Local Dairies Awarded for Quality of Milk
Published: Friday, May 30, 2025
Fifteen Michigan Milk Producers Assn. dairy farms were recently awarded National Dairy Quality Awards by the National Mastitis Council (NMC). Recognized during the NMC Annual Meeting in Charlotte, N.C., these MMPA members were among 40 nationally recognized farms in the annual award program and were selected from a pool of 72 applicants nationwide.
One MMPA farm earned the highest honor, which was granted to only six dairy farms in the U.S. and Canada. The platinum award winner was the Michigan State Dairy Teaching and Research Center in East Lansing, receiving this honor for the second consecutive year. MMPA farms also won four gold awards, nine silver awards, plus one honorable mention.
NDQA judges considered many criteria when reviewing finalists' applications. In addition to milk quality indicators, judges looked at specific details about each operation, including milking routine, cow comfort, udder health monitoring programs, treatment and prevention programs, strategies for overall herd health and welfare, and adherence to drug use and record keeping regulations.
Platinum
• Michigan State University Dairy Teaching and Research Center, East Lansing, Mich,
Gold
• Evergreen Dairy Farm (Kris and Carla Wardin), St. Johns, Mich.
• Clearview Dairy Farm (Paul, Betty, and Brian DeMann), Martin, Mich.
• Hammond Dairy Farm (Norm, Kim and Derrick Hammond), Dowling, Mich.
• Beattie Farms (Don Beattie), Holton, Michigan
Silver
• Pixley Dairy (Kevin, Lisa and Lane Pixley), Nashville, Mich.
• Schultz Dairy Farm (Dave and Kelton Schultz), Sandusky, Mich.
• Horning Farms (Earl, Jeffrey, Lynda and Mason Horning, and Katelyn Packard), Manchester, Mich.
• Spring Lake Farms (Bill and Jason Hardy), Stanton, Mich.
• Chapin Family Farm (Sam, Doug and Cheri Chapin), Remus, Mich.
• Koch (John and Marian Koch), Weidman, Mich.
• Bosscher Dairy Farm (JP Koop), Hudsonville, Mich.
• Vandermade Dairy (Lambert Vandermade), Sherwood, Ohio
• Golden Elm Dairy (Eric Frahm), Frankenmuth, Mich.
Honorable Mention
• Slater Farms Baseline (Allen and Aaron Slater), Holton, Mich.
Return to Top of Page