2023 YC Dairy Policy & Legislative Forum

Young Cooperators

2023 DAIRY POLICY & LEGISLATIVE FORUM

COMMITED

TO AMERICA’S FARMERS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES

At Farm Credit, we are dedicated to working in partnership with our customers, as we have for more than 100 years.

About Us

Established in 1916 and based in Arlington, Virginia, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) carries out policies that advance the well-being of American dairy farmers. The members of NMPF’s member cooperatives produce the majority of the U.S. milk supply, making NMPF the voice of dairy farmers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies.

NMPF has been one of the country’s most recognized and influential membership organizations for over 100 years. Advocating policies determined by its members, the positions expressed by NMPF are the result of grassroots work by dairy farmers on federal policy issues.

Since 1950, the National Young Cooperators (YC) Program has provided up-and-coming leaders with a better understanding of issues facing farmers and their cooperatives. Through webinars and in-person events, the program aims to educate and build leadership abilities in the next generation of dairy farmers.

Schedule of Events

SUNDAY, JUNE 4

4:00 – 5:00 PM

Registration Salon 3 Foyer

5:00 – 6:00 PM

MONDAY, JUNE 5

7:00 – 8:00 AM

Happy Hour

Santé at The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City

8:00 – 9:00 AM

Registration Salon 3 Foyer

Welcome Breakfast

Salon 2

With remarks from Lorilee Schultz, Milk-R-Mor FarmPrairie Farms Inc.

9:00 – 9:30 AM

Capitol Hill Crash Course

Salon 3

Chris Galen, NMPF

Dairy farmers’ interests have been represented by NMPF on Capitol Hill for over 100 years. In this session, you’ll learn about the organization’s scope of work, policy priorities, leadership, grassroots structure and the role of YCs in the organization’s membership.

9:30 – 10:00 AM

Farming and the Future: Why Political Engagement Matters

Salon 3

Mary Knigge, Dairy Farmers of America

Political participation helps local, state and federal governments understand what constituents want and allows people to make sure the government is fulfilling its role. This session will cover what dairy farmers’ role

in the policymaking process is, what is expected from YCs during their time in D.C. (and beyond) and why it’s important that dairy farmers become – and stay –politically engaged.

Break

Dairy Issues Breakdown

Salon 3

Paul Bleiberg, Claudia Larson, Shawna Morris, NMPF

Join NMPF’s subject matter experts for a deep dive into the issues that you’ll be discussing with members of Congress and their staffs during your visit to Capitol Hill.

What to Expect on Capitol Hill

Salon 3

Tony Rice, NMPF

Before putting what you’ve learned into practice, learn the basics of what to expect when visiting Capitol Hill to ensure you have a successful visit. This session will cover the appropriate attire for meetings, getting to and from Capitol Hill, the suggested meeting format and next steps after your meeting.

Advocacy 101 Panel

Salon 3

Moderated by Alan Bjerga, NMPF; Panelists include Steve Etka, Midwest Dairy Coalition; Lindsay Reames, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association; and Dan Coyne, Northwest Dairy Association

Learn from policy experts about relationship building, what makes a successful, memorable meeting and tips for how dairy farmers can most effectively communicate about their issues. The panel will include a mock meeting to observe how the experts handle difficult questions and reinforce key messages.

Lunch

Salon 2

The Power of Storytelling for Advocacy

Salon 3

Gary Matteson, Farm Credit Council

Whether you’re talking to congressional offices, local media, community groups or a friend, stories help us

2:30 - 3:00 PM

make connections and demonstrate our values. During this session, we’ll cover how to create and share your personal story to be a powerful advocate for dairy.

Mock Meetings

Salon 3

Meet the group you’ll be joining for your Hill visits and practice your storytelling and advocacy skills with NMPF staff during these mock meetings.

3:00 - 4:00 PM

Break

Co-op coordinators and Hill meeting chaperones to meet briefly between 3:00 - 3:30 PM in the Board Room

4:00 - 8:30 PM

Evening Tour, Drinks and Dinner

Downtown Washington, D.C.

TUESDAY, JUNE 6

8:00 – 9:00 AM

Breakfast

Salon 2

9:00 – 9:45 AM 9:45 - 10:30 AM

Fireside Chat with Rep. David Valadao

Salon 3

Moderated by Jim Mulhern, NMPF

During a facilitated Q&A session, Rep. David Valadao, R-CA, Congress’ only dairy farmer and a former Young Cooperator, will share what sparked his interest in politics, how he’s developed as a leader since first being elected to Congress in 2013, why it’s important that dairy farmers are politically engaged, and what he thinks dairy’s biggest challenges will be in the next few years and beyond.

Advocacy from Home: Opportunities for Continued Involvement

Salon 3

Paul Hansen and Chad Metzler, Land O’Lakes, Inc.

The fun doesn’t stop here. There are many ways dairy farmers can influence policy, at all levels of government, from the comfort of their own home. During

10:30 – 11:00 AM

11:00 – 11:30 AM

this session we’ll learn how to stay informed and engaged on dairy policy issues after leaving Washington, D.C.

Break

Advocacy and Leadership Lessons

Salon 3

Randy Mooney, Mooney Dairy - Dairy Farmers of America

Missouri dairy farmer Randy Mooney will wrap up the forum on a personal note, sharing his leadership experience as chairman of NMPF for the last 15 years. Mooney will share how he got started, what inspired him to seek out leadership roles and how the skills he’s developed and experiences he’s had as chairman of NMPF and Dairy Farmers of America have enhanced his life.

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM 12:30 - 5:30 PM 5:30 - 6:30 PM

Lunch Salon 2

Meetings with Members of Congress, Staff

Capitol Hill

Board of Directors Reception Ambassador

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7

7:00 – 8:30 AM

Congressional Breakfast Diplomat

8:30 AM – 12:00 PM 12:00 – 1:00 PM

NMPF Board of Directors Meeting Salon 3

NMPF Board of Directors Lunch Diplomat

The Ritz Carlton - Pentagon City

LEVEL 1 FLOOR PLAN

LEVEL 2 FLOOR PLAN

Speakers

CHRIS GALEN

Sr. Vice President of Membership Services and Strategic Initiatives, NMPF

Chris is responsible for ensuring that NMPF’s members derive value from their membership and that NMPF is effective in engaging other dairy, ag and food organizations. This includes overseeing the delivery of outstanding member services while also creating and strengthening relationships with stakeholders.

MARY KNIGGE

Vice President of Government Relations, DFA

Mary advocates on behalf of DFA’s farmer owners on Capitol Hill and with government agencies. In her role, she aids DFA’s legislative affairs team in efforts to support dairy policy. Previously, Mary spent eight years working for House Agriculture Committee Chair and Ranking Member Collin Peterson where she was the lead staffer for the livestock subcommittee.

PAUL BLEIBERG

Sr. Vice President of Government Relations, NMPF Paul leads NMPF’s policy and advocacy efforts before Congress and works closely with various federal agencies. During his tenure at NMPF, Bleiberg has worked with the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to enact major dairy policy reforms, including in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, 2018 Farm Bill, and multiple COVID response packages.

CLAUDIA LARSON, PHD

Sr. Director of Government Relations, NMPF

Claudia leads advocacy work on a wide range of issues, including agricultural labor reform and workforce issues, nutrition policy and programs, and rural broadband development. Larson played an active role in crafting and advancing the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act and building support for NMPF’s child nutrition priorities.

SHAWNA MORRIS

Sr. Vice President of Trade Policy, NMPF

Shawna leads NMPF’s efforts to advance dairy trade policies through work with the U.S. and foreign governments as well as with domestic and international allied organizations to maximize U.S. dairy export opportunities, promote a more balanced playing global field for the U.S. dairy sector, and address policy-related barriers around the world.

TONY RICE Manager of Trade Policy, NMPF

Tony Rice works with NMPF’s Trade Policy team to develop, implement and communicate NMPF’s work to support policies that promote U.S. dairy exports, seek removal of policies that impede those exports and address foreign barriers to U.S. dairy sales. Tony also manages supply chain policy for NMPF and the U.S. Dairy Export Council.

ALAN BJERGA

Sr. Vice President of Communications, NMPF

Alan leads NMPF’s communications efforts with a focus on digital storytelling, media relations and marketing. He is both the author of NMPF’s Dairy Defined thought leadership series and the host of its “Dairy Defined” podcast, exploring issues of interest to agriculture and the domestic and global food systems. Bjerga previously worked at Bloomberg News.

STEVE ETKA

Policy Director, Midwest Dairy Coalition

Steve represents the Midwest Dairy Coalition on federal dairy policy issues. On a regional basis, the coalition’s membership represents a majority of the dairy farms in the Upper Midwest and provides an effective forum for dairy organizations to discuss, debate and propose common policy action dealing with the ever-changing federal dairy issues.

LINDSAY REAMES

Executive Vice President of Sustainability and External Relations, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative

Lindsay leads the development and execution of MD-VA’s sustainability, marketing and communications initiatives. In this role she adds value to customer relationships through a sustainability model, which allows the supply chain to reach its sustainability goals together.

DAN COYNE

Lobbyist, Darigold

Dan Coyne is responsible for federal government affairs for Northwest Dairy Association/ Darigold, Inc. He has lobbied in some capacity for the co-op for more than 25 years. Coyne began his dairy career in 1968 milking cows for a Darigold producer. In 1981, he was appointed executive director of the Washington State Dairy Federation, a position he held for 10 years.

GARY MATTESON

Vice President of Beginning Farmer Programs and Outreach, Farm Credit Council

Gary is an advocate for young, beginning, small, and minority farmer outreach programs. This includes work on emerging opportunities in local foods, direct-to-consumer agriculture, and generational transition of farm businesses. For thirty years Gary was a farmer raising greenhouse wholesale cut flowers.

REP. DAVID VALADAO

U.S. Congressman, California’s 22nd District Rep. David Valadao , R-CA, was born and raised in the center of the agriculturally rich 22nd Congressional District. As a lifelong resident of the Central Valley, he has been active in agriculture and dairy industry groups. Valadao’s father started a small dairy farm in the Central Valley in 1973. The family business now consists of two dairies and 1,000 acres of farmland.

JIM MULHERN

President and CEO, NMPF

Jim Mulhern, an agriculture and food policy strategist with more than 35 years of experience working with policymakers and media, became NMPF’s President and Chief Executive Officer in 2014. He directs NMPF’s work on wide-ranging, critical issues including trade policy, immigration reform, the farm bill, environmental policy and much more.

PAUL HANSEN

Manager of Leader Development, Land O’Lakes

Paul leads Land O’Lakes’ Leader Development Program, which provides opportunities for cooperative members to gain new skills and experiences to prepare them for leadership roles. Prior to joining Land O’Lakes in 2015, Paul spent 16 years working for Cargill managing the development, engagement, budget, resource planning and project scoping for a global team.

CHAD METZLER

Director of Federal Government and Industry Relations, Land O’Lakes

Chad leads Land O’Lakes’ D.C. office, lobbying Capitol Hill and the agencies on Land O’Lakes federal priorities. He joined Land O’Lakes in November after a 27 year career in public service. Most of that was as a Senate Legislative Director, but he spent the last two years at the White House Office of Legislative Affairs.

RANDY MOONEY

Chairman, NMPF

Randy and his wife, Jan, operate Mooney Dairy in Rogersville, Missouri. He was elected chairman of NMPF in 2008, and later elected chair of Dairy Farmers of America’s Board of Directors in 2010. Randy also serves on the boards of Missouri State Milk Board, Dairy Management Inc., Hiland Dairy and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.

MEET THE 2023 YC ADVISORY COUNCIL

NATE CARLSON

Northwest Dairy Association

Nate is a dairy farmer in Addy, Washington where he and his family milk 140 Holstein and Jersey cows, farm 1,300 acres, run 140 cow/calf pairs and manage a 400-head feed lot. When he’s not busy at Carlson Farms, Nate is a member of his local school board, where he has served for 15 years, and is active in Northwest Dairy Association’s YC Program.

RACHEL HOLTZ

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc.

Rachel manages Willow Bend Farm, LLC in Penn Yan, New York. The farm is home to 5,200 cows and 4,800 young stock across three sites in the Finger Lakes. Willow Bend also manages 9,000 acres of crops. Rachel has been involved with a number of dairy leadership programs including the Young Dairy Leaders Institute and Dairy Girl Network.

ISABEL MULLIN Agri-Mark

Isabel Mullin is a dairy farmer in the coastal town of Kittery, Maine, where she milks 80 cows in a tie-stall facility, raises 80 heifers and farms 300 acres. Through her involvement in the National YC Program, Isabel hopes to “learn as much about the industry as possible” in order to “contribute to it in the long run.”

CARL & HEATHER OLSON

First District Association

Carl and Heather milk 130 cows and farm 400 acres at Sunny Side Dairy in Mayer, Minnesota. They both serve in several leadership positions including roles within the Minnesota Milk Producers Association, Farm Bureau, DHIA and First District Association. The pair recently started their own cheese company called Sunny Side Creamery.

KATELYN PACKARD

Michigan Milk Producers Association

Katelyn works alongside four business partners on Horning Farms LLC, a multi-generational dairy in Manchester, Michigan. The farm milks 400 cows and farms 1,000 acres. Katelyn is the dairy superintendent for her county’s 4-H Youth Show and coaches the local 4-H Dairy quiz bowl, judging, and skillathon teams.

LORILEE SCHULTZ

Prairie Farms

Lorilee milks 60 registered Holsteins and manages over 200 acres at Mil-R-Mor Farm in Orangeville, Illinois. She has been involved in a multitude of leadership and community activities and is passionate about teaching kids about agriculture. She recently interacted with more than 200,000 school children through the Adopt-A-Cow program.

AMBER & BEN SELMAN

Prairie Farms

Amber and Ben milk 60 Holstein and Jersey cows, farm 1,500 acres of crops and manage a 250-head cow/calf beef herd in Maquoketa, Iowa. The farm focuses on genetics and breeding, calf care and milk production. The pair both hold degrees in Dairy Science from Iowa State University and met while on a dairy-focused trip to New Zealand.

JUSTIN & HANNAH WATT

Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Co-op

Justin and Hannah are dairy farmers in Keymar, Maryland where they milk 280 Holsteins and farm 700 acres at Cedar Knoll Dairy LLC. The pair has been extensively involved in various leadership and community activities including roles with their cooperative, Farm Bureau, the Holstein Association and many more.

Join the YC Advisory Council

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE YC ADVISORY COUNCIL?

The Advisory Council helps guide the National YC Program toward its stated mission by providing key information and making recommendations on topics and activities of interest to YCs. The Advisory Council is responsible for sharing topic and speaker recommendations for the YC Leadership & Development Program, the program’s monthly webinars and for the YC Dairy Policy & Legislative Forum.

WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO SERVE AS A YC ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER?

Each NMPF member cooperative is eligible to have at least one seat on NMPF’s YC Advisory Council. To be eligible for participation, the Advisory Council member must meet the following criteria:

• Nomination by NMPF member cooperative

• Employment on and/or ownership of a dairy farm that is a member of one of NMPF’s member cooperatives

• Approval from member cooperative

WHAT IS REQUIRED OF AN ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER?

YC Advisory Council members are nominated by their cooperative to serve a one year term. The 2024 YC Advisory Council term will begin at the YC Leadership and Development Program in Nov. 2023 and end in Oct. 2024.

Advisory Council members are expected to participate in two 90-minute virtual planning meetings during the year, attend at least two in-person events and complete at least two of the following:

• Submit an article to a dairy publication

• Be interviewed for an NMPF Farmer Focus feature

• Write a letter to an elected official

• Participate in media training

Please contact your cooperative’s YC coordinator with any questions, and to apply for the 2024 Advisory Council.

Join

Save the Dates!

YCS AT WORLD DAIRY EXPO

Seminar and Reception

Oct. 5, 2023

Madison, Wisconsin

YOUNG FARMERS FORUM AT THE IDF

WORLD DAIRY SUMMIT

Reception, Panel Discussion and Luncheon

Oct. 17-18, 2023

Chicago, Illinois

YC LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Leadership Development Event

Nov. 12-13, 2023

Orlando, Florida

YCS AT THE MILK BUSINESS CONFERENCE

Discounted Registration and YC Reception

Nov. 28-30, 2023

Las Vegas, Nevada

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