In dairy-related news for the first half of May 2026:
- Poull selected as the 79th Alice in Dairyland
- Michael Dykes to retire as president and CEO of IDFA
- USDA requests producer input
- 24th annual National Dairy Challenge Contest held last month
- Eversource and Agri-Mark partner to modernize Massachusetts dairy plant
- Maola announces 2026 scholarship recipients
Poull selected as the 79th Alice in Dairyland
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has selected Anastasia Poull of Port Washington as Wisconsin’s 79th Alice in Dairyland. In this position, Poull will work for the contract year as a full-time marketing and communications professional for DATCP, educating the public about the importance of agriculture in Wisconsin.
Poull has long-standing passions for agriculture, learning and new experiences. During her first four years at South Dakota State University, Poull earned three bachelor’s degrees in animal science, agricultural leadership and agricultural science, with two minors in agricultural business and communication studies. Her extracurricular involvement, including the 2020 Wool Judging Team and ambassadorship for the college of agriculture, helped develop important connections for her Master of Arts in communication and media studies. Through her studies and work opportunities, Poull found a strong disconnect between producers and consumers and hopes to help bridge this gap through agricultural communications.
Poull was announced at the 79th Alice in Dairyland Finals hosted by Marathon County this weekend. She will begin her term as the 79th Alice in Dairyland on July 6. She succeeds the 78th Alice in Dairyland, Sarah Hagenow of Poynette, who will continue her current term until the transition in July.
Michael Dykes to retire as president and CEO of IDFA
Michael Dykes, DVM, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), recently announced his plans to retire at the end of 2026, concluding a decade of leadership marked by significant industry growth, policy achievements and organizational transformation. IDFA’s Executive Council officer group is forming a committee to support the process for selecting the association’s next president and CEO while Dykes continues to serve in his role through the end of 2026 to support a smooth and thoughtful leadership transition.
“Michael has been a transformational leader for IDFA and for the U.S. dairy industry,” said Daragh Maccabee, chair of the IDFA Executive Council. “Over the past decade, he has strengthened IDFA’s credibility, expanded its influence and helped position the association and the dairy industry for long-term success. Under his leadership, IDFA has built one of the strongest advocacy teams in Washington, strengthened its financial position, expanded industry engagement across the supply chain and helped deliver extraordinary momentum for dairy both domestically and globally. The organization is exceptionally well positioned for the future.”
Most recently, under Dykes’ leadership, the dairy industry secured landmark outcomes in the 2025-30 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, reaffirming dairy as a core food group and recognizing dairy foods at every fat level as part of healthy dietary patterns. IDFA also helped lead bipartisan passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, restoring whole and reduced-fat milk options in schools and expanding choice for students and families nationwide.
During Dykes’ tenure, IDFA also significantly expanded its engagement on global trade policy and international market access, helping strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. dairy around the world. A recognized leader in agricultural trade policy, Dykes has served as a cleared adviser to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and as a member of the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC). Under his leadership, IDFA advanced policies and trade engagement efforts that helped position U.S. dairy for continued growth in global markets.
Dykes also led the establishment of the IDFA Foundation in 2022 and helped advance multiple industry-wide commitments demonstrating dairy’s proactive leadership on health and nutrition. Under his leadership, IDFA expanded dairy nutrition incentive programs for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants and reinforced dairy’s role as an affordable, nutritious and accessible food for families around the world.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dykes helped lead industry efforts to ensure dairy processing facilities could continue operating safely as essential infrastructure, helping maintain the production and transportation of nutritious dairy foods nationwide.
USDA requests producer input
Over the next several weeks, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct the June Agricultural Survey by contacting over 90,000 producers across the nation to determine crop acreage and stock levels as of June 1, 2026.
“The June Agricultural Survey is one of the most significant and recognized surveys NASS conducts,” said Joseph L. Parsons, NASS administrator. “When producers take part, they help ensure that the nation’s agricultural reporting remains accurate, transparent and free from speculation. Their responses directly support decisions made by farmers, ranchers, researchers, private industry and policymakers who depend on trustworthy data.” Producers can respond to the June Agricultural Survey online, by phone or mail. They will be asked to provide information on planted and harvested acreage, including acreage for biotech crops and grain stocks.
24th annual National Dairy Challenge Contest held last month
The 2026 National Dairy Challenge Contest and Academy wrapped up on Tuesday, April 14, after three days of immersive, hands-on learning experiences for 281 dairy-focused college students from across North America. Held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, this year’s event set a new record for participation in both the academy and contest teams.
Students representing 43 colleges and universities participated in this unique event, which combines real-world farm evaluation with networking and professional development. The dairy challenge is designed to help students from around the country bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical application in the dairy industry.
The event began on Sunday, April 12, when students received herd data from their assigned farms. The next day, 137 academy students visited Boadwine Farms. Accompanied by industry mentors, students evaluated areas of the dairy farm such as calf care, parlor management, feed systems and facility design. In the afternoon, students had the opportunity to interview the dairy producers to ask follow-up questions and gain a deeper understanding of on-farm goals and management practices. Using this insight, students then developed presentations and proposed strategies for improvement.
Meanwhile, 144 contest participants visited either Mooody County Dairy or Tri-Cross Dairy. In just two hours, teams conducted a comprehensive farm analysis, followed by a Q&A session with the farm owners and advisers. Teams then prepared detailed recommendations in key areas such as nutrition, reproduction, milking procedures, animal health, cow comfort, and labor and financial management.
The final day of the contest saw judge panels evaluating each team’s presentation, which highlighted the strengths and areas of improvement for their respective farms. Each panel of five judges included dairy producers, veterinarians, finance specialists and seasoned agribusiness personnel. Awards were presented to top-performing teams based on the quality of their analyses and practical recommendations.
The event concluded at the annual banquet with the presentation of student awards, marking the end of the successful 2026 National Dairy Challenge Contest and Academy.
Eversource and Agri-Mark partner to modernize Massachusetts dairy plant
Eversource and Agri-Mark, the farmer-owned dairy cooperative behind the Cabot Creamery, McCadam, and Agri-Mark Whey and Dairy Proteins brands, have completed a major energy efficiency upgrade at Agri-Mark’s plant in West Springfield, Massachusetts. They partnered on the installation of a high-efficiency mechanical vapor recompression (MVR) unit, which is used in the production of condensed and powdered milk products. This equipment has resulted in significant reductions that help lower energy usage, reduce costs and support operational consistency and product quality.
The MVR upgrade is expected to reduce natural gas consumption by an estimated 967,000 therms per year, resulting in a lower overall energy usage and improved long-term affordability for the operation, not accounting for modest increases in electricity use.
A new, energy-efficient finisher thermal vapor recompression (TVR) and next‑generation TVR technology was also installed, which will reduce natural gas consumption by an additional 110,000 therms annually. The equivalent gas savings from these combined projects replaces the greenhouse gas emissions that would arise from driving over 14 million miles in a gas-powered car.
Maola announces 2026 scholarship recipients
Maola Local Dairies announced the selection of 11 outstanding students as recipients of a 2026 Maola scholarship.
This year, Maola is awarding a total of $5,500 from the Maola Fund to support students as they pursue their educational goals. These scholarships are designed to help offset college expenses for the upcoming academic year and reflect Maola’s continued commitment to supporting education and investing in the future of its farmer families and employees.
Scholarship recipients include:
- Norah Bechtel, Curryville, Pennsylvania
- Dakota Bush, Lykens, Pennsylvania
- Owen Forsythe, Dillsburg, Pennsylvania
- Sydney Gentry, Mooresville, North Carolina
- Regan Jackson, Boyce, Virginia
- Natalie Love, Williamsport, Maryland
- Nathan Myers, Union Bridge, Maryland
- Ainsley Sellers, Lebanon, Pennsylvania
- Atley Shafer, Jefferson, Maryland
- Sara Stoltzfus, Berlin, Pennsylvania
- Caroline Winterstein, Sudlersville, Maryland
