Passing the Baton: Rodenbaugh Officially Appointed DFA’s New CEO

At the recent Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) Board of Directors meeting, the board completed the transition of Dennis Rodenbaugh being appointed as DFA’s president and chief executive officer. After 16 years of service, Rick Smith officially stepped down from this position on June 30.

Rodenbaugh says he is excited about the future of DFA.

“We are fully positioned with a great team and the talent in place to drive DFA forward to maximize value for our farmer-owners,” Rodenbaugh said. “DFA’s core focus will always be on marketing its members’ milk. As I work with my leadership team on strategic imperatives, a focus on investment, innovation, valuing our members and advocating for their ability to achieve their goals are just a few tenets of my vision for future success. Our farmer ownership, alongside our infrastructure, offers the opportunity and motivation for us to position dairy as the sustainable source of nutrition to feed a global population.”

Since joining DFA in 2007, Rodenbaugh has served in a broad range of leadership roles, including vice president and chief operating officer of the Mideast, Mountain and Western Areas. In recent years, he was named executive vice president of DFA and president of council operations and Ingredient Solutions. He was responsible for overseeing U.S. milk marketing and Farm Services, along with the 23 commercial manufacturing plants and marketing operations of DFA’s Global Ingredient Solutions Division.

Rodenbaugh also serves as chairman of Newtrient, on the executive board of directors for National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), on the executive committee and as a board member for International Dairy Foods Association, and on the boards for several other DFA fluid milk affiliates. Before joining DFA, Dennis had an extensive background in banking and finance, as well as ownership and management of dairy farms and other agribusinesses.

“Dennis has been with DFA for 15 years, but before that, he was a dairy farmer, so he knows first-hand what dairying is all about,” Randy Mooney, chairman of DFA’s Board of Directors and a dairy farmer from Rogersville, Mo., says. “He has shown time and time again his dedication to our farmer-owners and has a strong vision for DFA’s future. For these reasons and many more, I am confident and excited about the future under Dennis’s leadership.”

Rodenbaugh says he looks forward to working with everyone under the DFA umbrella.

“I look forward to working with our farmer-leaders, members and DFA employees across the Cooperative to ensure we remain true to our purpose — delivering value to our family-farm owners and ensuring DFA is at the forefront of where our members need us and where consumers expect us — today and into the future,” Rodenbaugh says.