Change is in store for two Pacific Northwest dairy checkoff organizations. Board leadership from the Dairy Farmers of Washington and Dairy West recently announced they will be joining forces under the Dairy West brand. Additionally, Steve Seppi, who previously served as the executive director of Dairy Farmers of Washington, has been selected as the new Dairy West CEO.
Increased efficiency and scale were among the driving factors behind the merger.
“By combining our strengths, we can unify our voice, reduce overlap and direct more checkoff dollars to programs that build trust and grow demand,” Seppi says. “Over time, combined resources will let us scale our programming more efficiently than either organization could alone.”
A larger budget will also provide opportunities to invest in research and innovation, expand on the BUILD program and the Western Dairy Center, scale an export program and run consumer marketing “large enough to matter in major channels, while relevant to each of our major markets,” Seppi adds.
Steve Seppi. Courtesy image.
Board leadership from both organizations expressed their support in various announcements to dairy producers and industry stakeholders across their respective states.
“This is an opportunity to build on the strong partnership we already have with our neighbors and work even more closely together to deliver greater impact for our farmers,” said Dairy Farmers of Washington Chairwoman Lana Smaciarz in an announcement to stakeholders.
Dairy West Chairman Chace Fullmer echoed her enthusiasm about the opportunity to provide more value to dairy producers across the region.
“We’re excited about the future and confident that Steve is the right person to help us grow stronger together as a unified region with a clear voice, a shared purpose and a continued focus on delivering value for farmers,” Fullmer said in an announcement.
The new combined Dairy West corporate board will include producer representation from Idaho, Utah and Washington based on milk production and population. The number of board seats from each state is still being determined. State boards will continue to advise on local priorities.
Seppi says he expects to present a final agreement to both boards by the end of 2025 and begin operating as one organization in 2026.
“Over the next year, dairy producers will see seamless service with no disruption to current projects, a more coordinated and visible marketing approach across the region, investments in partnerships that will begin to shape the future of the region as a hub for innovation and exports, and a more responsive and visible checkoff program that is unified, grounded in producer priorities and focused on meaningful outcomes,” he says.
