With 2020 behind us, dairy farmers continued to lead in sustainability, community building and fighting hunger. Join us as we take a look back at 2021 and the Oregon dairy community’s achievements this year.

Rogue Creamery became the latest Oregon farm to win the US Dairy Sustainability Award, joining previous winners Rickreall Dairy, Tillamook Creamery, and Threemile Canyon Farms in recognition for their commitments to environmental stewardship and sustainable farm practices.

Herdsman Zach Rose accepted the award and shared his company’s mission during his speech. “Rogue Creamery is dedicated to building a more resilient future for our planet and our community,” he said. “And that commitment is visible at every level of our business, every department.”

Oregon dairy farmer, Derrick Josi, known for his large social media presence (@TDF Honest Farming), launched his first book titled “An Industry Worth Fighting For,” which dispels misconceptions about the dairy industry. He was also honored at Oregon Aglink’s Denim and Diamonds event with the Ag Connection Award for his consumer outreach efforts.

Supply chain issues related to COVID-19 continued to impact school nutrition programs, and professionals around the state rose to the challenge, including Kim Leung, nutrition services manager for Tigard-Tualatin’s nutrition team.

“We’ve worked on substitutions thinking the way you would at home if you couldn’t hit the store: ‘We don’t have honey, so let’s cook down brown sugar. We don’t have mayo, but we have yogurt,’” Leung says. “I’m very lucky to work with an incredible staff who have found ways to make sure our students are fed.”

As nutrition professionals managed these ongoing issues, kids across Oregon continued to receive free, healthy meals with help from the Summer Meals of the Free School Meal Programs.

Oregon dairy farmers continued to give back to their communities with programs like Rogue Creamery’s “Cheese Is Love” collaboration with local food bank ACCESS and Safeway / Albertson’s Nourishing Neighbors program.

Throughout the challenges of the last few years, the Oregon dairy community has remained a strong and vital presence within communities, creating delicious and nutritious food and caring for their herds and our environment.

From our families to yours, we hope 2022 is a safe, healthy and happy one!