Young Cooperator Program
Young Cooperators tour the farm of Jim and Lori Schmitt.
2011 Swiss Valley Farms Young Cooperator Conference was a Winner!!
A great turnout of young co-op members from four states arrived in Dubuque, Iowa in late February to participate in the Swiss Valley Farms YC Spring Break. Blue skies accompanied a bus trip to the John Deere Dubuque Works. YC'ers jumped on trams pulled by John Deere lawn tractors and guided by informative retirees. During the next hour and a half, the trams threaded their way through the aisles of the over one-mile-long manufacturing facility situated on the banks of the Mississippi River.
This tour was followed by a trip to the nearby dairy of Jim and Lorie Schmitt, Sherrill, Iowa.One of the most highly rated speakers of the week was Todd Timmerman from Timmerman's Talents LLC in Platteville, Wis. Todd's topic was using alternate energy sources on the farm.
Pat Schroeder, Swiss Valley's representative on the NMPF Board, made a presentation on Foundations for the Future. Jeff Jirik, vice president of Blue Cheese Operations, gave the YC'ers a brief history of the Caves of Faribault and took them on a slide show tour of the Caves and how cheese is produced there. Wrapping up the event was motivational speaker Craig Grothe from Crawfordsville, Iowa, who inspired the YC'ers to appreciate life and their families and to not fear the changes that are an inevitable part of life.
Who is a Swiss Valley Farms YC'er?
Swiss Valley Farms members from 18 through 45 years old are Young Cooperators and are eligible to attend this two-day YC Spring Break. At this conference, equal time is devoted to educational seminars as well as fun and entertainment. Swiss Valley Farms brings in top notch speakers to address the YC'ers on a wide range of issues that affect their lives and their dairy operations. YC'ers from across the Swiss Valley Farms four-state area can relax and meet fellow co-op members, and discover common ground for interesting discussion.If you are not a current member, but would like to become one, please click below.
Swiss Valley Farms YC'ers who attended the NMPF Dairy Summit in Reno, Nevada were, from left, Corinne and Doug Ihm, Cassville, Wis.; Marty & Lisa Burken, Clinton, Iowa, and Roy and Shiloh Johnson, Parkersburg, Iowa.
Matt and Kristi Strief, Swiss Valley Farms 2011 Outstanding YC Couple.
Matt and Kristi Strief selected 2011 Outstanding YC couple
Swiss Valley Farms holds its Young Cooperator Conference during its annual YC Spring Break. The winners of this contest will represent the co-op at the NMPF annual Dairy Summit. This year, Matt and Kristi Strief of Farley, Iowa were selected the 2011 Outstanding Young Cooperator couple. They will be representing Swiss Valley Farms at the 2011 NMPF Dairy Summit in San Diego, CA and will sit on the 2012 YC Advisory Board and help plan that year's conference. .
