President’s Dessert Reception Honors Standouts
Ihm President’s Award
At the President’s Dessert Reception Feb. 11 at convention 2020, President Paul Olson presented three President’s Awards.
The first honored a multi-generational National Farmers family from Lancaster, Wisconsin. Ray and Sheri Ihm became members in 1967, but Ray was no stranger to the organization. His father, Frank, was active for many years before that time.
Raymond has been a Wisconsin county and district president, and worked actively on various National Farmers livestock marketing center boards, dairy committees and with NAFCOR in Wisconsin.
Through the decades, the Ihms have attended nearly every state and national convention. Much of the Ihm family joined Ray and Sheri Tuesday night to celebrate the award presentation.
Wedeberg President’s Award
Jim Wedeberg is one of the seven organic farmers that founded Organic Valley, the dairy pool within CROPP Cooperative. He has worked as a dairy pool director for Organic Valley and traveled abroad representing the company as well.
“The Organic Valley division of CROPP wouldn’t be here without National Farmers,” Jim said. National Farmers in Wisconsin was a partner in Organic Valley’s development.
Wedeberg purchased his grandfather’s farm in 1979. He values family, community, staying connected to the land and treating it with the respect it deserves. He farms with his sons, Jake and John. He accepted the award with his wife, Julie.
Northeast National Farmers President’s Award
A President’s Award was presented to the organization’s Northeast Dairy Region, comprising Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Maryland. Those states have undergone enormous industry change during the past three years, as producers lost milk markets.
The National Farmers dairy team has worked hard to secure a new home for those producers, and their milk. The team accepting the award was led by Northeast Regional Director Don Harnish, and staff member Kate Lucas.
Today, the region has grown to become the largest area of the country in milk volume the organization handles.
