DFANEWS SPLASH

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0DFA QUICK LINKS | 2 | New Online Applicant System | 3 | Monett Celebration | 3 | DFA Wins Dairy Contest | 4 | Chocolate Milk

In September, more than 200 DFA staff members from throughout the country gathered for a Team Development Conference (TDC). During the event, which took place in New Orleans, La., attendees received updates on DFA and the industry, attended professional development workshops, and heard from Executive Committee Members about their operations. In addition, staff members had the opportunity to live one of our corporate values — community — by working in an area still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina five years ago.

The attendees participated in a community service project that was coordinated in conjunction with not-for-profit organization HandsOn New Orleans and NOLA Green Roots, a greenspace development organization. DFA farmer leaders and employees began transforming two vacant lots into community gardens that will supply Ninth Ward residents in New Orleans, La., with a variety of fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables.

In addition, the Cooperative introduced a fundraising initiative to employees at the conference. As a result, DFA presented a check for $5,000 to NOLA Green Roots to help fund additional development at the Ninth Ward Community Gardens.

You also can live the value of community by contacting your local human resources representative for volunteer opportunities in your own community. In addition, you can support DFA Cares by making a contribution to the DFA Cares Foundation.

Making a Difference in the Big Easy: Members, Employees Lend a Hand

Highlights from the TDC community service project. Clockwise starting at right: Before and after images of the two lots transformed. Farmer leaders and employees installing garden boxes and a walking path. A group of employees (front, left to right) Troy Hansen, Art Farris, George Harper and Tammi Jenisch; and (back, left to right) Mark Korsmeyer and Michael Lichte are joined by a local resident while taking a break.

Advancing your career with DFA just got easier thanks to a new online internal career center.

ADP Virtual Edge, a job applicant tracking system, was launched in mid-September and moved the job application process from paper to electronic form.

The system is an internal version of the job search system running externally on www.dfamilk.com.

Employees can access the internal career center from three different areas — the Dairy University kiosks at plants, the DFA Portal and from ADP’s Employee Self-Service page. All three areas will have the same options for job searches.

On the system, employees are able to specify their job search and register to receive alerts for new job postings in a specific field of interest.

“Employees will have better access to jobs,” says Kyle Wright DFA corporate recruiter. “Before, people may or may not have been able to view job postings outside of their location because it all depended on where they were. Now, everyone will have the same resources.”

Once employees find an opening of interest, they can click on it for more information and apply directly online.

All of the employee’s information will be automatically included in their application. They must only fill out their résumé to apply.

With the new system, employees can access their application history and human resources will have more tools to put the right candidates in the right positions and more time to efficiently respond to all applicants in a timely fashion.

Six Simple Steps to Career Center Success

1. To access the internal career center, click on the link found on Dairy University kiosks, the DFA Portal or ADP’s Employee Self-Service page.

2. Once in the internal career center, you may use search criteria to narrow your job search or leave the fields blank to view all DFA opportunities.

3. Before you begin searching, you will be instructed to enter a username and a password. Your username is identical to your employee ID. The first time you log in, your password will be Dfamilk1. After your initial login, you will be asked to change your personal password.

4. Once your search results are shown, you may select any job to read more information. You also can register for job alerts that inform you when a job with specific criteria you’ve selected becomes available.

5. To apply for a position, click apply. All of your personal information will be automatically submitted with your application. You must only fill in the résumé portion of the application.

6. At any time, you can log in and access your job application history.

Human Resources Department Introduces New Online Applicant System

The screen shot above shows the log-in page of the new internal career center. Employees can use this new system to apply for different careers within the Cooperative.

Playing It Safe Pays Off Monett plant celebrates two years with no lost-time accidents Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.’s (DFA) Monett, Mo., plant recently celebrated its dedication to safety after going more than two years with no lost-time accidents.

The plant’s 86 employees, who make cheddar cheese, ingredients and whey products, had a chance to win prizes and enjoy great food during a plant cookout celebrating the achievement.

While plant employees are excited about reaching the two-year mark, the true goal is to break the plant’s

previous best of 1,169 days with no lost-time accidents, Mickey Durbin, Monett plant manager says.

“Our team is excited that we hit the two-year mark, but now they want to break that 1,169 really bad,” says Durbin. “It takes a lot of effort, awareness and plain old hard work to make sure everyone is safe. Our goal is to make sure everyone goes home safely.”

Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA) recently earned awards for six products in the 2010 World Dairy Expo Dairy Product Championship Contest. The event is one of the premier dairy contests in North America and one of the only judging contests that includes all dairy products.

The competition is held in conjunction with World Dairy Expo — the world’s largest agricultural show that takes place September 28–October 2 in Madison, Wis. — and it offers national and international exposure to competitors and winners alike. More than 70,000 people attend this show annually.

Congratulations to everyone involved with putting DFA in the winner’s circle once again at the World Dairy Expo Dairy Product Championship Contest.

Products on the Podium

1st – Sharp Cheddar by Zumbrota, Minn.

1st – Pasteurized processed Borden cheese by Plymouth, Wis.

1st – Plugrá butter by Winnsboro, Texas

1st and 2nd – Mozzarella by Turlock, Calif.

3rd – Provolone by Turlock, Calif.

Medal Winners Six DFA Products Place in Dairy Contest

Monett, Mo., employees celebrated two years with no lost-time accidents with a cookout. Clockwise from right: Ron Maples, whey department employee, poses with his new barbecue grill, which he won in an employee drawing. Ed Kristek, lab foreman, grills steak and shrimp during a celebration luncheon. Plant employees Joey Brandt, Tony Kelley, Daryl Basye and David Erickson are ready to fill their plates as Ed Kristek mans the grill.

Welcome New HiresDFA employs more than 3,000 people located in offices and plants throughout the country. Please welcome these new employees:

Q and AJust Ask Us…

Are you a new employee trying to figure out where to find staples? Or are you a longtime employee wondering about the educational benefits DFA offers? Do you have a question you want answered?

E-mail your questions to: Ruby GeinoskyCommunications Associate rgeinosky@dfamilk.com

To submit your question anonymously, mail them to Ruby at: Dairy Farmers of America10220 N. Ambassador DriveKansas City, MO 64153

We’ll answer your questions in future editions of DFA News Splash.

The Milk Processor Education Program and the National Dairy Council have partnered for the Raise Your Hand for Chocolate Milk campaign. The campaign aims to educate parents and the public about the benefits of chocolate milk in schools as some schools and lunch advocates are attempting to remove low-fat chocolate milk from the lunch line. As employees of a milk marketing cooperative, it is important that we support this campaign and encourage schools to keep offering this nutritious product to their students.

The nation’s milk processors (through the Milk Processor Education Program) and dairy farmers (through the National Dairy Council) have teamed up to provide the latest facts and science on chocolate milk’s

role in children’s diets. You can also sign the “Raise Your Hand For Chocolate Milk” petition to show your support to keep chocolate milk on the menu in schools nationwide.

According to researchers, adding chocolate to milk doesn’t take away its nine essential nutrients. Flavored milk accounts for less than 3.5 percent of added sugar intake in children ages 6–12 and less than 2 percent in teens.

Sign the petition at the campaign’s website, www.raiseyourhand4milk.com, which also offers downloadable educational materials and other tools.

Thomas Adams • Henderson, Colo.Timothy Aguilar • Monett, Mo.Paul Albrecht • Winthrop, Minn.Brian Alley • Henderson, Colo.Michael Appelt • Schulenburg, TexasTammy Auman • Berkshire Dairy, Wyomissing,

Pa.Patrick Bacak • Schulenburg, TexasCharles Campbell III • Schulenburg, TexasGregory Carlson • DairiConcepts-Dalbo, Minn.Joshua Connor • Fort Morgan, Colo.David Ellis • Springfield, Mo.John Funk • Reading, Pa.

Peter Goedecker • Schulenburg, TexasKaren Gorman • Knoxville,Tenn.Nicholas Gould • Winthrop, Minn.Rick Green • Henderson, Colo.John Heckman • Schulenburg, TexasNoah Hefner • Adrian, Mich.Heriberto Hernandez • Springfield, Mo.Kathleen Holmes • DairiConcepts-Portales, N.M.Richard Irwin • Schulenburg, TexasJeremy Johnston • DairiConcepts-Allerton, IowaHeather Jones • Springfield, Mo.Christopher Joyner • Schulenburg, TexasColtrin Keele • Salt Lake City, Utah

Bret Keith • Springfield, Mo.John Kyle • West Middlesex, Pa.Erin Lewis • Kansas City, Mo.Jennifer Linder • DairiConcepts-Springfield, Mo.Tim Ludgate • Henderson, Colo.Steven Machicek • Schulenburg, TexasPatricia Malanowski • DairiConcepts-

Springfield, Mo.Jessica Morgan • Kansas City, Mo.Tommy Morris • Monett, Mo.Scott Peterson • Salt Lake City, UtahAmy Randolph • Kansas City, Mo.Legrand Rowley • Salt Lake City, Utah

Nicholas Ruble • Kansas City, Mo.Ronald Schreiner • Henderson, Colo.William Singer • Plymouth, Wis.Cory Slagel • Goshen, Ind.Paul Smiles • Monett, Mo.John Stanford • DairiConcepts-Allerton, IowaTony Stephens • Springfield, Mo.L’Tisha Stokes • Springfield, Mo.Doug Stuntz • Schulenburg, TexasJames Suraci • West Middlesex, Pa.Rebecca Terry • Kansas City, Mo.Bryan Wallace • DairiConcepts-Allerton, IAMark Zellers • Henderson, Colo.

Milk provides nutrients essential for good health and kids will drink more when it’s flavored. Flavored milk contains the same nine essential nutrients as white milk and is a healthful alternative to soft drinks.

Drinking low-fat or fat-free white or flavored milk helps kids get the 3 daily servings* of milk recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and provides three of the five “nutrients of concern” that children do not get enough of – calcium, potassium and magnesium as well as vitamin D. Children who drink flavored milk meet more of their nutrient needs; do not consume more added sugar, fat or calories; and are not heavier than non-milk drinkers.

Low-fat chocolate milk is the most popular milk choice in schools and kids drink less milk (and get fewer nutrients) if it’s taken away.

Read about the science behind these reasons on www.NationalDairyCouncil.org

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3-A-Day of Dairy is a comprehensive science-based nutrition education program designed to provide clear guidance for consumers about how to meet dietary

recommendations for dairy foods (low-fat and fat-free milk, yogurt and cheese). On average, Americans consume only about half of the three servings of

dairy each day recommended by the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The 3-A-Day of Dairy program is guided and supported by leading health and

nutrition professional organizations including the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Dietetic

Association (ADA), National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), National Medical Association (NMA), and School Nutrition Association (SNA).

These health and nutrition organizations support 3-A-Day of Dairy, a science-based nutrition education program encouraging Americans to

consume the recommended three daily servings of nutrient-rich low-fat or fat-free milk and milk products to improve overall health.

Supporting Health & Nutrition Organizations of 3-A-Day of Dairy

These health and nutrition organizations support 3-Every-Day™ of Dairy, a science-based nutrition education program encouraging Americans

to consume the recommended three daily servings of nutrient-rich low-fat or fat-free milk and milk products to improve overall health.

Raise Your Hand for Chocolate Milk Kicks Off