Cooperative recognized for excellence at national dairy communications event
The Michigan Milk Producers Association has been recognized on the national stage for its impressive communication efforts. At the National Milk Producers Federation’s annual meeting held in Arlington, Texas, MMPA was named the Cooperative Communicator of the Year. This award is part of NMPF’s yearly cooperative communications contest, which highlights outstanding work in dairy storytelling across the country.
MMPA competed alongside 11 cooperatives and 102 entries from across the United States. The cooperative earned a total of fifteen awards, including five first-place, five second-place, and five third-place recognitions. One of its standout pieces, “The Low Down on FMMOs,” originally published in the January/February 2025 edition of the Milk Messenger, received the prestigious Best of Show: Writing award. This achievement is given to the top writing entry selected from all first-place winners across four major categories, including publications, writing, graphics, and special projects.
“These awards reaffirm our cooperative’s mission to inform, engage and advocate for our member-owners,” said Joe Diglio, MMPA President and CEO. “Our communications team plays a critical role in strengthening the connections that unite our membership and sharing the story of MMPA’s impact across the broader dairy industry.”
This recognition follows another significant achievement for the cooperative. In 2024, MMPA Board Chairman Doug Chapin was named the NMPF Farmer Communicator of the Year. “This recognition is a testament to the strength of MMPA’s communications,” said Doug Chapin, MMPA Board Chairman and 2024 NMPF Farmer Communicator of the Year. “Winning multiple awards, including Best of Show, reflects our commitment to keeping members informed and engaged.” Together, the back-to-back national honors highlight the cooperative’s commitment to strong, clear, and meaningful communication.
Chapin emphasized that this year’s awards reflect the dedication of the communications team and the value they bring to members. He noted that earning multiple awards, including the Best of Show recognition, shows MMPA’s continued leadership in dairy communication.
Readers can explore the award-winning article and other stories by visiting MMPA’s website. A full list of NMPF contest results is available through the official contest announcement.
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