Syracuse, N.Y. – Three local American Dairy Association North East dairy farmers and board members were recently elected to serve on national dairy promotion boards – Marilyn Hershey, Cochranville, Pennsylvania; Skip Hardie, Lansing, New York; and Audrey Donahoe, Frankfort, New York.
“We’re pleased have our local leaders take on these national roles,” said American Dairy Association North East CEO Rick Naczi. “They’re all smart, progressive farmers that have a long-range vision for the dairy industry locally, nationally and globally.”
Hershey, a Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association board member, was elected as chair of the Dairy Management, Inc. (DMI) board of directors that guides the DMI staff in checkoff planning and decision-making. Her year-long term is effective immediately and she can be re-elected multiple times.
“I look forward to representing my fellow dairy farmers in this role, and hope to be a voice for them as we make important decisions that can affect all of us,” said Hershey.
Skip Hardie of Lansing, New York, was re-elected as DMI board secretary. Hardie is also a member of the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council (ADADC) board of directors and chair of the New York Promotion Advisory Board.
Together Hershey and Hardie will work with vice-chair Steve Maddox, Riverdale, California, and treasurer Larry Hancock, Muleshoe, Texas.
Audrey Donahoe of Frankfort, New York, an ADADC board member, was named chair of National Dairy Council (NDC) last fall. Funded through checkoff, the NDC focuses on providing science-based education about nutrition and health benefits of dairy foods. Her position falls under the United Dairy Industry Association umbrella of which she is one of three second vice-chairs.
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Photo caption: Dairy farmer Marilyn Hershey talks about her Cochranville, Pa., farm at the Stanton Elementary’s “Breakfast of Champions,” in Philadelphia.
About American Dairy Association North East
American Dairy Association North East (ADA North East) is the dairy farmer-funded organization funded by participating dairy farmer’s checkoff investment to build demand and sales for milk and dairy foods throughout the local region. Representing nearly 12,000 dairy farm families in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New York, New Jersey and northern Virginia, ADA North East develops and implements local programs to drive milk and dairy sales at retail outlets and in schools. The organization also conducts consumer education about dairy through events, traditional and social media, and in collaboration with health professionals through National Dairy Council®. ADA North East works closely with Dairy Management Inc.™, the national dairy checkoff organization, to support nutrition research, national partnerships and developing export markets for dairy to bring a fully integrated promotion program to the region. For more information, visit www.americandairy.com.
Source: American Dairy Association North East
