BEDFORD, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Beef Council was honored to receive the Pennsylvania Dairy Service Award during the PA Dairy Summit Awards Banquet on Feb. 21. The award, which is given annually, is presented to an organization or individual who distinguishes themselves by serving the greater interest of the Pennsylvania dairy industry and its individual farms.
For many years, the PBC has worked in conjunction with groups like Center for Dairy Excellence and Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania to build relationships with dairy producers. Most recently, Beef Quality Assurance programs have been beneficial for dairymen and women looking to improve their stockmanship, record keeping and farm protocols. In 2017 alone, nearly 250 dairy producers attended meetings, workshops and trainings hosted by the PBC with an additional 800 youth being impacted by PBC programs.
Events like Low-Stress Stockmanship Training with Dr. Don Höglund top the list of ways that the PBC serves Pennsylvania’s dairy industry. The Low-Stress Stockmanship training brought farm owners and employees out to work live cattle under the guidance of a world-renowned animal handling expert. Producers were able to take-away valuable tools, allowing them to go back to their operations and make improvements over time. Another valuable event for producers has been hands-on protocol writing workshops, hosted in conjunction with several dairy herd veterinarians across the state. Producers leave these events with the tools to improve record keeping and quality control.
In addition to providing resources for dairy producers, the PBC continues its mission to be a unified voice for our beef and veal partners, by sharing their legacy of commitment with the families enjoying dinner with us.
Dairy producer and PBC board member George Hurst of Oregon Dairy, Lititz, Pa., accepted this prestigious award on behalf of the PBC Board of Directors and staff.
“We are so honored to receive this award. The PBC has worked diligently for years to collaborate with the dairy industry and most importantly to support those of us on the front lines producing both milk and beef,” said Hurst.
— Pennsylvania Beef Council