Dairy Farmers of America

Tastes like a winner! Progressive Grocer named DFA farmer-owned product TruMoo® Protein Whole Chocolate Milk one of the best new products of 2026. The list of picks highlights innovative products and cutting-edge trends in food and beverage. With functional nutrition at the forefront of consumer demands this year, TruMoo Protein was a clear winner. TruMoo Chocolate Milk Protein unites the high-quality nutrition and protein of dairy with delicious, real chocolate milk taste. With 13 grams of protein per serving, no high-fructose corn syrup, no added sugar, and no lactose, TruMoo Protein expands the brand’s kid-approved lineup to something that everyone from active adults to busy families can enjoy.

Not every role is built to stay still. At Dairy Farmers of America, the work keeps moving and so do the people behind it. It’s hands-on from the start. The pace is real, because the work matters. The folks beside you show up ready to solve problems, support each other, and keep things running safely, consistently, and the way our farmers expect it to. Behind it all are the dairy farmer-owners who count on that work getting done right. We’re hiring for roles such as: Controls Specialist – New Wilmington, Pa. Senior Field EHS Manager – Kansas City, Kan. Distribution Manager – Huntington, Ind. These are the kinds of jobs where you can see the impact of your work in real time. Where your decisions matter on the floor, with your team, and across the operation. If you’re ready for a next step that goes somewhere, take a look at where that path could lead with DFA.

Mike and Krishanda Eldredge are DFA farmer-owners who run a first-generation dairy farm outside of Preston, Idaho — but they’re far from first-generation farmers. On #NationalIdahoDay, we’re celebrating family dairy farmers like the Eldredges who prove resilience can span generations. “I grew up on a fifth-generation farm,” Mike says. “When my family sold out, I was 16 and never thought I’d milk another cow in my life.” Krishanda’s story was similar, but her family sold out when she was even younger. Mike went to school to become a veterinarian and built his career helping dairy farmers with herd health and breeding. Over time, he collected a small herd of cows of his own. With their shared background, Mike and Krishanda decided to try their hand at dairying again, but this time together. Today, their operation includes two facilities within a mile of each other, or a quick ride on a four-wheeler. For Krishanda, one of the most meaningful parts of their operation has been opening their dairy to 4-H and National FFA Organization students. “Three of our daughters have been involved in 4H and FFA since they were young,” she says. “But we noticed that they were some of the only students still involved.” Krishanda started a dairy heifer program to help rebuild dairy involvement at their local fair. The program allows students to play an active role in raising calves, learning basic livestock care, nutrition, health, and responsibility, and eventually showing the calf at a fair. What started small has grown into nearly 15 kids and calves — many from families with no agriculture background. Animals stay at the Eldredges’ dairy, families are welcome on site, and parents often find themselves learning right alongside their kids. “These families will tell us they had no idea how much work went into raising animals and producing dairy,” she says. “Creating that awareness and connection is really rewarding.” That sense of purpose carries into how Mike views their role as DFA farmer‑owners with a cooperative to support them. “Having a guaranteed market and support behind the scenes is far more valuable than we can really say,” Mike says. “It gives us the stability to focus on doing things right.” And knowing where their milk goes is a point of pride instead of uncertainty. “Knowing our milk goes into locally known brands like Meadow Gold Dairy means a lot to us,” Mike says. This National Idaho Day, the Eldredges’ story is a reminder that dairy is built on perseverance, family, and the willingness to open doors — to neighbors and to the next generation.

Some of these images look real. One clearly isn’t. That’s the point. AI can generate almost anything now. And in the right place, that’s genuinely useful. But “looking real” still isn’t the same as being real. As more content is generated and scaled, it’s getting harder to tell what’s real. People want to know what’s intentional and what they can trust. That especially matters when it comes to what we put in our bodies. Milk starts with real cows and moves through a system designed to produce something safe, consistent, and trusted. It’s cared for by farmer-owners and handled every step of the way by employees who take that responsibility seriously. In a world often rushing toward artificial, choosing something real still matters. It’s how we connect communities with dairy every day.

For more than 90 years, the winner of the Indianapolis 500 has celebrated their success with a drink of real milk in Victory Circle, handed to them by an Indiana dairy farmer representing farms across the state. At this year’s race, in partnership with American Dairy Association Indiana Inc., that tradition will be carried on by two DFA farmer-owners, Ashley Stockwell and Brian Rexing. At the 2026 Indianapolis 500, Ashley Stockwell of Stockwell Farms in Hudson, Ind., will serve as the Veteran Milk Presenter and deliver milk to the winning driver. Brian Rexing of New Generation Dairy in Owensville, Ind., will serve as the Rookie Milk Presenter, presenting milk to the winning team owner and chief mechanic. “It’s an incredible honor to serve as the Veteran milk presenter this year and experience the greatest spectacle in racing in this way for the second year in a row,” Ashley says. “Continuing this tradition during the Year of the Woman Farmer is especially meaningful. I’m proud to represent Indiana dairy farmers, and our daughters, and other women in dairy across the country.” Ashley grew up in a farming family and now runs Stockwell Farms with her husband, Kyle, and their four kids. For Brian, who grew up milking cows and now runs a fourth‑generation dairy with his wife, Ranell, the moment carries a different kind of weight. He has said the opportunity isn’t really about standing in Victory Circle. It’s about representing the farmers who show up every day to nourish the people of Indiana and beyond. The tradition started in 1936, when race winner Louis Meyer asked for buttermilk after crossing the finish line. That interesting choice of refreshment evolved into the tradition we see today, with an Indiana dairy farmer handing an ice-cold bottle to the winner in front of more than 250,000 fans at the track and millions more watching around the world, showcasing that real dairy is the fuel of champions. On race day, whole, 2%, and skim milk will be iced down and ready. Drivers are asked ahead of time which type they prefer — with whole milk usually at the top of the list, of course. If you were the champ, what would your choice be?

During Small Business Month, it’s worth remembering that small businesses aren’t just mom and pop bakeries or the bookstore your great-grandma’s grandma started. They’re also the farms that make the milk in your fridge. Most DFA farmer-owned dairies are run by families not too different from yours. They have inside jokes, disagreements, and values that have been passed down from the generations before them. So even if your store is big, when you support DFA farmer-owned brands, you’re helping to continue legacies and support small businesses that impact real families across the country.

We applaud USDA's interim final rule expanding milk options in child nutrition programs, an important step toward giving schools the flexibility to serve whole and 2% milk for the first time in more than a decade. This is a practical change that puts students at the center. When schools can offer the kinds of milk kids are more likely to choose and enjoy, it helps ensure they’re getting the nutrition they need to learn, grow and thrive. Expanding these options also brings school meals more in line with today’s nutrition science. This progress reflects years of advocacy by dairy farmers and partners working to bring both science and real-world experience into the conversation. We appreciate USDA and school nutrition leaders for their collaboration in moving this forward. As a farmer-owned cooperative, we’ll continue to advocate for policies that expand access to dairy and support schools in serving balanced, nutritious meals, while helping bring high-quality dairy products to communities across the country with the consistency and care people count on every day. 📸: image reposted from USDA

It takes heart, hustle, and a whole lot of love to be a mom. Across our Cooperative, we see that every day. In the International Year of the Woman Farmer, we’re recognizing the moms on our family-owned farms who live that out in real time. Raising kids. Raising calves. Starting the day early and carrying it through with care and grit. This Mother’s Day, we’re also recognizing the moms across DFA who support that work from plants, offices, trucks, and labs, while helping provide for their own families. Enjoy a few moments shared by our farmer-owners, and share what motherhood looks like in your world in the comments.

Some of the most meaningful moments on a dairy farm happen when the work slows down. For DFA farmer-owner Brad Bosch of Bosch Dairy Farms in Visalia, Calif., those moments are about family. About pausing long enough to celebrate his wife, the life they’ve built together, and the people who give purpose to the long days. This video is a reminder that while farming is a way of life, it’s the relationships beyond the barn that carry us through it. The ones worth capturing. The ones worth slowing down for. Who are the most important people in your life? We’d love to hear about them in the comments.

The science continues to reinforce the nutritional value of real milk. A recent piece on MarthaStewart.com looks at the research across today’s options to determine what stands out nutritionally, landing on pasteurized milk for what it consistently delivers — high-quality protein, essential nutrients, and real support for strength, recovery, and overall health. We’re #DFAProud to help bring milk to communities across the country and around the world, with the kind of care and nutrition people count on every day.