The Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year was named by the International Dairy Foods Association and Dairy Today Magazine. Pictured are (l-r) The Fletcher family (Tyler, Melissa, Mikala and Charles) accept congratulations from IDFA Secretary Mike Reidy and Dairy Today Editor Jim Dickrell.
KBC Farms in Purdy, Mo., a member of Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA), was named the Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year. Operations Manager Charles Fletcher and his family received the award on Jan. 21 at the 2008 Dairy Forum in La Quinta, Calif. The award is co-sponsored by the International Dairy Foods Association and Dairy Today magazine.
The award recognizes U.S. dairy producers who apply creativity, excellence and forward thinking to achieve greater on-farm productivity and improved milk marketing.
“DFA is proud of Charles and congratulates him and his family on this accomplishment,” says Randy Mooney, of Rogersville, Mo., first vice chairman of DFA’s Board of Directors. “Charles and his family farm are a real success story. We can all be inspired by his example of innovation and excellence.”
Charles operates KBC Farms with his family, where they milk 600 cows on two pasture-based dairies. His father, Gene, started the farm in 1969, and started a partnership with his sons and son-in-law in 1993. Charles is the managing partner and farms with his wife, Melissa, and their children: Tyler, 15 and Mikala, 10.