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Dairy St r Milk Break

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DAIRY ST R

A career devoted to dairy DeVelder retires from AMPI By Jan Lefebvre jan.l@star-pub.com

NEW ULM, Minn. – Associated Milk Producers Inc. was part of Donn DeVelder’s life even before he began his career there in 1984. “ I w a s raised on a dairy farm near Corsica, S o u t h Dakota,” DeVelder Donn DeVelder s a i d . “My father was manager of the local creamery, which merged with the newly formed AMPI in the early 1970s.” DeVelder retired this month from his position as co-president and CEO of AMPI. Sheryl Meshke, who has been co-president and CEO with DeVelder since 2015, was selected by the cooperative’s board of directors to continue as sole president and CEO. “The dairy farmer-owners and employees of AMPI benetted from nearly four decades of Donn’s steady, consistent leadership,” Meshke said. Steve Schlangen serves as chairman of the board for AMPI. “Donn has been an absolute trouper his whole career, always willing to step up for any challenge and never forgetting where he came from,” Schlangen said. “I would take Donn on my team any day; he makes everyone around him better.” Turn to DEVELDER | Page 6

January 28, 2023

“All dairy, all the time”™

Volume 24, No. 23

AND THEN THERE WAS ONE

Last dairy standing Farmers from Mizpah persevere in Koochiching County By Jan Lefebvre jan.l@star-pub.com

Editor’s note: This is the rst story in a series highlighting families who are the last dairy farm to operate within their respective counties across our coverage area. Dairy Star hopes to shed light on the industry’s landscape surrounding these farms and how these isolated farms thrive. MIZPAH, Minn. – Running the last dairy farm in Koochiching County requires dedication and independence. “We’re very self-sufcient here,” Scott Albrecht said. “We keep a lot of extra parts on

MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR

ScoƩ (from leŌ), Darlys, Dallas and Myles Albrecht visit as they walk across their yard Jan. 18 on their farm near Mizpah, Minnesota. The Albrechts milk 90 cows and are the last dairy in Koochiching County. hand, and we work on motors, transmissions and our own equipment.” Scott and Darlys Albrecht and their youngest son, Dal-

las, farm near Mizpah, a small town in northern Minnesota located 70 miles south of the Canadian border. The area is

Turn to ALBRECHTS | Page 8

Growing together

Zigans named First District Association’s Young Cooperator of the Year By Tiﬀany Klaphake tiﬀany.k@dairystar.com

LONG PRAIRIE, Minn. – Derek and Amanda Zigan both said they make a good team. Amanda said she is analytical and Derek is hands on. Together, they are the First District Association’s Young Cooperator of the Year. “Winning the award and having our kids see us win this award shows that we are strong role models for our kids,” Amanda said. “I hope they are proud.” Derek and Amanda and their children – Jax, Chloe, Jovi and Alec – milk 130 cows with two robotic milking sys-

more known for logging than farming.

TIFFANY KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR

Amanda and Derek Zigan stand in their freestall barn Jan. 17 near Long Prairie, Minnesota. The Zigans put in two roboƟc milking systems in 2015 and have hosted many tours and events on their farm in the last seven years. tems near Long Prairie. They raise 400 acres of corn and alfalfa, and Derek does custom harvesting in the summer and

fall. The Zigans also have 23 beef cow-calf pairs. “Every year, we try to improve something,” Amanda

said. “We are always looking for ways to be efcient.” First District Association names an individual or a couple once a year under the age of 45 who is active in the industry and in their community. After receiving the award, Derek and Amanda will serve on the cooperative’s Young Cooperator board. Members of the board learn more about First District Association’s mission, how things are done and the governance. Anybody within the cooperative can nominate a farmer. The Zigans were nominated by Adam and Jenny Kalthoff, who won the same award in 2022. Both Derek and Amanda have plenty of experience serving on committees as they are on the Todd County American Dairy Association board and Todd County Breakfast on the Farm committee. Amanda is on their church trust committee. Turn to ZIGANS | Page 7