Prairie Farms kicked off June dairy month by partnering with 30 Feeding America food banks in 14 states to donate 85 pallets of milk, which is more than 346,000 milk servings. The company says the donation honors the cooperative’s dairy farm families for their essential role in providing milk and dairy products to American families for 85 years.

The June 1 donation coincided with the kickoff of National Dairy Month and World Milk Day.

Not only is Prairie Farms celebrating its 85th anniversary and dairy month by giving back to communities, but the company is also celebrating the support of millions of families. Now through June 30, 85 weekly winners will receive $85 dairy prize packages, and one lucky grand prize winner will receive $850 cash, a $850 dairy prize package, and Prairie Farms will make a $850 milk donation to the winner’s favorite food bank.

As the campaign progresses, a new website will be revealed, along with dairy farmer influencer video segments, social, paid and earned media. The hub for all dairy month activities is prairiefarms.com/dairymonth.

Miller is new 4-H Foundation director

Abbey Miller has been named director of the Michigan 4-H Foundation and begins her new position June 19. She is charged with overseeing the organization’s operations and facilitating its strategic development under the direction and guidance of the Michigan 4-H Foundation board of trustees and in collaboration with MSU Extension and University Advancement.

The foundation receives donations from individuals and organizations to support 4-H youth development learning, training and activities.

Miller began with the foundation in 2001 when she was hired as a graphic designer. Later, she became the organization’s communications manager and soon after added annual giving to responsibilities. In 2017, Miller’s role expanded to include donor communications for MSU Extension, and in 2019, she added donor and alumni communications for the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Miller worked closely with CANR Advancement and University Advancement staff, supporting major gift storytelling and donor and alumni event communications.

Miller has bachelor’s degrees in animal science and in agriculture and natural resources communications from MSU and a certificate in developing annual sustainability from The Fundraising School at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

MDARD grants help companies expand, create new jobs

Long Road Distillers LLC and Manthei Wood Products are recent recipients of grants to increase their production space, expand and advance their product availability, and create 15 new jobs. The Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development grants total $155,000.

The funding comes through the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Food and Agriculture Investment, which provides financial support for projects that help expand food and agriculture processing to enable growth in the industry and Michigan’s economy.

Long Road Distillers was created as the first craft distillery in Grand Rapids and has continuously supported and maintained relationships with local Michigan farmers to create their products. Each product is milled from locally sourced ingredients, fermented and distilled on-site.

They have been fully committed to the utilization of Michigan grown agricultural products since their opening in 2015 and have already met capacity with their equipment and locations, including their tasting rooms in Grand Rapids and Grand Haven and warehouse and storage facilities, requiring a need for expansion.

With a $65,000 grant, it allows Long Road Distillers to buy new larger equipment with a higher capacity, while creating five new jobs.

Manthei Wood Products originated from the purchase of a “basket-making machine” in the 1940s, so two brothers who were strawberry farmers could make their own fruit baskets. The basket-making machine turned out to be a veneer lathe, so instead they began manufacturing veneer turning their company into a national leader in precision hardwood face veneers.

With a $90,000 grant, the company will be able to purchase new state-of-the-art plywood press, inspection and repair line and trimming line. This will eliminate the limitations of the outdated machinery and will allow them to increase their veneer-faced plywood panel production by over three times. In addition, this will create 10 new positions.

Averill named MSU AgBioResearch assistant director

James Averill, a Michigan State University alumnus and longtime leader in Michigan agriculture, has been named assistant director of MSU AgBioResearch, effective July 1.

Since 2021, he has served as the director of outcome assessment and continuous quality improvement in the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine. In this position, he is responsible for the college’s implementation, coordination and evaluation of the academic aspects of its professional curriculum.

With CVM, Averill has also led the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory as interim director.

In his new role with AgBioResearch, Averill will be tasked with overseeing on- and off-campus research facilities, including the South Campus Animal Farms and 15 AgBioResearch centers across the state.

He will lead internal grants programs geared toward advancing Michigan’s agriculture industries. Given Averill’s expertise in animal agriculture, his initial focus will be on providing guidance for the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture.

The M-AAA is a partnership among MSU, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and animal agriculture industries aimed at boosting the animal agriculture economy.

Averill will manage an MDARD grant that provides funding for M-AAA’s competitive grants program.

For more than two decades, Averill has been affiliated with MSU in some professional capacity. From 2002 to 2006, he was a research assistant in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, where he has also been an adjunct faculty member since 2007.

Dairy farmers share breakfast, book with students

For the past three years, the United Dairy Industry of Michigan has joined elementary schools, local authors and partner athletes to fuel up with breakfast and dive into reading — and learn about Michigan’s dairy community along the way.

The 30-minute sessions feature story time, tips for a healthy breakfast and the opportunity to ask questions of a celebrity or a dairy farmer. The motivational and encouraging books and discussions are geared toward students in kindergarten through third grade. 

The award-winning live stream events have reached more than 25,000 students and 1,300 teachers. The sessions have run the gamut from interactions with Detroit Pistons mascot Hooper to stories read by Michigan dairy farmers, bookstore owners, UDIM team members, and amateur or professional athletes.

To learn more about UDIM or check out the “Breakfast and a Book” event recordings and learning materials, visit milkmeansmore.org.