The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is seeking nominations for the 2025 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year Award. The deadline to submit nominations is Oct. 25, 2024.
Past recipients of this award can be described as clever, creative, and leading edge. A past IDFA Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year award recipient, Melissa Hildebrand-Reed, owner of Hildebrand Farms Dairy in Junction City, Kan., says they just try to dial in on efficiencies and be better every single day.
The twenty-seventh annual Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year award is co-sponsored by IDFA and Dairy Herd Management magazine. IDFA and Dairy Herd Management seek nominations of active U.S. dairy farms that have embraced innovation and technology, as well as industry collaboration and partnerships, to achieve greater productivity and growth.
Nominees will be judged on current methods as well as their positioning to meet future economic and business challenges. The winning operation will be highlighted in the January 2025 issue of Dairy Herd Management magazine and recognized during Dairy Forum 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.
Criteria
Those nominating farms and/or operations must describe:
- Use of technology or partnerships to enhance farm efficiency, sustainability and growth opportunities for the farm.
- Preparedness to meet future economic and business challenges.
- Distinctive practices that set the operation apart from peers.
- Community involvement and impact.
- Any other acknowledgements or achievements the judges should consider.
Submissions
- Complete the 2025 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year nomination form here.
- Additional information including letters of recommendation may be attached to the nomination form.
- There is no fee to enter.
- Submit nominations to Jessica Matsko at jmatsko@idfa.org.
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