F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 0M A R C H 2 0 1 0d E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 1

Is It sprIng yet?

As we discussed last month, after considerable study, the Board’s Governance Committee redrew the co-op’s district boundaries, setting them up to follow county lines. As they did this, they took into account the number of members, farms and milk pounds in each county, with the goal of distributing them more evenly among the Districts. As you can see by the map on Pg. 3, the number of districts has been reduced from 13 to 10. The process of converting from 13 district directors to 10 will take three years to fully realize as the existing Board members will be serving out their remaining terms.

Another key step will be the gradual addition to the Board of three At-Large Directors, who will provide even more representation for the membership. At its most recent meeting, the co-op’s Board approved the qualifications and set the guidelines by which the first At-Large Director will be nominated and elected.

• Nominations for the first At-Large Director will be taken at the March 24th Swiss Valley District Representative meeting.

• All people nominated for At-Large Director will provide a brief bio of themselves and their operation within two weeks of the district rep meeting.

• Their photos and informa-tion will be listed in the May issue of the Dairyman, giving the entire co-op membership the opportunity to get to know them.

• The Governance Committee will create questions to be answered

by each candidate. The questions will be finalized by the Governance Committee in summer 2011.

• Nominated individuals will have their informational interview published in the November 2011 Dairyman.

• Voting for At-Large Directors will take place at the 2011 District meetings using ballots. Members must attend a district meeting in order to vote for an At-Large Director. Results of the election will be announced at the next Board meeting after the last District meeting and in the Dairyman.

• The new At-Large Director will attend the annual meeting in February 2012.

• The Governance Committee of the Board will review on an annual basis the qualifications and the nomination and election process for At-Large Directors and reserves the right to make changes to these in the future.

I encourage each member to consider whether he or she would

at-large directors byDonBoelens

Published Monthly by:

swiss Valley Farms cooperative

P.O. Box 4493 Davenport, IA 52808

563.468.6600 FAX 563.468.6616

www.swissvalley.com

Nancy FeeneyEditor/ Member Relations Mgr.

Swiss Valley Farms, Co. will produce, distribute and sell value-added, quality products for our:

Customers & ConsumersOwner/MembersWorkforce

Swiss Valley Board OfficersChairPam Bolin................................................Clarksville, IAVice ChairRandy Schaefer....................................Blue Grass, IAAssistant SecretaryJeff Nimtz...............................................Monticello, WIAssistant TreasurerJames Schmitt.............................................Sherrill, IA

swiss Valley directorsLoyde M. Beers.......................................Eastman, WISteve Klug.....................................Spring Grove, MNdale Humpal.........................................Ridgeway, IAFrancis Leibfried..................................Cuba City, WIG. Joe Lyon....................................................Toledo, IAPatrick Schroeder..............................Lancaster, WIEugene Smith........................................Clinton, WI

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B o a r d S e t s G u i d e l i n e s F o r

like to be nominated to run for an At-Large Director position. If you are not a District Representative, but would like to have your name placed in nomination, be sure you talk to your local Board member or District Rep and let them know your intentions. You do not have to be present at this March 24th meeting in order to be nominated.

A complete list of Swiss Valley District Representatives will be printed in the March issue of the Dairyman. Please contact your local Board member or a Swiss Valley field rep if you need to know the name of a District Representative before that.

Good luck to everyone!

Here is the list of Board Member/Director qualifications.

• Directors should be of utmost integrity, have strength of character and exhibit mature judgment that is essential to effective decision making.

• Directors should be willing to devote an adequate amount of time to the responsibilities of the Board and its Committees.

• Directors cannot be involved in any activity, transaction or action that is or would be deemed to be in conflict with the best interest(s) of Swiss Valley Farms. They can have no connection, either through stock ownership or official capacity, with any part of the dairy industry that is engaged in the buying or selling of milk or any other dairy product that would be in conflict with their responsibilities to the members of Swiss Valley Farms. Directors are required to sign a Conflict of Interest Compliance Statement as a condition of serving on the Board of Directors.

• No more than two directors from any one District can serve on the Board at the same time.• No more than one Director from any one farm unit can serve on the Board at the same time.

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New swiss Valley Farms district Boundaries

exploring New Zealand’s agriculture byLeahHenkes

After 13 hours in a plane, I had arrived in the land of green grass, vivid horticulture and vast agriculture. I was in Auckland, New Zealand. I am a Junior in Dairy Science and Agriculture and Life Sciences Education at Iowa State University. Iowa State offers many travel courses to every part of the world and this particular course was aimed towards studying New Zealand’s farming systems. Eighteen students and two instructors -- Dr. Leo Timms (Animal Science) and Dr. Mary Wiedienhoeft (Agronomy) -- participated in this course.

I was very excited to experience New Zealand’s agriculture. Our itinerary offered a wide variety of activities including dairy, beef and sheep farms, an apple orchard, organic blueberry farm, kiwi orchard, glow worm caves, volcanoes and mud pools. We spent two weeks on the North Island visiting these places.

Before traveling to New Zealand, we had one class per

week to discuss New Zealand’s agriculture system so we could have a general knowledge before arrival. We learned New Zealand’s farming was much different than ours. They have all-year-round growing seasons, no government subsidies and farms require much less labor than U.S. farms. We were all very excited to learn how these differences aid New Zealand in being one of the world’s leading exporters.

One of our first stops was Tokanui Dairy Research Farm. Warren Knight directed our tour and gave us a general overview of New Zealand’s dairy industry. We learned how important the dairy industry is to New Zealand’s economy. Around 25% of the country’s economy is derived from dairy. This farm focused on its environmental impact by conducting extensive research on lowering its nitrogen leaching. The farm we visited currently only leaches 28 kilos of N per year and produces 15-

(Editor’s Note: I asked Leah Henkes to write an article on her recent trip to New Zealand to study its agriculture systems. Leah is the daughter of Trent and Leslie Henkes of Luana, Iowa and was the 2008 Iowa State Alternate Dairy Princess.)

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exploring New Zealand’s agriculture byLeahHenkes

16 tons of grass/hectare/year. The soil is volcanic because it is near the volcanic region. They milk 1,000 crossbred cows twice a day in a rotary parlor. They have 25 research projects underway including milking frequency, body condition scoring and animal behavior trials. The genetics of this farm focus on mobility, fertility and longevity. The average age of their cows is five years old. I found this stop to be very interesting because they have a wide variety of research being conducted to help increase profitability and sustainability of New Zealand’s dairy farms.

Another farm we went to was Dairy New Zealand. This farm was very different from the research farm. They only milked 240 Holstein Friesian cows on 76 hectares. This farm focused on stocking rate per hectare efficiency. Unlike many New Zealand dairies, this farm didn’t use CIDR’s or any calving interventions (induced calvings). They would breed AI the first two cycles followed with a cycle with a bull. This farm’s barren rate was only 7% with a conception rate of 69% compared to the average New Zealand conception rate of 50%. One way the farm keeps the conception rate so high is due to strategic culling based on reproductive performance. Since New Zealand dairies have a seasonal calving, it is important to have fertile cows that will stay on the schedule. Most of New Zealand’s dairy cows calve between July and September.

These are just a few of the farms we visited. In total, we visited seven dairy farms, three sheep farms and two beef farms.

We also visited an organic blueberry farm that was strategically placed on peat soil. The owners had us stand in two groups and jump so we could feel how thin the soil was beneath us.

Besides farms, we were able to spend some time relaxing! We went to a therapeutic mud bath and hot sulfur pools. This was near Rotorua. We also toured the site where “Lord of the Rings” was filmed. This stop was very interesting because it was very diverse from the places we had seen. We were actually standing, climbing and walking on a volcano that had erupted only three years ago. It was very cold here because we were at such a high altitude. People in New Zealand enjoy a variety of extreme sports including snowboarding and skiing down this volcanic rock. I would personally never ski on pure rock with only a meter of snow!

Overall, I gained very valuable knowledge on a variety of New Zealand’s agriculture systems. I would love to go back and visit the South Island. I really enjoyed my two weeks in New Zealand and can’t wait to keep traveling!

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Clockwise from top: Cows graze at Tokanui dairy Research Farm, a New Zealand mountain range capped with clouds, Leah Henkes sits on a

volcanic rock outcropping at a popular ski resort.

District 1321 YEAR AWARDLUCAS, LAVERNEBURLINGTON, IANEWELL, EUGENELONG GROVE, IA19 YEAR AWARDMILLER, DEANKALONA, IA6 YEAR AWARDYODER, LEIGHTONKALONA, IA5 YEAR AWARDGINGERICH, STEVEPARNELL, IAHELMUTH, STEVEN J.KALONA, IASLABAUGH, DARYL D.IOWA CITY, IA3 YEAR AWARDASHDOWN, FRED FARMLONGWOOD, FLDEPAUW, ROBERT & PAMELAPORT BYRON, ILDEVORE, RICHARD & VANESSAWILTON, IA

MELLER, LEO E.SPERRY, IA2 YEAR AWARDPAASKE, RON & JONIHILLSDALE, IL1 YEAR AWARDMEHAFFY, PAULA S. & ROBERT ENEW LONDON, IAMILLER, MERLYN W.RIVERSIDE, IAMIRACLES CAN HAPPEN BOYS RANCHWILTON, IATROYER, MERLINWELDON, IAYODER, TOBIAS JAYKALONA, IA

District 1524 YEAR AWARDOPPRIECHT, GERALDEASTMAN, WI23 YEAR AWARDVALLEY VIEW DAIRY INCRICHLAND CENTER, WI21 YEAR AWARDSTOEHR, DONALD

EASTMAN, WISTOEHR, FRANKEASTMAN, WI20 YEAR AWARDAMUNDSON, DENNIS & MAUREENWESTBY, WIDIETER, KARENBLUE RIVER, WI19 YEAR AWARDGILBERTSON, LARRYCHASEBURG, WI14 YEAR AWARDWRIGHT, CHARLES D.FERRYVILLE, WIWRIGHT, KEITH L.FERRYVILLE, WI13 YEAR AWARDBALDWIN, BILLHILLSBORO, WI9 YEAR AWARDHEATHERSTONE ENTERPRISESBARABOO, WIKINNEY, JOANNBLUE RIVER, WIOPPRIECHT, DIANAEASTMAN, WI

7 YEAR AWARDPREW, RONALD D. & JOANNEEASTMAN, WITOM EDERER & SON LTDPLAIN, WI4 YEAR AWARDBEERS, LOYDE M.EASTMAN, WIBEERS, LOYDE P. JREASTMAN, WI3 YEAR AWARDBEERS, MICHAEL P.EASTMAN, WIHAAG DAIRY LLCDANE, WIMARTIN,CHERYL & SCHMIDT, GLENNRICHLAND CENTER, WIZ & Z FARMS LLCNORTH FREEDOM, WI2 YEAR AWARDKINNEY, GREG L.BLUE RIVER, WI1 YEAR AWARDCOPUS, LAWRENCE & BELVAGAYS MILLS, WICOPUS, MARK

Every winter, Swiss Valley Farms honors its many Blue Ribbon Quality Milk Award winners at its district meetings. This year marked the program’s 37th year. Co-op members work hard all year to meet Swiss Valley Farms quality milk standards. The end result of this effort is millions of pounds of high quality milk that the cooperative turns into delicious dairy products. The list of Quality Award winners begins here and will continue next month as well. Swiss Valley Farms applauds everyone who received awards this year. Good luck in the coming year with your quality milk production.

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37 years of milk awards for members

QUalitY aWard coVerage

district 13: 21-Year Award: LAVERNE & SHIRLEY LUCAS, Burlington, Iowa.

district 13: 21-Year Award: EUGENE & SHIRLEY NEWELL, Long Grove, Iowa.

district 13: 19-Year Award: DEAN MILLER, Kalona, Iowa.

district 13: 5-Year Award: DARYL D. & VIOLA SLABAUGH, Iowa City, Iowa.

GAYS MILLS, WIENDRES, JOHN P.SAUK CITY, WIENDRES, JOSEPH E.SAUK CITY, WIGRATZ, DOUGLAS D.READSTOWN, WIHILL N VALE ACRES INCPRAIRIE DU CHIEN, WIPAYNE, DUSTIN J.EASTMAN, WISTEGER, TERRY & TIMPRAIRIE DU CHIEN, WIWIPPERFURTH, LEROY R.LODI, WI

District 1619 YEAR AWARDHURTZ, RONALD L. & LYNDAROCKLAND, WI18 YEAR AWARDSCHMITZ, KENNETH & MARLUSNORWALK, WI17 YEAR AWARDREGO, DAVID & LINDAELROY, WI14 YEAR AWARDBERG, JEFF & JOHANNA

LA CROSSE, WI10 YEAR AWARDMARX, ALLAN E.CASHTON, WIRUF, ALAN S & COLETTEMAUSTON, WI9 YEAR AWARDEVERGREEN RIDGE DAIRYHILLSBORO, WISCHROEDER, CRAIG A.WONEWOC, WIVLASAK, STEVENELROY, WI8 YEAR AWARDBAILEY, MICHAEL & JEANTOMAH, WIGORHAM, FLORIEDATOMAH, WI6 YEAR AWARDHALL, LARRY F. & ROXANNETOMAH, WI5 YEAR AWARDMIKSHOWSKY, RANDYBANGOR, WI3 YEAR AWARDDOBBS, JOEL O.ONTARIO, WIDREIER, RANDY D.NORWALK, WIMATHISON, ROBERT J.

TOMAH, WI2 YEAR AWARDKROENER, BETTYBANGOR, WIKRUEGER, DOUGLAS E.MINDORO, WIPEACEFUL VALLEY DAIRYNORWALK, WI1 YEAR AWARDDREIER, GLEN S.NORWALK, WIHEDRICK, MICHAEL G.NORWALK, WI

District 1735 YEAR AWARDBRINCKS, DON I.OSSIAN, IA22 YEAR AWARDKLOSTERMAN, RICH & SANDYWEST UNION, IA19 YEAR AWARDLANDT, NEILLUANA, IA18 YEAR AWARDGARBES, BRENT N.WAUKON, IAGIBSON & SONSWAUKON, IA

17 YEAR AWARDFRANKS, KENTST OLAF, IA16 YEAR AWARDTHOMPSON, LARRY & LIANEMONONA, IA15 YEAR AWARDKOEHN, DAVID A.ELKADER, IAMC NALLY DAIRYMONONA, IASTENCE, LILLIAN R.ELKADER, IA13 YEAR AWARDLANTZKY, BRIAN & HEIDIHAWKEYE, IA9 YEAR AWARDHUMPAL, DARRYL G.RIDGEWAY, IASCHMITT, STEVEN M.HAWKEYE, IA8 YEAR AWARDHENKES, DARYLMONONA, IAHENKES, DUSTINMONONA, IAHENKES, L’DEANMONONA, IAKRIENER, DALERIDGEWAY, IA

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district 15: 24-Year Award: KEITH & JANE WRIGHT, Ferryville, Wis.

district 15: 24-Year Award: GERALD OPPRIECHT, Eastman, Wis.

district 15: 20-Year Award: DENNIS & MAUREEN AMUNDSON, Westby, Wis.

district 16: 18-Year Award: KEN & MARLUS SCHMITZ, Norwalk, Wis.

district 16: 17-Year Award: LINDA REGO, JOSHUA, REBEKAH & RACHEL, Elroy, Wis.

district 16: 14-Year Award: JEFF BERG, LaCrosse, Wis., accepting his award from CEO don Boelens.

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district 16: 9-Year Award: STEVEN VLASAK & NICOLE VLASAK, Elroy, Wis.

KRIENER, DONALDRIDGEWAY, IAKRIENER, LARRYRIDGEWAY, IALENTH, TERRYLUANA, IA7 YEAR AWARDKURTH, DAVID G.ST OLAF, IAKURTH, GARY & ANNELUANA, IA6 YEAR AWARDSVENDSEN, LARRY A. & MARYOSSIAN, IA5 YEAR AWARDLAMBORN FARMS LLCLUANA, IAOYLOE, RONALDDECORAH, IATIESKOETTER, LEONPOSTVILLE, IA4 YEAR AWARDCROSSROADS DAIRY LLCPOSTVILLE, IAPATTISON, LEE & SARAGARNAVILLO, IA

3 YEAR AWARDCAROLAN, KEVIN & DONNACALMAR, IAHENKES, LESLIE ANNLUANA, IAHENKES, TRENTLUANA, IA2 YEAR AWARDADAWAY DAIRY LLCWAUCOMA, IAJOHANNINGMEIER, MIKEMONONA, IAJOHANNINGMEIER, STEVEWATERVILLE, IALINDERBAUM, DENNIS & EILEENOSSIAN, IASCHMITT, ALAN -RAND-AL FARMSFORT ATKINSON, IAWAGNER, STEVENMONONA, IAWALZ, JEFF & MELINDAWEST UNION, IA1 YEAR AWARDHAGENSICK, STEVE

MONONA, IAKIME, DANIEL & ANNETTEWAUCOMA, IAKRIENER, JEROMEFORT ATKINSON, IAWALTER, MARJORIELUANA, IAWALTER, TIMFARMERSBURG, IA

District 1912 YEAR AWARDOBERHAUS, THOMAS A. & JOANWAUKESHA, WI11 YEAR AWARDGUDEX, ALICE G.CAMPBELLSPORT, WIKABARA, JAMESPULASKI, WIPASZEK, DENNIS & CHRISJUNEAU, WIPETERSON, PER K.WHITEWATER, WIVANDOSKE DAIRY FARMS

CLEVELAND, WIWELTER, KRIS & PHILLIPWHITEWATER, WI10 YEAR AWARDHOFA PARK DAIRY FARMSEYMOUR, WIMOORE FARMS INC.ELKHORN, WISECOND LOOK HOLSTEINS LLCEDEN, WI9 YEAR AWARDLAMBRECHT FARMS LLCKEWAUNEE, WI8 YEAR AWARDDEAVER, MIKEEDGERTON, WI7 YEAR AWARDBUSY BEE ACRES, LLCMARKESAN, WIRENGO FARMSWATERTOWN, WI5 YEAR AWARDMESS, CLARENCE & CATHERINEWATERTOWN, WISAUER DAIRY FARM LLC

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district 17: 18-Year Award: JERRY GIBSON, BRENT & MARTY GARBES, MAGGIE, HANNA & ADAM & KAYLIN, Waukon, Iowa.

district 17: 17-Year Award: KENT & SANDY FRANKS, St. Olaf, Iowa.

district 17: 9-Year Award: DARRYL & MICHELLE HUMPAL, Ridgeway, Iowa.

district 17: 35-Year Award: DONALD & JOYCE BRINCKS, Ossian, Iowa.

district 17: 22-Year Award: RICH & SANDY KLOSTERMAN, West Union, Iowa.

district 16: 8-Year Award: FLORIEDA GORHAM & MICHAEL BAILEY, Tomah, Wis.

WATERLOO, WI4 YEAR AWARDBREUCKMAN, CHADCOLUMBUS, WIPRZYBYLSKI, GARY D.KRAKOW, WISCHAEFER, JEFFREY G.WATERTOWN, WISCHAEFER, KURTWATERTOWN, WISCHAEFER, SUSANWATERTOWN, WIWEIER, HARRY A.DEERFIELD, WI3 YEAR AWARDLENSMIRE, THOMAS & JANECLEVELAND, WI2 YEAR AWARDBROCKMEYER, PAULWHITEWATER, WIDAMROW, DONJUNEAU, WIDELAIN, CHADKEWAUNEE, WILAMBRECHT, JEFF

DENMARK, WIPAPLHAM, HARVEY D.KEWAUNEE, WIPAPLHAM, MARY E.KEWAUNEE, WIROBERS FARMS LLCBURLINGTON, WIVOGEL, REBECCAHELENVILLE, WIWARD, BRECK N.ELKHORN, WI1 YEAR AWARDBAUS, RON & MARYMOUNT CALVARY, WIBRENNAN FARMSLAKE GENEVA, WICHAPMAN, STEVEN J. & CHERYL A.EAST TROY, WIDE RUYTER, RICHARDSEYMOUR, WIFREUND DAIRY FARM LLCFOND DU LAC, WIFREUND, BARBARA A.FOND DU LAC, WIFREUND, TRACY L.

SAINT CLOUD, WIGOD GREEN ACRES LTDMAYVILLE, WIPRANSKUNAS, JOHNEDEN, WISCHULZ, RICHARD E. & JOLENENEOSHO, WISCHUMACHER, ALLANMALONE, WISCHUMACHER, JOYCEMALONE, WISCHUMACHER, RICKYMALONE, WISMITH, EUGENE & SHAWNCLINTON, WITREMAINE, JANICECLINTON, WI

District 2025 YEAR AWARDHENDEL FARMSCALEDONIA, MNMEYER FARMS DAIRY LLCCALEDONIA, MNSELKE, WALTER

DAKOTA, MN23 YEAR AWARDBRATLAND, DURONSPRING GROVE, MNBRATLAND, GERALDSPRING GROVE, MN21 YEAR AWARDSELKE, WILLIAMDAKOTA, MN19 YEAR AWARDSCHUMACHER, PAUL & JENNIFERHOUSTON, MN18 YEAR AWARDBRATLAND, DARINSPRING GROVE, MN17 YEAR AWARDALDINGER, ROGERWINONA, MN14 YEAR AWARDSEXTON FARMSMILLVILLE, MN11 YEAR AWARDINGVALSON FARMS INCCALEDONIA, MN10 YEAR AWARD

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district 17: 8-Year Award: L’DEAN HENKES, Monona, Iowa.

district 17: 6-Year Award: LARRY SVENDSEN, Ossian, Iowa.

district 19: 11-Year Award: ALICE & ARNOLD GUDEX, Campbellsport, Wis.

district 19: 10-Year Award: HOFA PARK DAIRY FARM – CHERYL & DAVE WAGNER, Seymour, Wis.

district 19: 10-Year Award: SECOND LOOK HOLSTEINS – LINDA HODORFF, Eden, Wis. with field rep Mike Howald.

district 19: 7-Year Award: BUSY BEE ACRES LLC – ANDREW & RACHEL NITZ, Markesan, Wis.

district 19: 5-Year Award: CLARENCE & CATHY MESS, Watertown, Wis.

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PICK, GARYELGIN, MNPICK, RAYELGIN, MN9 YEAR AWARDOAT HILLATWATER, MNREPS, DENNIS & MARCIAUTICA, MNREPS, TRAVISUTICA, MNSIEGLE, SANDRA SCHREMPPCOLOGNE, MNSIEGLE, STEVEN D.COLOGNE, MN5 YEAR AWARDBLOCK, JAMESHAMBURG, MNBOLTMANN, ANGIEHAMBURG, MNBOLTMANN, REBECCAHAMBURG, MNBOLTMANN, ROBERTHAMBURG, MNGERDES, WILLIAMCALEDONIA, MN

KLUG, DARRELL J.SPRING GROVE, MNKLUG, MATTHEWSPRING GROVE, MNKLUG, STEVE & ANNASPRING GROVE, MN4 YEAR AWARDKETCHUM, ROBERT C. & TERRI A.UTICA, MN3 YEAR AWARDDRINKALL, RANDYRUSHFORD, MNELMHORST, MICHAEL & EVANGELINEPAYNESVILLE, MNLASKA, RICHARD & CAROLWINONA, MNTHILL, LAVERNE F.WINONA, MN2 YEAR AWARDTSCHUMPER, KENNETHLA CRESCENT, MN1 YEAR AWARDBLOOD, CATHERINE A.WINONA, MNHIGHVIEW FARMS

HAMBURG, MNMILL, W. DALELEWISTON, MN

District 2122 YEAR AWARDMEYER, RICHARD & MICHELLEIOWA FALLS, IA20 YEAR AWARDMILLER, RONALD W.CLARKSVILLE, IA12 YEAR AWARDCURTIS, CHRIS & TRACYAURORA, IAGIBRALTER FARMS LTDIOWA FALLS, IA7 YEAR AWARDARENDS, DARWIN & DULCIACKLEY, IAGRAND CENTRAL JERSEYSBRISTOW, IAWEAVER, CURVIN M.OSAGE, IA6 YEAR AWARD

RECTOR, CHUCKDENVER, IA5 YEAR AWARDHOLSTEIN MARKETING CENTER OF IAFREDERICKSBURG, IA4 YEAR AWARDNOLT, REUBEN & VERAALTA VISTA, IASONBERG FARMS, LLCOSAGE, IASTAUFFER, TITUSCHARLES CITY, IATEN HOEVE DAIRY LLCWAVERLY, IA3 YEAR AWARDDUTCHLAND DAIRYROLFE, IAHODSON-DIRKSEN FARMSPLYMOUTH, IAJOHNSON, DUANE A.PARKERSBURG, IAJOHNSON, ROY A.PARKERSBURG, IALINDSAY, BRIANNORA SPRINGS, IANOLT, JOSEPH

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district 20: 14-Year Award: SEXTON FARMS – DON SEXTON, Millville, Minn.

district 20: 10-Year Award: RAY PICK, Elgin, Minn.

district 20: 21-Year Award: WILLIAM & SUE SELKE, AMANDA & RACHEL, dakota, Minn.

district 20: 25-Year Award: HENDEL FARMS, MATT HENDEL & SYDNEY, Caledonia, Minn.

district 20: 25-Year Award: MEYER FARMS DAIRY LLC – LEE & GORDY MEYER, Caledonia, Minn.

district 20: 23-Year Award: GERALD BRATLAND, Spring Grove, Minn.

& ANNA MARYALTA VISTA, IA2 YEAR AWARDJELSMA DAIRY LLCDENVER, IASNOW ROCK DAIRIES LLCCLARKSVILLE, IASTEPPE, RICHARD E. & LAREEN ASTEAMBOAT ROCK, IATUKKER DAIRIESROLFE, IA1 YEAR AWARDHAWKTREE DAIRY LLCBUFFALO CENTER, IAMARTIN, JAY A.OSAGE, IA

District 2314 YEAR AWARDNIMTZ, JEFF S.MONTICELLO, WINIMTZ, JULIE M.MONTICELLO, WI11 YEAR AWARDDIERICKX, CRAIG & ALICEMONTICELLO, WI

9 YEAR AWARDAUSTIN, RAYMONDBLACK EARTH, WITHEIS, A. DAVIDWAUNAKEE, WITHEIS, EUGENEWAUNAKEE, WI8 YEAR AWARDFASSBENDER, PAUL G.MAZOMANIE, WIMAIER, EUGENE H.CROSS PLAINS, WIMAIER, JULIE K.CROSS PLAINS, WI7 YEAR AWARDH D FARMS LLCLODI, WISTATZ, ALLAN R.BLACK EARTH, WISTATZ, VERNON W.BLACK EARTH, WI6 YEAR AWARDESSER, RICHARD J.MIDDLETON, WI4 YEAR AWARDDEVRIES, DELBERTORANGEVILLE, IL

HESSENIUS, CRAIGFREEPORT, ILLAUFENBERG, KOTYCROSS PLAINS, WIORCHARD, WILLIAM R.JANESVILLE, WIWESSELS, JIM R.MCCONNELL, IL3 YEAR AWARDGORDER, RICHARDMINERAL POINT, WIHELLENBRAND, BRENT N.CROSS PLAINS, WISTATZ, KEVIN F.CROSS PLAINS, WIZIEGLER, CRAIG A.WAUNAKEE, WIZIEGLER, FRED V.WAUNAKEE, WI2 YEAR AWARDHOFFMAN, DON A. & MARYWAUNAKEE, WIHOFFMAN, JEREMY M.WAUNAKEE, WIHOFFMAN, KEVIN A.WAUNAKEE, WI

HOFFMAN, NATHAN J.WAUNAKEE, WIJENSON, BRUCEGRATIOT, WIJENSON, CHRISTA L.GRATIOT, WIWILLIAMS, BETTYGRATIOT, WI1 YEAR AWARDANTHONY, DAVID JR & JOHN ANTHONYBROOKLYN, WIRICHARDS, JULIECROSS PLAINS, WIRICHARDS, PHIL & JULIECROSS PLAINS, WIRICHARDS, TRAVIS K.CROSS PLAINS, WIZIEGLER, DENNIS & MARY JODANE, WI

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district 20: 5-Year Award: DARRELL, STEVE & MATT KLUG, Spring Grove, Minn.

district 21: 7-Year Award: DARWIN & DULCI ARENDS, Ackley, Iowa.

district 21: 5-Year Award: Holstein Marketing Center of Iowa, Inc., HADWEN & LOUANN KLEISS, Fredericksburg, Iowa.

district 23: 14-Year Award: JEFF & JULIE NIMTZ, Monticello, Wis.

district 2: 12-Year Award: NORM & JANET GROEZINGER, Stockton, Ill.

district 23: 11-Year Award: ALICE DIERICKX, Monticello, Wis. page 11

YCer’s, mark your calendar for the YC overnight conference. Your registration materials are on the next page. u Tour the John Deere Tractor Works in Dubuque.u Tour Jim and Lorie Schmitt’s Holstein dairy in Sherrill.u Learn how to make wind and sun power work for you.u Hear the history of the Caves of Faribault.u Get more details on the proposed Foundations for the Future.u Play “A Minute To Win It” at the YC Friday night banquet.

Co-op members between the ages of 18 and 45 are eligible to participate. Make time this winter to have fun, make new friends and learn information that will help you in your dairy operation. Do it all at the Swiss Valley Farms Young Cooperator Conference!

Yc spring Break set for Feb. �� -�� in dubuque

YC’ers, Get Ready for Your Big Break!Register Now for the Swiss Valley YC Conference Feb. 25 & 26, 2011 at the Best Western Plus Dubuque Hotel (formerly the Midway Hotel)

Yc’ers, get registered NoW!!

Who is a Young Cooperator?You are a Swiss Valley Farms Young Cooperator if you are between and including the ages of 18 and 45

ANDYou are a Swiss Valley Farms co-op memberOr the son or daughter of a co-op memberOr if you work in the dairy operation of a Swiss Valley Farms member

It also helps if you are eager to learn new things, meet new people and want to have fun! If you fit this description, we want to see you at the 2011 YC Spring Break!

Enter the 2011 Outstanding Young Cooperator Contest Also during this conference, the Swiss Valley Farms Outstanding Young Cooperator Contest will be held on Friday. If you want to open the door to unlimited opportunities for learning, leadership and travel, look into participating in this contest. Fill out the YC Contest Application on the next page, write the short essay and submit everything in an envelope separate from your Spring Break Registration form. The contest interviews will be held during the afternoon on Friday with results announced at the end of the conference on Saturday. This year’s NMPF National Dairy Summit will be held this fall in San Diego, California. The age limit on this national YC contest is 21 to 40 years.

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Swiss Valley Farms 2011 Young Cooperator Contest CONTEST RuLES

To be eligible to enter, contestants must be a member of the cooperative or in the immediate family of a member and active in the dairy operation or a full-time employee of a Swiss Valley Farms member’s dairy operation, be between the ages of 18 and must not have turned 41 before November 1, 2011.To enter: Fill in the following form as completely as possible.Entries must be submitted to Nancy Feeney at the Swiss Valley Farms Corporate Headquarters by Wednesday, February 16, 2011. Entries may be faxed to the Corporate Headquarters at 563.468.6616. Entrants will be interviewed by the Member Relations Committee on late Friday afternoon, February 25th at the YC Conference in dubuque, Iowa, where the final judging will take place.

YC CONTEST APPLICATION PART 1: Tell Us About YourselfContestant’s Name (s)_____________________________________Phone # ____________________________________Address __________________________________________________________________________________________Birthdate _______________ Age ________ Number of Years in Dairying ______________________________________ Community and Civic Activities (Also list spouse’s activities, if applicable) Use additional sheet if necessary: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Agricultural related activities and organizations: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________List other cooperatives in which you have memberships. (Indicate if director, etc.): ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

YC CONTEST APPLICATION PART II: Write Down Your Thoughts

On a separate sheet of paper, write your thoughts on the following question.“ As a co-op member, what do you see as the most important service Swiss Valley Farms performs for your dairy operation?”Please keep your answer to 250 words or less. Remember that we are looking for your opinions and ideas. There is no right or wrong answer to this question.

_______________________________________________________________________

Mail your entry to: Swiss Valley Farms, Co., Outstanding YC Contest, c/o Nancy Feeney PO Box 4493, Davenport, IA 52808

Entries must be in the SVF Corporate Headquarters by: Wednesday, February 16, 2011Do not put this form in the same envelope as your spring Break registration form.

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY: Contestant # ___________(This # will be assigned by the Member Relations Committee)

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2011 YC Spring Break & Two-Day Conference Registration Form

YC Conference registration deadline is Thursday, February 17, 2011.Include your $10 per person check with your form.

yes! Reserve a room for me at this YC Spring Break - February 25-26, 2011 in Dubuque, IowaName ________________________________________________ Phone_____________________

Address ______________________________________________________________________________

Producer# ________________ Do you require a smoking room? yes no

Mail this form and your check to: Swiss Valley Farms Co. , YC Spring Break , PO Box 4493, davenport, IA 52808

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Somatic Cell Range -- Percentage listed is based on number of A Farms0 - 100,000....................................................... 7 %100,001 - 200,000..................................... 37%200,001 - 300,000...................................... 28%300,001 - 400,000...................................... 16%400,001 - 500,000........................................ 7%500,001 and above................................... 6%

Chris Hoeger VP, ProcurementEldridge, IA 52748

Office 563.468.6628Mobile 563.340.7943

Nancy Feeney Member Relations3855 Manchester Dr • Bettendorf, IA 52722

Office 563.468.6640Mobile 563.320.4815

Tim Genthe Lab & Safety Manager803 S. School St. • Cuba City, WI 53807

Office 563.583.7669Home 608.744.3515

Marv Thompson Raw Milk Sales617 Monroe St. • Sparta, WI 54656

Office 608.366.1770Home 608.269.4850

Ron Brenner Field Supervisor1817 Loomis St. • LaCrosse, WI 54603

Office 608.366.1770Home 563.663.1573

Thomas Tegeler Field Supervisor1320 11/2 St. SW • Dyersville, IA 52040

Office 563.583.7669Home 563.875.2059

Randy Heisel259 E. Lakeview Dr. • LaFarge, WI 54639

Home 608.625.2045Mobile 608.386.6681

Mike Howald 7105 N. Freeport Rd. • Forreston, IL 61030

Office 815.938.2651Fax 815.938.9151

s w i s s v a l l e y f a r m s

Field persoNNel & stats FieldDepartment&ProcurementDivisionDirectory

During the Month of December,these Swiss Valley Farms

Members averaged below 100,000 for their Somatic Cell count.

ALDINGER, ROGER 95,000ARENDS, DARWIN & DULCI 86,000BAUS, RON & MARY 84,000BENNETT, JOHN & CHARLENE 58,000BERLAGE, DONALD & MERRI 92,000BERLAGE, JOHN K. 88,000BIERSCHENK, CARY & JENNIFER 72,000BILL & LYNN VANDERHAM DAIRY LLC 95,000BRATLAND, DARIN 99,000BRATLAND, DURON 99,000BRATLAND, GERALD 99,000BREUCKMAN, CHAD 68,000BROCKMEYER, PAUL 78,000CAROLAN, KEVIN & DONNA 83,000D & J DAIRY INC. 98,000DAMROW, DON 96,000DEAVER, MIKE 64,000DREIER, RANDY D. 87,000DUWE, LOREN 96,000ELMHORST, MICHAEL & EVANGELINE 72,000ESSER, RICHARD J. 82,000FASSBENDER, PAUL G. 72,000FROZENE, TOM, RICK, LINDA & PENNY 85,000GAUL, MICHAEL G. 95,000GAUL, PETER & KIM 95,000GILBERTSON, LARRY 67,000GOODMAN, MARK A. 91,000GRAND CENTRAL JERSEYS LLC 95,000HENDEL FARMS 62,000HODSON-DIRKSEN FARMS LLC 95,000JOHNSON, DUANE A. 73,000JOHNSON, ROY A. 73,000KAUFFMANN, JERRY & STEPHANIE 80,000KAUFFMANN, RICHARD & LUANN 80,000KETCHUM, ROBERT C & TERRI A 59,000LAUFENBERG, KOTY J. 82,000MARTIN, JOHN E. 76,000MEIER, BRIAN 75,000MEIER, CHERYL 75,000MEIER, MIKE 75,000MILLS, JAKE 63,000NOLT, WESLEY 78,000NUNES, DARYL & PAM 70,000PETERSON, PER K. 63,000PRIER, DONALD 82,000ROSEDALE GENETICS LTD 97,000SCHAEFER, JEFFREY G. 90,000SCHAEFER, KURT 90,000SCHAEFER, SUSAN 90,000SCHUMACHER, ALLAN 87,000SCHUMACHER, JOYCE 87,000SCHUMACHER, PAUL & JENNIFER 87,000SCHUMACHER, RICKY 87,000SCOTT, MATTHEW G. 98,000SHOGUN FARMS 88,000STAUFFER, TITUS 74,000STRIEF FARMS INC 81,000SULLIVAN FARMS 4 LLC 96,000THILL, LAVERNE F. 96,000VALLEY VIEW DAIRY INC 78,000VANDER WAL, BRUCE 82,000YODER, LEIGHTON 77,000

Kara Koopmann6142 Roller Coaster Rd. • Epworth, IA 52045

Plant 563.583.7669Home 563.876.3900

Roger Lenius319 9th St. • Waverly, IA 50677

Office 319.352.5463Home 319.352.5015

Ken Ley225 S. Clifton • Livingston, WI 53554

Plant 608.348.3932Home 608.943.6240

Lynne Melchert117 Culver Rd. NE • Hopkinton, IA 52237

Office 563.926.2363Home 563.926.2794

Jim Murphy430 Linden • West Union, IA 52175

Office 563.422.5789Mobile 563.380.0393

Jim Schmitz304 Dale Dr. • Montfort, WI 53569

Office 608.943.1172Cell 563.599.2400

Cheryl Zablocki-WagnerW 1919 Hofa Park Dr. • Seymour, WI 54165

Office 920.822.2933Mobile 563.663.1306

Bob Zielsdorf309 North St. • Sparta, WI 54656

Office 608.366.1770Home 608.269.5452

page 1� SWISS VALLEY FARMS dairYMaN

S w i s s V a l l e y G a l s F a l l M e e t i n g s

DARYL & PAM NUNESdeerfield, Wis.

JAKE MILLSStrawberry Point, Iowa

KIRK MOSERColesburg, Iowa

welcomeNeW sWiss ValleY FarMs MeMBers

Applications for the Swiss Valley Farms 2011 Scholar-ship Contest are now available. The co-op is opening the scholarship competition earlier in the year to help students gain access to these funds before the fall. If you are a high school senior or are currently enrolled in a college or technical school, or plan to enroll in the fall, it is time to get your application for a 2011 Swiss Valley Farms Cooperative Scholarship.

The co-op is pleased to again offer five agriculture schol-arships in addition to three scholarships for non-agriculture majors.

Co-op members who are studying agriculture-related ma-jors can compete for five scholarships . . . two for $1,000 and three for $500. These scholarships are designed to promote the study of agriculture beyond the high school level. There are also three $500 scholarships for students studying in any field.

To be eligible for any of these scholarships, an applicant must be a co-op member or a son or daughter of a co-op mem-ber, or the manager or operator of a farm for a Swiss Valley Farms Cooperative member, or a student whose family man-ages or operates a farm for a Swiss Valley Farms Cooperative member at the time of submitting the scholarship application and when the cash awards are made.

Any high school graduate or any 2011 college student who meets these qualifications is eligible to apply for a scholarship. However, if you have won a Swiss Valley Farms scholarship in the past, you are ineligible to win another.

The applicant must be enrolled full-time in an accredited university, college or vocational-technical institution for a de-gree program or short-course program. To get an application, go swissvalley.com and look under Member Benefits. Or e-mail nancy.feeney@swissvalley.com.

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e�011 swiss Valley scholarship applications available now

A series of sessions to help producers with promoting dairy at the local level are being offered by Midwest Dairy over the next two months. The sessions, called “60-Minute Subjects,” are delivered by telephone and Internet, and are held during midday hours or evening hours without charge.

60-Minute Subjects debuted in 2010, with the objective of making it easier for dairy producers living in the Midwest Dairy Association area to get involved with the organization and receive help with the things they do locally.

The schedule of the sessions is as follows:

Feb. 11, 11:30 a.m. – Social media and how to use it to promote dairy;

Feb. 25, 11:30 a.m. – Classroom visits and ideas to do them well;

Mar. 11, 11:30 a.m. – SpeakOut! and how you can talk about dairy in your community;

Mar. 15, 11:30 a.m. - Fuel Up To Play 60 and how it is making a difference for dairy producers;

Mar. 18, 7:30 p.m. – Fuel Up To Play 60 and how it is making a difference for dairy producers; and

Mar. 25, 11:30 a.m. – June Dairy Month promotion ideas to use locally.

Participants should RSVP to the Midwest Dairy Producer Service Center at 1-877-360-FARM (3276) or producerservicecenter@midwestdairy.com.

dairy producers will get promotion tips

oN tHe coVer:“Brrrrrrr!” This chilly calf was captured on film by Swiss Valley Farms member Ronda Runde, Cuba City, Wis. The cow is named Simon, after Ronda’s son. Hopefully, spring’s warm breath will soon arrive.

S W I S S V A L L E Y F A R M S C O O P E R A T I V E

dairymanYour copy of

Post Office Box 4493Davenport, IA 52808

Address Service Requested

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit No. 141Davenport, IA

Yc’ers!!

Your �011 Yc spring Break registration form is inside!

go to pages 1� & 1� for all the info you need to sign up

and get on board for this year’s conference!

Feb. �� & �� in dubuque, iowa