outreach and Environmental Stewardship.
To help demonstrate the impact dairy farmers have on their local communities, winners in each category received a $1000 prize in their farm’s name to either a local school district (to provide portable coolers and other equipment to keep dairy products fresh) or to a regional Food Bank (money will be directed for the purchase of milk and dairy products). Honorable mention recipients received a $500 prize.
“Throughout 2020, and despite its many challenges, our dairy farmers continue to produce high-quality milk, while remaining committed to the care of their animals, their land, and being a good neighbor to their local communities,” said Rick Naczi, CEO of American Dairy Association North East. “The Dairying for Tomorrow Awards were designed to help recognize these efforts.”
Read on to learn more about our 2020 Dairying for Tomorrow Award winner and honorable mention farm families!
Overall Winner: Worth the Wait Farm — Stevens, Pennsylvania
Worth the Wait Farm is home to 150 acres of owned and rented land located in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The land has been in the Landis family for seven generations. Christian and Laura Landis have taken many extra measures to ensure their farm is environmentally sustainable for future generations. They plant cover crops and no-till the land and have installed a manure pit for better waste management. The farm participates in the Turkey Hill Dairy Clean Water Partnership, a collaboration throughout the dairy supply chain that leads to multiple environmental improvements. Their new heifer barn prevents stormwater runoff.
Honorable Mention: Mt-Glen Farms — Columbia Cross Roads, Pennsylvania
Owned and operated by Dean and Rebecca Jackson, conservation has been advancing at Mt-Glen Farms for three generations. The Jacksons employ a number of cutting edge conservation practices: No-till crop production with cover crops to improve soil health while protecting water quality, manure/wastewater handling facilities, and riparian area management with trees planted on 40 acres near a creek. Solar panels fulfill two-thirds of the farm’s energy needs. In January 2020, the farm was awarded the prestigious, national 2019 Leopold Conservation Award.
Honorable Mention: Walmoore Holsteins — West Grove, Pennsylvania
Established in 1909, Walmoore Holsteins is owned and operated by fourth generation dairy farmer Walt Moore. The centennial farm practices sand separation as part of their nutrient management program, creates healthy soil through no-till and cover crops, and uses buffer strips and recycles water as part of their water conservation efforts. Walmoore Holsteins are always looking for what they can do next to protect the environment, and practice energy conservation with use of LED lights, solar panels and plate cooler.
Overall Winner: Dutch Hollow — Schodack Landing, New York
Dutch Hollow Farm LLC is a family-owned dairy farm operated by three generations of the Chittenden family. From hosting Virtual Farm Tours with the purpose of entertaining and informing school students stuck at home because of the pandemic to lifting spirits of a very sick Pennsylvania child who loves cows with a special video of calves and reaching out to neighbors in the surrounding community with newsletters to sharing current events of the farm on social media channels, the Chittendens routinely provide positive examples of not only how farms care for their animals, community and environment, but also how to positively engage and communicate with people outside of agriculture in order to help bridge the gap and foster better relationships. Through their open house and relationships with local schools, the Chittendens have built a trust with parents and kids about the importance of local food and farms, and the need for a community to support them. Dutch Hallow Farms has become a valuable resource for information to the community.
Honorable Mention: Bradley Dairy Farm — Athens, Pennsylvania
Bradley Dairy Farms is owned and operated by second generation dairy farmer Mark Bradley in partnership with his father. Bradley is a dairy education advocate. He hosts Farm Tours to students of all ages and community groups. Tour stations are arranged at strategic locations for on-farm visits with a dairy message and activity at each station. Bradley brings calves to public settings such as schools, libraries, and preschools for meet and greet, and gives classroom presentations about dairy. Bradley also started an Adopt a Calf program for classrooms as a way of introducing students firsthand to farming. Bradley is passionate about sharing the story of dairy farming in person, in newsletters and on social media, and Bradley never turns away an opportunity to talk about being a dairy farmer or what life is like on his dairy farm.
Honorable Mention: Brooms Bloom Dairy — Bel Air, Maryland
Broom’s Bloom Dairy is owned and operated by the 9th generation of the Dallam family. Taking pride in their profession as farmers, the Dallams are enthusiastic about talking with the public about the benefits of dairy. From hosting farm tours for schools and community groups to being involved on social media, they have committed countless hours to engage dairy consumers. David and Katharine Dallam and their family go to extra lengths to make sure their farm, on-farm store and iconic ice cream shop allows their customers to have a positive experience and better understanding of where their food comes from and take steps to educate consumers about how the cows are cared for and why their farm uses certain practices. With social media playing such a strong role in consumers’ buying choices, the Dallams are helping to uphold the positive image of dairy farming and health benefits of dairy products through their social media channels.
Overall Winner: Musser-Ridge — Newmanstown, Pennsylvania
At Musser-Ridge Farm, Jerry and Edna are at the center of a multi-generational farm where a caring attitude toward cows is a must and cows are the number one priority. Calf care is key at the Musser farm with Edna being the main calf manager/feeder. The nurturing is present from birth and extends through every stage of life. The farm’s new free-stall barn was built with cows’ maximum comfort in mind with extra wide stalls, additional lounge space and deep sand bedding. All cow alley ways are rubber matted for good traction and additional comfort. Large ceiling fans, sprinkler and automatic barn curtains provide a constantly comfortable environment. The farm also installed a system to better monitor cow health and reproduction.
Honorable Mention: Reyncrest — Corfu, New York
Reyncrest Farm is a 3rd generation family farm milking 1,200 registered Holsteins. From the minute a calf is born on the farm until an animal leaves the farm, the Reynolds family takes steps in their management, feeding, facilities, day to day procedures, and treatments to ensure that their cattle are healthy, comfortable, and productive. The calf barn has ventilation tubes and fans to provide constant fresh air. An expanded milking parlor gives cows more time in their free stalls. The newest free-stall barn has deep bedded sand stalls, large fans, a sprinkler system and rubber flooring in the feed alley where the cows stand to eat. Older barns have expanded stall size and water beds. Activity monitors have helped track cow health and activity.
Honorable Mention: Valley-Ho — Middletown, Maryland
Valley Ho is a four-generation family farm, with Chris and Jamie Derr taking over the farm operations in 2013. The Derrs take pride in caring for their animals, knowing they are providing nutritious dairy products for their community and world, and have implemented practices and protocols in the best interest of their animals. The Derrs built a freestall barn with cow comfort in mind, having added a holding area to the milking parlor and built a bedded pack pen. The Derrs work routinely with their veterinarian, nutritionist, and hoof trimmer to make sure they are doing the best for their animals. Valley Ho recently went through an animal care evaluation and their animal scores met or exceeded industry baselines showing that the Derrs’ animals are well cared for. Along with their two young sons, Levi and Zachary, Chris and Jamie put in the work to make sure their animals come first.
