In March, we take a moment to pause and celebrate what truly powers DFA: you! Every role, every shift, and every effort matters. Together they make a difference for our farmer-owners, our customers all over the globe, our consumers, and the communities where we live, work, and play. As part of this month’s celebration, take a moment to watch this special message from Ken Orf, President, Cheese, Taste, and Flavors Division.
Scan to watch.
FIVE FACTS ABOUT DFA EMPLOYEE TENURE
Number of commercial division employees with 25 years: 2,064
Employees celebrating 50 years or more in 2026: Six
Average tenure in the commercial network: Nine years
157,516 years of experience represented by our employees
2,259 employees will celebrate their one-year anniversary in 2026
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
March is Women’s History Month, and we’re excited to shine a light on some of the longest-tenured women in our plants. Thank you for all you do.
Beverage Solutions Division: Janice Strickland
TITLE: Lab Technician
LOCATION: DFA plant in Schulenburg, Texas YEARS OF SERVICE: 39
“There’s a lot that’s changed since I started,” Janice says. “When I started, there were only 11 employees (compared with over 250 today) and we were making blocks of cheese, sour cream dips, and coffee creamer. In December, I’ll celebrate 40 years, and during that time, I’ve done a lot of different jobs. My current job is in quality control, testing, and weighing the product before it’s released. I really love my job!“
Cheese, Taste, and Flavors Division: Melissa Rowland
TITLE: Plant Controller
LOCATION: DFA plant in Hummelstown, Pa.
YEARS OF SERVICE: 34
“I enjoy my job because there is so much variety in what I do,” Melissa says. “I get to learn new things, and I get to interact with a great team here at Hummelstown.”
Dairy Powders Division: Heidi Haefs
TITLE: Melter/Filler
LOCATION: DFA plant in Winthrop, Minn. YEARS OF SERVICE: 12
Heidi says, “I appreciate all the work the supervisors and upper management do.”
Dairy Brands Division: Melissa Betzold
TITLE: Line Operator
LOCATION: DFA plant in Farmington, Minn.
YEARS OF SERVICE: 31
EMPLOYEE WINS
“I really enjoy my team here in Farmington; the people I work with are great,” Melissa says. “My job keeps me busy and the machines in our plant run smoothly (for the most part) so I appreciate that."
BUSINESS WINS
A TWIST OF SUCCESS
DFA has been named Supplier of the Year for Auntie Anne’s® by the brand’s parent company, GoTo Foods. The recognition reflects the strength of our people, products, and partnerships across the system. Congratulations to the teams at the DFA plants in Winnsboro, Texas, Winthrop, Minn., and Green Bay, Wis., plants, whose commitment to quality and consistency helps deliver the signature butter and cheese dip fans crave. It’s a powerful example of One DFA at work from our plants to the pretzel.
TEAMWORK IN ACTION AT TUSCAN DAIRY
Following a recent winter storm, the Tuscan® Dairy Farms team rallied to overcome weather-related callouts that put operations behind and keep customers fully served. Strong collaboration, leadership support, and drivers who stepped in from the DFA plant in Springfield, Ohio., that produces Reiter Dairy products and the plant in Huntington, Ind., that produces Kemps products, made the recovery possible. Special thanks to Richard Fisher, Michael O’Neil, Nate Beal, Tyler Krontz, and Josh Ritschard for going the extra mile.
THE MORE YOU KNOW …
COTTAGE CHEESE
Cottage cheese is having a major moment! With a hearty dose of protein and nutritious dairy from our farmer-owners, it’s become a fridge staple across the nation. But have you ever wondered what makes each bite so special? Check out this Instagram post, learn four fast facts, and discover the care and craft that goes into every creamy, delicious spoonful!
Scan to see how it’s made.
COMMUNITY WINS
SHOWING UP WHERE IT MATTERS MOST
At DFA, supporting our communities is part of who we are. Scan the code above to watch this short video to see how our teams have kicked off 2026 through charitable initiatives where we live, work, and play!
FARMER-OWNER SPOTLIGHT
CAIN FARMS, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO
DFA farmer-owner Devin Cain and his father, Larry, care for about 80 Holstein cows and 300 acres of crops and pasture on their Ohio farm. That’s a tall order for just two people, but technology and robots play a key part keeping everything at the farm running efficiently while providing the best care for their cows.
Learn more about the Cains’ farm in this video. Scan the code to view.
RECIPE
COTTAGE CHEESE KEY LIME PIE BARS
Bright, creamy, and packed with protein, these Cottage Cheese Key Lime Pie Bars are a must-try for March. Give them a spot on your spring menu. Key Lime Pie Bars - Meadow Gold® Dairy
Scan to get the recipe.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
DIP DELICIOUSLY WITH BORDEN CHEESE
Borden® Cheese Dips are arriving in stores this month, showcasing the great work of our team at the DFA plant in Green Bay, Wis. Made with real milk, you can find these new refrigerated dips at retailers nationwide including Dollar General. For more information, check out www.bordencheese.com
Scan to learn more.
BRIGHTEN BREAKFAST WITH TOASTER SCRAMBLES
Start your morning strong with PillsburyTM Bacon Toaster Scrambles featuring cheese seasoning made by our team at the DFA plant in El Dorado Springs, Mo. From the flaky pastry to that savory, cheesy bite, this product is a great example of how DFA ingredients show up in familiar, everyday foods. Next time you see Toaster Scrambles in the freezer aisle, you’ll know there’s One DFA pride baked right in.
JUST FOR FUN
RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS WINNER
Last month, we asked you to share a random act of kindness you’ve observed or experienced at your work location. We loved reading this story out of the DFA plant in New Wilmington, Pa., from Maintenance Clerk Devin Thorpe:
“It was the middle of winter and my second year at DFA in New Wilmington. Before coming to work, my wife had asked to borrow my windshield scraper for the day, as hers had broken. I handed it over without hesitation. For the next 12 hours, it snowed, and there was a considerable amount of ice built up on my windshield. I found myself clumsily attempting to scrape my windshield with a credit card when the Milk Receiving Supervisor, Michael Garrett, walked over and scraped my windshield with his own scraper. The act of kindness was the nicest thing anyone had done for me in years!”
Thank you, Devin, for sharing this heartwarming story, reminding us it’s often the little things that make a big difference in someone’s day. You and Michael each scored a $50 gift card to the DFA Store.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Send it to us at dfacomm@dfamilk.com. You could win DFA swag if we use your story!
