DFANEWS SPLASH

J U N E 2 0 1 2DFA QUICK LINKS | 2 | Fort Morgan plant celebrates safety | 3 | Cache Valley takes to streets with mobile tour | 4 | Borden Cheese recipe contest | 4 | Communication awards | 4 | New hires

Fight hunger during June Dairy MonthThis June, our members and staff are celebrating one of the Cooperative’s core values — community — by building on our position in the food industry to help fight hunger across the country during June Dairy Month.

Last year, our members and staff showed their support for local communities in a big way by making 100,000 meals possible for the hungry during June Dairy Month. This year, we are setting our sights even higher, with a goal of providing 150,000 meals through volunteer events, fundraisers and food drives at DFA locations across the nation.

Earlier this month, our Mideast Area members raised more than $200 and donated several boxes worth of food, and more than 160 Mountain Area DFA and Young Cooperator members collected more than 1,000 pound of food at Lagoon Amusement Park in Farmington, Utah, for the Utah Food Bank.

This nationwide effort allows us to educate the public on our larger hunger and nutrition initiative, which includes policy advocacy and legislative outreach, as well as collaboration with federal and local hunger and nutritional programs.

June was first designated June Dairy Month in 1939. Each June, activities are

planned throughout the industry to communicate the value of wholesome and nutritious milk and dairy products to today’s consumers, and as a way to pay

homage to the farm families who work 365 days a year to ensure you have delicious dairy products on your table.

If you are unable to participate in a volunteer event this June, you can still make a difference. Through our DFA Cares Foundation, you have the ability to help others. Every dollar you contribute equals eight meals for someone in need.

To make a tax-deductible monetary contribution to support our June Dairy Month efforts, visit www.dfamilk.com/june-dairy-month-2012 or send a check made payable to DFA Cares Foundation to: DFA Cares Foundation c/o Ron Hilmes 10220 N. Ambassador Drive Kansas City, MO 64153

For more information about how you can participate in volunteer and food drive efforts during June Dairy Month, contact Kristi Dale at kdale@dfamilk.com.

Senate passes 2012 Farm Bill The Senate passed S. 3240, the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 (Farm Bill), on June 21, by a vote of 64–35. The bill includes the dairy policy reforms contained in the Dairy Security Act. The House Agriculture Committee is expected to take up its version of the 2012 Farm Bill on July 11. As progress on the bill continues, we will continue to keep you updated.

In honor of June Dairy Month, Mountain Area DFA and Young Cooperator members collected food for the Utah Food Bank.

DFA plant celebrates safetyFort Morgan reaches nine years with no lost-time accidentsOur Fort Morgan, Colo., plant hit the nine-year mark for no lost-time accidents on May 26. Over the past year, more than 123,000 safe hours were worked by the plant’s 53 full-time employees.

A lost-time accident is an on-the-job injury that requires an employee to miss time at work. Safety is, and always has been a priority at all of DFA’s plants.

“This milestone is a credit to the team we have in place here,” says Tom Cotter, plant manager. “It takes all of us working together and watching out for one another to achieve this success year after year.”

Each month, Mike Lentell, safety and services coordinator, holds a monthly safety meeting with employees. Employees also partake in monthly refresher safety training sessions, more recently led by employees themselves.

Nine years ago, a safety committee was developed to oversee plant employees’ safety concerns. According to Lentell, the committee allows employees to talk about near misses that are identified on the floor and identify corrective actions to prevent them from becoming accidents.

During the last two years, a major emphasis has also been placed on the plant’s safety observation program, which encourages employees to talk with coworkers and to fill out a safety observation card to document when they observe positive or at risk behaviors.

Ricardo Valles, who works as a maintenance technician, says he is honored to work at a plant that encourages its employees to keep safety first.

“When I first started, I wasn’t that familiar with the industry or the role that safety plays, but now I understand its importance in my day-to-day job,” says Valles, who has worked at the plant for nine years.

In addition to safety, plant management is working toward Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) certification. Last year, an OSHA representative visited the plant to discuss the program and to do a cursory walkthrough of the facility. Since the visit, Cotter says they have spent about $40,000 on improvements to meet OSHA standards.

“We’ve made safety a priority here in Colorado,” Cotter says. “And we’ve been successful in creating a culture that supports this initiative. I’m very proud of our entire team, and look forward to celebrating another milestone.”

The Fort Morgan plant runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week and produces condensed milk, cream and nonfat dry milk, which are all ingredients used to make cheese, yogurt, drinkable yogurt snacks and ice cream.

“It takes all of us working together and watching out for one another to achieve this success year after year.”

-Tom Cotter plant manager

Fort Morgan plant employees celebrated nine years with no lost-time accidents during an off site function on June 12.

Cache Valley® takes to streets with mobile tourCache Valley Cheese recently hit the road to promote its delicious cheese and butter in its new food truck, dubbed the “Melt Mobile.”

Throughout the summer, the Melt Mobile will travel throughout Salt Lake City and surrounding communities to serve up grilled cheese samples at community and sporting events, local attractions and grocery stores, as well as some lunch time visits to area businesses.

“During the past 75 years, Cache Valley has created more than just signature dairy products, we’ve also become woven in the fabric of the community,” says Jen Collins, senior associate brand manager for Cache Valley. “By launching the Melt Mobile, we hope to be able to connect even more with our neighbors and customers, share our love of dairy and add to the festivities of summer.”

The Melt Mobile first stopped at the Utah Food Bank and Macey’s, a local Utah grocery store, on June 7, and distributed more than 4,000 samples at the Orem Summerfest on June 16. During each stop, visitors can take a commemorative Melt Mobile photo, grab some goodies and learn more about Cache Valley products and its fight against hunger.

Last year, Cache Valley created Cache Valley Cares, a program focused on building stronger, healthier communities throughout the state of Utah, after learning that one in seven Utah children was at risk of hunger. Cache Valley Cares has since partnered with the Utah Food Bank to raise funds to feed local families in need.

“As a member of the community, it is important that we reach out to help our neighbors in need,” Collins says. “It is important to us that people recognize Cache Valley’s mission to raise greater awareness of hunger and its impact on people in our community.”

You can learn more about the Melt Mobile weekend outings and food truck by visiting facebook.com/cachevalleydairy.

Macey’s grocery store shoppers stopped by the Melt Mobile for grilled cheese sandwich samples on June 7 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Welcome new hiresPlease welcome these new employees:

Communications Department earns honorsDFA’s Communications Department was recognized for its member-focused work in the Cooperative Communicators Association (CCA) 2012 Communications Contest. DFA placed in nine categories and was awarded with a Best in Show entry. Winners were announced at the 2012 CCA Institute in Tucson, Ariz., in June.

Winning entries included:

Best in Show

•Feature photo of Marlane Williams

First place

•DFALeaderphotography — best use of photos in a publication

•Amaral Dairy Portrait – portrait

•Marlane Williams – feature photo

Second place

•DFA Annual Meeting 2011 – campaigns and programs

•DFANewsSplash – employee newsletter

•Evolving a Culture of Safety – documentary video

•DFA Social Media – social media

•Cache Valley Cares – campaigns and programs

Third place

•DFALeader magazine – member magazineWilliamAdams•Mechanicsburg,Pa.MichaelAntonini•WestMiddlesex,Pa.JonBebermeyer•Knoxville,Tenn.DavidByerly•WestMiddlesex,Pa.AnthonyColson•KansasCity,Mo.DianeCreviston•KansasCity,Mo.MatthewDeckard•Turlock,Calif.MichaelDivittore•Mechanicsburg,Pa.VeliborDivkovic•Mechanicsburg,Pa.TracyElwell•Beaver,UtahBradleyFisher•Monett,Mo.EstebanGalaviz•Adrian,Mich.GregGoodrum•WestMiddlesex,Pa.

JaneGreen•KansasCity,Mo.EricHassell•Turlock,Calif.CalvinIrby•Winnsboro,TexasDomoniqueJones•WestMiddlesex,Pa.JasonKarkoska•WestMiddlesex,Pa.DeanKundis•SaltLakeCity,UtahMarkLarose•Springfield,Mo.MannixMartinez•Mechanicsburg,Pa.MichaelMccrea•WestMiddlesex,Pa.KenyaMckinsey•Winnsboro,TexasTylerNelson•WestMiddlesex,Pa.BeverelyParks•KansasCity,Mo.MichaelPetracca•Ventura,Calif.

JulietPrescod•KansasCity,Mo.RyanRasp•WestMiddlesex,Pa.IsaacReyes•Hughson,Calif.JenniferStafford•Monett,Mo.DevanStephens•Monett,Mo.JeradSternthal•WestMiddlesex,Pa.CoryThompson•Winnsboro,TexasAndyVilk•Schulenburg,TexasJefferyWeaver•Monett,Mo.PassadenaWright•Winnsboro,Texas

Seeking “cheesy” recipes Borden®’s ALL YOU recipe contest is under wayFans of Borden® Cheese are busy creating signature dishes to submit in the ALLYOU recipe contest, which runs through July 29.

This is the third year that Borden has partnered with ALLYOU, a magazine focused on practical and affordable ideas like budget-friendly recipes, smart shopping strategies and using high-value coupons on products.

Last year’s recipe contest garnered 1,020 submissions.

“We’ve already received more than 300 submissions, and I expect that number to only increase in the coming weeks,”says Jen Collins, senior associate brand manager of Borden Cheese. “I truly believe we’ll surpass last year’s numbers.”

During the last two years, the contest has called for submissions featuring Borden Singles Sensations. This year, however, the contest has expanded to include more of Borden’s products, including other Singles items.

All entries will be judged on the following criteria: Taste – 25 percent, originality – 50 percent, and use of sponsor product – 25 percent.

Two grand prize winners will be selected. Winners will receive $1,000 gift card and have their recipe featured in the November issue of ALLYOU.

“This year, our main goal is to spread the word about the Borden farmer-owned

difference and continue to share easy cheesy recipes that can delight

families nationwide,” Collins says. “We are really trying to take advantage of social media and are encouraging people to share their excitement for the contest

on their own Facebook pages.”

Visit www.allyou.com/borden to learn more about the contest. Winners’ recipes will be featured in the September issue of Splash.

The July issue of ALLYOU will also feature a coupon for 75 cents off Borden Cheese. Visit your local Walmart store to pick up a copy.

And stay up to date with Borden on Facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/FriendsOfElsie, or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/friendsofelsie.