Just a decade ago, the media was dominated by a few (very loud) voices. We watched the TV news at 5 p.m. and read the newspaper over coffee. If, as a farmer or a manufacturer or an inventor, we wanted to tell our story, we wrote up a press release and faxed it out - hoping someone would bite. Or, we sank thousands into advertising. For the most part, farmers didn't need to hire a big-city public relations firm to tell consumers that milk came from cows. Then came the social media revolution.

Jeremy and Jody Sharrard of Peck, Michigan, were selected as the state winning 2011 Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperators (OYDC). They represented Michigan Milk Producers Association’s (MMPA) District 8 and the Southern Sanilac Local in the annual OYDC conference held Aug. 17-18. Chris and Michele Daniels of Whittemore, Michigan, were named runners-up. They represented MMPA’s District 10 and the Sunrise Local. The Sharrards and Danielses were selected to participate in the program earlier this year by fellow dairy farmers in their district.

For the fifth consecutive year, The Big Ass Fan Company joins an exclusive ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in the nation. Inc. magazine’s prestigious Inc. 5000 list represents a comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy – America’s independent-minded entrepreneurs. Big Ass Fans, the worldwide leading manufacturer of large diameter, low speed fans ranging in diameter from 6- to 24-foot, has been included on the Inc. 5000 list since the list was founded in 2007.

Stephen Bauman won the first ever Western States Rodeo championship on Aug. 27, driving away with the 2011 Ford F-250 pickup truck grand prize and earning the title of best heavy equipment operator in the territories Western States serves. Bauman also won a Cat 226B3 skid steer for his sponsoring company; Pipe of Washington, Inc. "It was great to compete against the very best operators in the area and to be part of the first ever Western States Heavy Equipment Rodeo," said Stephen Bauman, project manager, Pipe of Washington, Inc. "I want to thank Tom Harris, my local CAT rep Jim Holland and the hard-working team at Western States and everyone involved in making this such a fun event, especially Dan Wiebold and his crew – driving away in a new Ford pickup was a thrill I'll always remember. Finally I want to thank my family and coworkers for their support, especially my wife and Cwentin Clifton who encouraged me and helped sharpen my skills as we prepared for the finals and the Lord for keeping my hands steady throughout the competition.”

Mary Zahurones, an 18-year-old college student from Pierz, Minnesota, was crowned the 58th Princess Kay of the Milky Way in an evening ceremony at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Aug. 24. As Princess Kay, Zahurones, who represents Morrison County, will serve as the official goodwill ambassador for Minnesota’s nearly 4,500 dairy farmers. She is the daughter of Chuck and Pat Tax of Pierz, and will attend the University of Minnesota Twin Cities this fall as a pre-med student studying biology and chemistry. Twelve county dairy princesses competed for the Princess Kay of the Milky Way title. Stephanie Kasper of Owatonna, Minnesota, representing Steele County, and Theresa Twohey of Stewartville, Minnesota, representing Olmsted County, were selected as runners-up. Twohey was also named Miss Congeniality. Scholarships were awarded to Erin Daninger of Forest Lake, Minnesota, representing Washington County, April Johnson of Heron Lake, Minnesota, representing Cottonwood County, and Emily Krekelberg of Le Sueur, Minnesota, representing Le Sueur County.