AMPI Young Cooperators elect officers
Newly elected members of the 2022 AMPI Young Cooperator (YC) Steering Committee are, front row, from left: past chaircouple Matt and Julie Peterson, Boyd, Wis.; and chaircouple, Janora and Brad Korver, Alton, Iowa; back row, from left: members-at-large, Anna (and David) Wilson, Garnavillo, Iowa; vice chairperson, Mike Lax, Sleepy Eye, Minn.; and secretaries, Gerard (and Menna) Wiersema, Parker, S.D.
Iowa dairy farmers will lead group
NEW ULM, MN — Brad and Janora Korver of Alton, Iowa, are the 2022 Young Cooperator (YC) chairpersons for Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI). Fellow YCs elected the couple during the February annual meeting of the Midwest milk marketing cooperative. This co-op education and leadership development program is open to AMPI members and those actively involved on AMPI farms age 18 – 45.
"A generation from now we will be the co-op’s leaders, making important decisions that will impact the business we collectively own," Brad said. “The YC program is a valuable way to learn about the business.”
“At the same time, we are building a network of friendships through the program,” Janora said. “It’s refreshing to connect with young dairy farmers who are just like us.”
The Korvers will work with fellow YC steering committee members to plan and host events throughout the year. Fellow committee members include: past chairpersons, Matt and Julie Peterson, Boyd, Wis.; vice chairperson, Mike Lax, Sleepy Eye, Minn.; secretaries, Gerard and Menna Wiersema, Parker. S.D.; and members-at-large, David and Anna Wilson, Garnavillo, Iowa.
Up next for 2022, the YC steering committee is making plans for a new networking event at the Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls, S.D., and the return of the group’s summer tour set for June 21 – 22 in River Falls, Wis. The tour will feature dairy manufacturing education at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Dairy Pilot Plant and area AMPI member farms.
AMPI is headquartered in New Ulm, Minn., and owned by dairy farm families from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. The cooperative’s award-winning cheese, butter and powdered dairy products are marketed to foodservice, retail and food ingredient customers. The co-op launched its Dinner Bell Creamery brand and accompanying Co-op Crafted promise in 2019, highlighting more than 50 years of dairy farm families partnering with skilled dairy craftsmen to make great-tasting, award-winning products. AMPI members annually market about 4.9 billion pounds of milk generating $1.6 billion in sales.
