Dairy Farmers of America

If you're not following us on Instagram, you're missing out on some good fun! 'Tis the season for festive fits and we’re here for it! Earlier this week, cozy cow couture had us swooning, but leave it to farmer-owner and #DFACreator Josh Snider of Snider's Dairy to take it to the next level. Josh captioned it: “Who wore it best? Cue the runway music 🎶🐄 — these girls are strutting into winter with style!” While we’re all about a good laugh and a little playful creativity, we’re #DFAProud that farmer-owners like Josh never lose sight of what matters most. Happy, healthy cows year-round mean they’re ready for their close-up — even when inspiration strikes with ideas like this one. Shoutout to Josh’s students at the high school he teaches at for weighing in as his focus group. High schoolers sharing unfiltered opinions? Sounds about right. Ha! Which cow is your favorite?

Guess who’s got a favorite butter? Last week, Food & Wine revealed that Martha Stewart loves baking with Plugrá Premium European Style Butter, our DFA farmer-owned butter brand. 🧈✨ From its rich 82% butterfat to its role in creating flawless cookies and the flakiest crusts, the article explains why this butter is a baker’s dream—and where you can grab some for yourself. Whether you’re hosting like Martha or baking for fun, Plugrá is here to help you achieve your best bakes this holiday season and beyond. We’re #DFAProud to make moments like these possible! See the full article >> https://bit.ly/49JWGRY. What's your signature holiday dessert?

#ICYMI: We’re #DFAProud to have partnered with Target to bring shoppers a fun and festive product this holiday season. Crafted with care from our farmer-owners' high-quality real milk, #MilkForSanta is the perfect pick for Santa’s glass—or your own! Packaged in recyclable, one-quart cartons, this ultra-pasteurized #WholeMilk is made to last through all your holiday traditions. Fans are already buzzing about this whimsical addition, with one shopper sharing, “A new Christmas tradition my son is going to love.” Don’t miss out—grab yours at a Target store near you today and make sure you stay on the nice list. Shop now >> https://bit.ly/3BblDJw.

Fortune favors the bold, and DFA farmer-owner Paul Windemuller proves it. Starting with just 30 cows, he transformed his first-generation Michigan dairy into a thriving operation built on perseverance, teamwork and innovative technology. This year, he celebrates its 10-year milestone. Drawing on his experience as a DFA leader, podcast host and Nuffield International farming scholar, Paul hopes to inspire young people from all backgrounds to explore farming. “Find out what really lights up your passion, focus on that, and figure out how to work with other people who share their own passions to accomplish something great together,” says Paul. Read more about Paul and his family's dairying journey in this recent article by Dairy Herd Management >> https://bit.ly/41VifgT.

Salted vs. unsalted butter: What’s the difference? You guessed it, salt! Salted butter has salt added, while unsalted does not, so they’re not created equal when it comes to cooking and baking. Some tips to keep in mind: 🧈 Brands use different salt-to-cream ratios in their salted butter, so you won't have exact control over the salt in your dishes 🧈 Salted butter can include a variety of salt types, from table salt to sea salt and everything in between 🧈 Bakers beware: Salted butter contains more water than unsalted, so it may be more difficult to get that flaky texture you’re after If you plan to do a lot of holiday baking this year, remember unsalted butter is a baker’s best friend for cookies and cakes. However, salted butter is great for spreading (like on toast), in sauces and for sautéing, where a little extra flavor is welcome. If you ever need to swap one for the other, remember to adjust the salt in your recipe accordingly. (A quick rule is to reduce or add ¼ teaspoon salt per ½ cup butter.) Find a DFA farmer-owned butter brand near you >>> https://bit.ly/4brJi4y.

The holiday spirit came alive last night at our annual holiday tractor parade in St. Albans, Vt.! This year, more than 70 dazzling entries lit up the streets, with tractors, trucks, and floats beautifully decorated to spread festive cheer to thousands of attendees. A special shoutout to the Grand Marshal of this year’s parade, the Rowell family of Green Mountain Dairy. This multi-generational farm in Sheldon, Vt. traces its farming roots in the U.S. back to 1637. Their dedication to dairy farming and community engagement is inspiring. And what’s a parade without delicious treats? New England Dairy Mobile Milk Bar was on-site, serving up festive flavors for everyone to enjoy. We’re #DFAProud of how the community came together to celebrate the season!

Farm Funny Friday: Holiday Edition “All I want for Christmas is a cow choir and this song on repeat forever,” says DFA farmer-owner in Kansas and #DFACreator, Stacy Rethman. Honestly? Same. Mariah Carey, if you’re reading this, Stacy’s crew is ready to take this medley to the next level. Just say the word! What holiday jam is on repeat for you this season? Drop it in the comments!

Calling all college students (or anyone supporting one)! Applications for the DFA Cares Scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year are open and due by Jan. 12, 2025. Whether you're passionate about agriculture, exploring engineering, diving into food science, or pursuing another field, DFA Cares is here to support your journey. This scholarship isn’t just about dairy – it’s about fueling diverse careers that help agriculture thrive. Last year, we were #DFAProud to support 63 students from a variety of disciplines. Don’t miss your chance to be one of them! Apply now >> https://bit.ly/3Z4SsQh. Help us grow the future of Dairy and all agriculture together! Learn more about the DFA Cares Scholarship >> https://bit.ly/3OOXXNY

Step into the world of pure imagination with DFA’s own Kerry Burke, technical applications culinary senior manager on our research and development team, who recently completed ‘candy school’ at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, brushing up on the manufacturing and food science of making candy. Taught since 1963, the two-week program in confectionary technology is considered the premier candy program in the United States. “We all need to refresh ourselves occasionally to stay current as consumer trends and expectations are always changing and evolving,” says Kerry, who takes dairy ingredients made from our farmer-owners’ milk and packages them in novel and unique ways for our customers. Along with candy experts at big names like The Hershey Company, Mars and Guittard Chocolate Company®, as well as smaller, independent candy makers, Kerry learned the secrets behind every confectionary delight you can imagine — from gummies to hard candies to fudge. The course included classroom time in the mornings and hands-on time at a pilot candy manufacturing plant in the afternoons. “By taking time away from the day-to-day, I was able to really focus and get fresh in the candy space,” he says. One sweet insight he brought back reinforced dairy’s essential role in chocolate-making. “Cocoa fat chemistry is very complex and to get great tasting chocolate with a great texture, you have to follow specific processing steps with exact temperatures throughout,” he says. Kerry says he’s excited to use what he learned to harness the potential of innovative ingredients DFA is developing to meet customer needs, whether that’s tweaking a product formulation to reduce sugar or creating something entirely new. “These types of professional development opportunities are so important as we strive to improve the bottom line for our farmers and meet the needs of our customers,” Kerry says.

Ever wonder how milk makes its way from farm to fridge? Meet Kate Spadgenske, a proud DFA farmer-owner at Spadgenske Dairy, who helps ensure every drop of milk meets the highest standards of care and quality. Here’s how Kate puts it: "We all know milk comes from cows, but want a glimpse behind the scenes? As a proud farmer-owner at @dfamilk, we’re #udderly dedicated to upholding the highest standards of care and comfort for our cows. At Spadgenske Dairy, our ladies have access to cozy barns, healthy diets, and plenty of TLC — because happy cows make the best milk! 🐄💛" From the milking parlor to your table, you can trust farming families like Kate's to deliver the quality milk you love.