As attendees soon gather at the Tanbark at World Dairy Expo to celebrate the illustrious career of Jim Mulhern being named World Dairy Expo’s 2025 Industry Person of the Year, one thing is very clear: his contributions to the U.S. dairy industry. With a relentless drive rooted in servant leadership principles, Mulhern’s 40-year legacy is one of transformative impact and unwavering dedication to U.S. dairy farm families.
A Career Steeped in Service
Mulhern’s journey began in the corridors of Capitol Hill, where he arrived in 1982. Shortly thereafter, in 1985, he began his first tenure with the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) by directing government affairs activities. His influence shaped NMPF’s strategic response to the farm crisis of the time.
Fast forward to 2013, Mulhern was entrusted to lead the organization through two farm bills and the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis. Under his leadership, NMPF adapted to an industry that had evolved remarkably since he first entered the field in 1979, working with a Midwest dairy cooperative.
Throughout his career, Mulhern has witnessed significant shifts within the dairy industry, particularly in farm numbers. Despite these changes, he maintained an optimistic outlook.
“Directing the policy efforts of the nation’s dairy farmers and their cooperatives has been the highlight of my professional career,” Mulhern tells Dairy Herd Management.
Honoring a Distinguished Career
Mulhern’s influence extends beyond public policy; he’s been a vital mediator between the dairy community and policymakers, articulating complex issues with clarity. Colleagues acclaim his collaborative nature and steadfast kindness, qualities that have left indelible marks on dairy and agricultural policy.
Previous Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack presented an award to Jim Mulhern “in recognition of your exemplary leadership and decades of service to the U.S. dairy community” at the 2023 International Dairy Federation’s World Dairy Summit in Chicago.
In the presentation, Vilsack noted Mulhern came from a working-class family of nine in Wisconsin and had learned the importance of hard work as a child. As a middle child, Vilsack said Mulhern had learned to be “an extraordinary listener” and “the value of compromise.”
Vilsack, who served as president of the U.S Dairy Export Council between his two terms as agriculture secretary, says the U.S. dairy industry punches above its weight in Washington and credited Mulhern with the development of the Dairy Margin Coverage Program. When the program did not work, Mulhern proposed “adjustments that needed to be made,” Vilsack said.
“There are producers today that may not understand the role of Mulhern, but they understand the significance of that program,” Vilsack said.
In recognition of his profound contributions receiving these big honors at World Dairy Expo, many leaders in the industry are applauding along. Mulhern’s achievements have been celebrated by many, including Michael Dykes, president of the International Dairy Foods Association.
“On behalf of the International Dairy Foods Association and our members across the dairy supply chain, I congratulate Jim Mulhern on being named World Dairy Expo’s Industry Person of the Year,” Dykes remarks. “Jim’s dedication and leadership have strengthened U.S. dairy for decades. He has been a valued partner and friend, and I am pleased to see him recognized with this well-deserved honor.”
Gregg Doud, president of National Milk Producers Federation says, “Jim Mulhern has been a stalwart for dairy for more than four decades, and the positive legacy he’s left is something I appreciate more fully every day that I work as his successor at NMPF. His many policy successes have improved dairy farmers’ prosperity and strengthened the entire industry, distinguished not only by its quality, but also by the thoughtful approach he always took toward all parties involved. He richly deserves any honors the industry awards him.”
NMPF Chairman Randy Mooney, a dairy farmer outside Rogersville, Mo., says, “Jim has been a leader, a visionary, and a friend to dairy, and through that, a leader in agriculture. The combination of his depth of knowledge, his energy and his unflagging passion for dairy producers is impossible to replace. His influence and achievements will resonate in this industry for years to come.”
Mulhern’s career exemplifies a blend of professional excellence and personal dedication— a true testament to the power of passionate leadership within the agricultural sector. His legacy will undoubtedly continue to shape and inspire the dairy community for generations to come.
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