thescoop - Winter 2022

HUMAN RESOURCES

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

2022 has been an all-hands-ondeck year for the talent acquisition and recruitment teams.

DAIRY BRANDS

SHELF-STABLE MILK CONTINUES TO GROW

DFA is expanding its capabilities for this in-demand type of processing and packaging.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT SCOTT WILSON, STEPHEN TUTTLE

LOOKING BACK ON 2022

Changes happened at every level of our Cooperative this year, and as we close out a monumental chapter and enter a milestone 25th year, we found it important to take a second and review some of our biggest accomplishments throughout 2022.

AN EVOLVED STRATEGIC PLAN

Every three to four years, the Board of Directors and DFA management meet to discuss and refresh DFA’s strategic plan — 2022 was one of those years. As Dennis Rodenbaugh stepped into his role as president and chief executive officer of DFA on June 30, it was the perfect time to reevaluate DFA’s strategic plan to maximize value for our farmerowners, employees, consumers and customers.

CONNECTING COMMUNITIES

Community is one of our Cooperative’s core values, and we went above and beyond in 2022 to build upon our efforts to give back through our DFA Cares Foundation.

milk moved by our dispatch, member services and hauling teams in DFA’s Southeast Area to ensure delivery before Hurricane Ian made landfall

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION (DEI)

DEI efforts continued to strengthen this year. Read more on page 10.

NEW PRODUCTS

Borden® first introduced Grilled Cheese Melts several years ago as individually wrapped cheese slices to enhance the delicious grilled cheese experience with a cheese that is extra gooey and melty. As a result of further consumer research and exploration, though, the brand team decided that this melty occasion is desired for more than just grilled cheeses, and introduced Borden Melts this year to meet consumers’ hot sandwich needs.

PROTECTING THE PLANET

NEW employee relief fund

For years, DFA Cares has provided disaster relief to our family farm-owners facing unexpected challenges. This year, we launched a similar program for employees — the DFA Cares Employee Relief Fund. This program’s purpose is to help employees cover sudden expenses in emergencies, such as natural disasters, home catastrophes, medical emergencies or funeral expenses.

NEW volunteer logging system

This year, we launched a new tool for employees to document their personal volunteer hours. It also allows us to get a better picture of our Cooperative’s charitable reach and ensures we are making an impact across diverse communities.

DFA wins USDA sustainability grant Teams across the Cooperative worked together in May to submit a proposal to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for DFA to receive grant funding for a pilot project, and the application was accepted. With the grant money, DFA will focus on reducing on-farm greenhouse gas emissions and developing and marketing low-carbon dairy products.

Expanding capabilities

DFA acquired two extended shelf-life (ESL) plants this year. Shelf-stable products are becoming increasingly popular with consumers.

• Richmond Beverage Solutions in Richmond, Ind.

• Pacific Dairy Solutions in Pacific, Mo.

FARM

THIS GENERATIONAL DAIRY FARM IN SHREVE, OHIO, IS A TRUE TEAM EFFORT

Kevin Spreng is no stranger to dairy. He was born and raised on a dairy farm, where he and his siblings grew up alongside their 60 Holstein cows. Now, alongside his wife, Kristy, and five kiddos, Kevin runs the family farm, Willow Brook Dairy. Today, the Sprengs milk 650 cows among a few herds in Shreve, Ohio.

Kevin works in partnership with his parents, as well as with other local dairymen. With so many herds to manage, it truly takes a team effort.

Kevin relies on a herd of experts, including his veterinarian, nutritionist, employees and fellow dairy farmers, he can call for ideas and advice or to ensure the job gets done.

Aside from tending to and caring for his cows and crops, Kevin is active in his local community, always willing to open up the farm to tours, especially for school-aged children.

Rotating through various stations of the farm, students listen to a calf’s heartbeat and learn about milk samples and farm safety, as well as careers in agriculture.

“Children learn with their hands, and our primary goal is to give kids a hands-on experience,” Kevin says.

THE CREAMERY HOLIDAY GIFT BOXES

The Creamery, our retail cheese store in Beaver, Utah, has the answers to all your holiday shopping needs. Just think cheese! DFA employees can get 10% off site-wide with discount code 22DFAEMP at thecreameryutah.com. Be sure to peruse The Creamery’s variety of holiday gift boxes featuring our farmerowned cheeses and the best local pairings, treats and creations of the Utah region.

To stay up to date on The Creamery’s newest products and sign up for its newsletter, visit thecreameryutah.com.

MILK AND COOKIES

The Creamery’s signature flavored shelfstable milks (chocolate, strawberry, root beer float and plain reduced fat) paired with assorted shortbread cookies.

Starting at $65

SPICY FAVORITES

For those who like a fiery kick, The Creamery’s signature spicy cheeses (jalapeño jack, fiery jack and green onion cheese), alongside local charcuterie selections. Starting at $80

CURD COLLECTION

Give the gift of squeaky cheese! The Creamery’s traditional cheddar, jalapeño, salsa and green onion cheese curds mean everyone has a flavor they’ll love.

Starting at $65

These are just a few of the gift boxes offered for the holidays!

SCHOLARSHIPS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS

For some DFA employees, we always knew we wanted a career in agriculture. For others, working in dairy is something we never expected — even if now we couldn’t imagine it any other way. We need accountants, scientists, engineers, computer technicians, market analysts, writers and so many more professionals to ensure families down the road and across the world are nourished with the goodness of dairy.

Do you know a student who could benefit from an opportunity in dairy?

DFA is investing in the next generation of leaders through multiple scholarship opportunities.

DFA Cares Foundation Scholarship Program

Since its inception 15 years ago, the DFA Cares Foundation Scholarship Program has grown to honor an increasing number of outstanding students who have an interest in the food and agriculture industries. In 2022, the DFA Cares scholarship committee selected 53 recipients, awarding $74,800 in total.

Partner scholarships

In 2022, DFA partnered with four national organizations — The National FFA Organization, INROADS, National Black MBA Association and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and

Related Sciences (MANRRS) — to broaden our network and invest in a more diverse set of talented students. We’re excited to build upon and expand these partnerships in 2023.

Through our partnerships with FFA, MANRRS, INROADS and National Black MBA Association, DFA awarded 21 students scholarships and grants totaling $27,000 in 2022.

How to apply

As DFA employees, you can spread the word about our DFA Cares and partner organizations’ scholarships to your network — whether it be to students, parents of students, our family farm-owners, school counselors and advisors or others.

The DFA Cares scholarship application is live now through Jan. 15, 2023. Students can apply or learn more at dfamilk.com.

The FFA scholarship application, which includes DFA’s sponsored scholarship, is also live now through Jan. 12, 2023. Students can apply or learn more at ffa.org.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Charitable Cheer

November 2022–January 2023

A time that DFA gives back to the community and celebrates our employees’ hard work and accomplishments.

Performance review discussions take place Jan. 6–20, 2023

Discussions for the annual performance review take place between employees and managers.

National Milk Day Jan. 11, 2023

The day many think the first milk deliveries in glass bottles began in the United States. Celebrate with an ice-cold glass of the good stuff.

DFA Cares scholarship applications due Jan. 15, 2023

Encourage students in your family or network to apply for a scholarship from the DFA Cares Foundation. Learn more at dfamilk.com.

Data Privacy Day Jan. 28, 2023

A day focused on empowering individuals to take action to safeguard their personal information and privacy.

HUMAN RESOURCES

TRUMOO IS THE PLAYFUL FLAVORED MILK BRAND FOR GEN Z

Lots of things stand out about the TruMoo® brand: Whether you’re admiring its clever name, the beloved jokes on the cartons served in school cafeterias nationwide or the rich cocoa flavor of its signature chocolate milk, it’s clear to all who love TruMoo why the brand has such a loyal following.

Launched in 2011, TruMoo was acquired by DFA in 2020 with the acquisition of a substantial portion of Dean Foods’ assets. Over the years, TruMoo has solidified its place as a kid-friendly, feelgood flavored milk brand with delicious chocolate, strawberry and colorful limited-edition flavored milks. It’s also well-known in school cafeterias, with distribution in schools in 33 states. While TruMoo is best known for its chocolate milks (which were recently reformulated and now taste better than ever!), its limited-edition flavors give families a fun way to celebrate holidays. Orange Cream milk spooks up grocery store shelves around Halloween and Vanilla Mint adds some festive cheer during the holiday season and St. Patrick’s Day. We don’t want to give too much away, but TruMoo will also launch a new flavored milk in the new year, with some flavor inspiration from everyone’s favorite caffeinated bean.

“What’s unique about TruMoo is its personality,” says Sharon Springborn, senior marketing director for TruMoo. “It’s perceived by consumers as youthful, outgoing, fun, trendy and modern. TruMoo is a fun-to-drink flavored milk that amplifies any mood.”

As part of a recent brand refresh, TruMoo is proud to call Trudy the cow its new mascot! You can find her on Instagram (@trumoo), Facebook (@TruMooMilk) and Twitter (@TruMooMilk) cracking jokes and telling the TruMoo story, as well as on cartons and jugs of all your favorite TruMoo products.

Want to support the beloved brand of DFA and our family farm-owners? Find TruMoo in a grocery store near you at trumoo.com/find-a-store.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

With nearly 18,000 employees, and more open positions to fill, 2022 has been an all-hands-on-deck year for the talent acquisition and recruitment teams and the teams they partner with. The good news is that, after two years of connecting with potential candidates virtually, the team was able to get back on the road to meet candidates at career fairs and for interviews when necessary.

Maggie Reyland, talent mobility manager, recruits for the Ingredient Solutions Division’s Experience program, a rotational role that allows professionals entering the workforce to gain exposure, experience and education across teams within the division in a two-year commercial or technical rotation.

“This fall, I visited nine universities and spoke to hundreds of students about DFA’s internship program and full-time roles, including our rotational program, Experience,” Maggie says. “The value of being on-campus and connecting with these students in-person, telling the DFA story and building excitement about our opportunities should lead to exceptional talent joining the Cooperative in 2023.”

From California to Pennsylvania and many universities in between, Maggie, along with others, visited approximately 23 colleges and universities this fall in an effort to connect with students about internships and full-time opportunities across the United States.

What’s unique about TruMoo is its personality - Sharon Springborn

Universities aren’t the only place the talent acquisition team reaches potential candidates. DFA locations looking to fill technical roles in manufacturing plants and labs have had the opportunity to host career fairs virtually and on-site to attract local talent through Indeed.com, an employment website where both employers and professionals connect with one another.

Michelle Roy, human resources (HR) manager at our Friendly’s® plant in Wilbraham, Mass., says virtual job fairs through Indeed.com have been a helpful recruitment tool.

“One benefit is on-the-spot interviews with HR, and then immediate scheduling of a second interview with a supervisor within a day or two,” Michelle says of Indeed’s virtual job fairs. “The Indeed team has been supportive and insightful with their recommendations for setting up the job fairs, so we have success filling the roles.”

Additionally, the talent acquisition and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) teams have collaborated to further expand our partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities and minorityserving organizations and institutions. The teams attended the National Black MBA Association Conference and represented DFA at their career expo in Atlanta, Ga., this fall, in addition to regional

meetings and career fairs with Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS).

Recruiting the best of the best to work alongside us as we deliver value to our family farm-owners and enrich

communities and consumers’ lives through all the possibilities of dairy is a job we can all take part in. If you have a friend, family member or professional connection who is interested in working at DFA, send them to dfamilk.com/careers to view openings across the country.

The value of being on-campus and connecting with these students in-person, telling the DFA story and building excitement about our opportunities should lead to exceptional talent joining the Cooperative in 2023.

- Maggie Reyland

Maggie Reyland, talent mobility manager, and Jaden Castinado, rotational commercial analyst, at Utah State University.

DFA 101: ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY

The Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Department works to keep us all safe. The employees that make up the department — from EHS coordinators to managers to directors — and their daily work are key to protecting our Cooperative and employees from injury and illness, as well as protecting the environment and our facilities from harm.

Day to day, the EHS Department ensures all areas of the Cooperative, including our manufacturing facilities, warehouses, laboratories and offices, comply with established safety standards and regulations, such as regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The department is made of four teams, all of which are crucial to safely producing dairy products:

ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS

partners with DFA’s engineers to ensure facilities’ equipment meets or exceeds standards

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

implements environmental policy and programs and trainings

Each of the four teams is responsible for a different area of EHS excellence, which is the department’s goal for DFA to achieve zero injuries to humans, zero impact to the environment and zero property damage to DFA’s physical assets.

One of the main functions of the EHS Department is to prevent accidents by devoting time and resources to hazard recognition and incident prevention at every level of the Cooperative. By doing this, the department reduces the cost to our Cooperative for every accident.

The EHS Department’s functions are crucial to the success of the Cooperative. Not only does the department ensure that employees can work safely and our family farm-owners can have peace of mind knowing their milk is going to plants with protocols in place, but the department’s work helps put dairy products on the tables of families everywhere.

SHARED SERVICES

provides current activity and performance-level reporting and visibility

SAFETY MANAGEMENT

establishes safety and health policies and programs, including OSHA compliance

“I am very proud of the EHS team that helps DFA to produce wholesome dairy products safely,” says Blane Morgan, assistant vice president of EHS. “EHS excellence is entirely about preventing potential injury to employees, preserving the environment of the communities in which we operate and prolonging the life of DFA-owned equipment and facilities.”

SHELF-STABLE PRODUCTS CONTINUE TO GROW

When it comes to milk, good things come in all packages — whether jug, traditional carton or more recently: shelf-stable cartons and cans.

Aseptic and extended shelf-life (ESL) processes that make milk shelf-stable are a natural fit in DFA’s processing capabilities and support our vision of creating new demand by delivering all the possibilities of dairy. To make milk shelf stable, ultrahigh temperature (UHT) pasteurization heats milk to approximately 300 degrees Fahrenheit. It then gets bottled in bacteria-proof packages, ensuring the product will last on shelves and remain safe to drink at a later time.

DFA acquired two ESL plants in August to add to our facilities that support these processes. The two facilities — Richmond Beverage Solutions in Richmond, Ind., and Pacific Dairy Solutions in Pacific, Mo., — are part of our Dairy Brands Division.

“The team here at Richmond Beverage Solutions are all very excited about the acquisition and the future with DFA Dairy Brands,” says Kenneth Davidson, plant manager at Richmond Beverage Solutions, which produces ESL and aseptic products. “We are looking forward to continuing to grow and improve with the help of the many experts and resources that DFA has. We are all very passionate about what we do and what we provide to our customers and consumers.”

The innovative type of packaging used in ESL processing is at the forefront of what consumers and customers want — thanks to its convenience and quality.

“To the consumer, this means a cleaner and better-quality product,” Kenneth says. “To our customers, this means a longer time they can store it before placing it on their store shelves, which helps them to keep a constant supply without shortages of a specific product. With today’s freight charges and supply chain difficulties, this is becoming more and more important.”

This type of packaging also creates flexibility for consumers, says Lori Nitz, national sales manager at St. Paul Beverage Solutions in St. Paul, Minn. “With the longer shelf life, consumers can shop from a wider array of options. The dairy case is no longer limited to what the store can source within a limited geographical area,” she says.

DFA PLANTS PRODUCING SHELF-STABLE MILK

CUMBERLAND DAIRY

Bridgeton, N.J.

Produces: fluid milk, cream, ice cream mix and other ESL beverages

PACIFIC DAIRY SOLUTIONS

Pacific, Mo.

Produces: ESL ice cream and shake mixes for food service customers

RICHMOND BEVERAGE SOLUTIONS

Richmond, Ind.

Produces: ice cream and shake mixes for retail and food service customers, and ESL dairy and non-dairy beverages

ST. PAUL BEVERAGE

St. Paul, Minn.

SOLUTIONS

Produces: aseptic beverages, fluid milk and other ESL beverages

STREMICKS HERITAGE FOODS™

Cedar City, Utah

Joplin, Mo.

Riverside, Calif.

Santa Ana, Calif.

Produces: dairy and other ESL beverages

MAKING STRIDES IN 2022

Fostering a work environment to be diverse in perspective, equitable in practice and inclusive in nature is a continuous journey — not a destination — and we want DFA to be a workplace where each employee feels valued and purposeful. This past year, we all have made tremendous strides in the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) space. Join the DEI team, DEI Advisory Council and ambassadors in celebrating the big wins of 2022:

Launched an Employee Resource Group for growing professionals and for multicultural employees — with groups for veterans, women and more demographics on the way. Added 13 ambassadors to the DEI Advisory Council for a total of 28 council members going into the 2023 term.

Awarded 21 scholarships to diverse students studying disciplines than can benefit the food and agriculture industries.

Enhanced imagery across Cooperative branding to be more representative of the diversity of our people and communities.

Strengthened and expanded partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions and organizations to attract more diverse talent.

Mark your calendars

Dec. 18–26: Hanukkah

Dec. 25: Christmas Dec. 26–Jan. 1: Kwanzaa

Jan. 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Jan. 22: Lunar New Year

February: Black History Month

IT TAKES INCLUSION

We’ve talked about diversity; we’ve talked about the difference between equity and equality. Now — what exactly is inclusion?

Our DEI team often references the metaphor from American activist Verna Myers that diversity is being invited to the party and inclusion is being asked to dance. While that’s a great way to think about the two pillars, it’s also important to recognize that diversity is a fact and inclusion is a choice.

Fostering inclusion is not only inviting someone new or different to a conversation, but also asking for their perspective, taking it into consideration and exploring new ideas with an open mind. Leading with inclusion takes practice and effort — it’s easier said than done. But the more we learn, the more open-minded we will become, creating a more welcoming and inclusive work environment for our co-workers and ourselves.

A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT AND CEO DENNIS RODENBAUGH

“Each individual in the DFA community brings unique experiences, attributes and core capabilities to the Cooperative. My goal is that everyone is not only welcomed, valued and heard, but they can absolutely recognize and feel this in our culture on a daily basis and are able to share their unique experiences and perspectives while participating in strengthening our business.

As the new year brings new opportunities, I encourage us all to be intentional with how we embrace diversity and foster inclusion as we come together with our shared values of providing services to our farmer-owners. Whether opening up your annual planning meetings to more individuals or taking time to show others your appreciation, it takes all of us to continue this journey of creating a culture where we attract, welcome and include the diverse talent of others.”

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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

STEPHEN TUTTLE & SCOTT WILSON

Scott Wilson and Stephen Tuttle have both worked as route drivers at DFA’s Meadow Gold® Dairy plant in Missoula, Mont., for more than 40 years — with perfect attendance to boot.

Day to day, the two work long hours, usually starting anywhere from midnight–3 a.m., to drop off milk at their customers’ locations. Both Stephen and Scott can agree on two things they love about their jobs: the physical demands of loading and unloading products that keep them on their feet and working for a farmer-owned Cooperative.

“I like that I’m out and about each day,” Stephen says. “I like all of my customers, and they’re good people. The physical

aspect of my job has kept me in shape over the years, and I get to meet new and interesting people all the time.”

Scott says he has built strong relationships with each of his customers, and he looks forward to seeing them each shift.

“I like the people that I take care of,” Scott says. “I have such good people on my route. Currently, I serve several schools, some retail locations and restaurants nearby. My relationship with our customers means more to me in a lot of ways than the money I get paid.”

Both Stephen and Scott say that working for a farmer-owned Cooperative motivates them to go above and beyond.

“I really appreciate that all the hard work we do is for farmers who also work hard each day,” Stephen says. “DFA has done a good job of providing us with nice, new and dependable equipment — we’re out there on the roads, and Montana can have some pretty hairy winters. It makes me feel valued as an employee to have an updated truck and proper equipment.”

Scott says he has also noticed and appreciates the culture of respect for employees fostered by DFA.

“I like the way we’re treated by DFA,” Scott says. “I come from farming country, so I like the fact that I’m working for farmers each day.”

My relationship with our customers means more to me in a lot of ways than the money I get paid.

- Scott Wilson

I really appreciate that all the hard work we do is for farmers who also work hard each day.

- Stephen Tuttle