Vermont dairy farmer Harold Howrigan Jr. has been elected to serve a one-year term as Vice Chairman of Dairy Management Inc. ™ (DMI), which is based near Chicago. The election came last month during DMI’s national annual meeting held in Phoenix, Arizona. DMI is the company that carries out promotion programs nationwide funded by dairy farmers from across the country.
Howrigan, who farms in Fairfield, VT, is currently serving a three-year term as a member of the National Dairy Board, representing dairy farmers from the northeast on dairy promotion issues and programs. He also is a member of the board of directors of St. Albans Cooperative.
His appointment to the seat carries on a tradition of national dairy promotion leadership at St. Albans Cooperative. His late father Harold Howrigan Sr., had served as Chairman of the National Dairy Board during the mid-1990s. His sister Ellen H. Paradee, also served one term on the National Dairy Board.
“Harold has been an active and articulate advocate for Vermont and New England’s dairy community,” said Leon Berthiaume, Chief Executive Officer of St. Albans Cooperative Creamery. “He will be a valuable voice for Vermont dairy farmers and farmers throughout the country.”
DMI, which manages the national dairy checkoff program, serves as the parent organization in a federation of state, regional and national dairy “checkoff-funded” promotion organizations.
The 38-member National Dairy Board, formed in May 1984 under the authority of the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983, carries out coordinated promotion and research programs to help build demand and expand domestic and international markets for dairy products.
New England Dairy Promotion Board (NEDPB) is the local affiliate of the American Dairy Association, which conducts sales promotions and marketing programs on behalf of local dairy farmers. New England Dairy & Food Council (NEDFC) is a non-profit nutrition education organization staffed by registered dietitians. NEDFC is a state and regional affiliate of the National Dairy Council® (NDC). The two organizations share a Board of Directors comprised of local dairy farmers and work jointly to increase demand for New England dairy products.