Utah Dairy Commission, Dairy West outline farmer programs, school and retail partnerships
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Summary
Utah Dairy Commission leaders and Dairy West staff told the Retirement and Independent Entities Committee that producer-funded promotions and farmer-focused programs support roughly 100 Utah dairy farms and school nutrition, retail and athlete partnerships; they described the commission's funding structure and regional marketing role.
The Utah Dairy Commission and Dairy West representatives briefed the Legislature's Retirement and Independent Entities Committee on the commission's programs, funding and farmer outreach. David Roberts, chairman of the Utah Dairy Commission and a dairyman from Beaver, said the commission promotes Utah dairy through a state checkoff and a regional marketing contract.
Roberts told the committee, “We are funded by the 15¢ check off. 10¢ of that check off stays here locally and 5¢ is used nationally.” He said the commission contracts yearly with Dairy West for advertising and promotion and maintains a Draper office staffed to promote Utah dairy.
The commission, Roberts said, is a nine-member board of dairymen with two nonvoting advisory members and meets four to six times per year. He described the commission's topics as research, nutrition, education and marketing aimed at stabilizing the state industry.
Anne Lacuta, who said she works in innovation and insights for Dairy West out of Draper, described Dairy West's role as a regional marketing and program partner for Utah and neighboring states. “Dairy West's mission is to inspire trust, build demand and foster innovation for a thriving dairy industry now and in the future,” Lacuta said, and she highlighted work in school nutrition, sports nutrition and retail partnerships.
Lacey Papageorge, Dairy West farmer relations manager and a fourth-generation dairy farmer, told the committee the state has roughly 100 dairy farms, 98% family owned, and about 90,000 dairy cows producing about 2,100,000,000 pounds of milk annually. Papageorge described farmer-facing programs including 23 annual scholarships, a farmer ambassador program to increase transparency about how producer dollars are spent, bilingual safety training and community fundraising events such as an ice cream festival at the Utah State Fair that raised money for a food bank.
Committee members asked how federal school nutrition funding changes were affecting milk served in schools. Lacuta said Dairy West's school nutrition specialist monitors budget pressures and works with school directors to design programs that fit local budgets.
Committee discussion also touched on the distribution of the checkoff funds. During questions, industry representative Michael (dairy producer representative) explained that the federal portion is mandatory, the state portion funds Utah programs, and some voluntary industry assessments fund producer organizations and legislative outreach. That exchange clarified that the 15¢ checkoff supports a mix of state and national marketing and that some additional, voluntary producer contributions fund separate producer organizations.
The committee received the report for informational purposes; no committee action was taken on Dairy Commission programs during the meeting.
