The Center for Dairy Excellence presented three Pacesetter Awards at the Pennsylvania Dairy Summit today in Lancaster. The awards were presented to Jeff Raney from Adamsville, Crawford County; Brubaker Farms of Mount Joy, Lancaster County, and Central Pennsylvania Food Bank of Harrisburg, Dauphin County.
The Pacesetter Award recognizes individuals or organizations that work to build a positive image of the Pennsylvania dairy industry to create a prosperous, marketable future for producers and supporting industries. The awards were presented by center board members Gary Heckman and Don Risser.
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Center for Dairy Excellence presented the Pacesetter Award to Jeff Raney.
Jeff was born in New Castle, Pa., and was always interested in farming. In high school, he became involved in FFA and served as the Pennsylvania State FFA Vice President in 1974, helping to develop the leadership qualities that continue to serve him well today.
In 1984, he and his wife Brenda were given an opportunity to farm on their own when John Vanderstappen saw promise in Jeff and offered a plan for transition, including carrying the mortgage for their start. Jeff and Brenda initially purchased the cattle and equipment, then purchased the farm in 1990. The herd of grade cows was transitioned to an all registered herd of Holsteins with the prefix J RA Holsteins.
In 2003, the Raneys purchased a second farm, which became the home of son Adam and his wife Michele, while providing additional housing for dry cows and heifers. In 2013, the Raneys built a tunnel ventilated freestall barn with a strong focus on cow comfort. Jeff and Adam believed that if their focus was on cow comfort, it would improve milk production and quality, as well as overall herd health. This also allowed for herd expansion, with the next goal being to build a new milking facility.
The J-RA herd is milking 26,044 pounds of milk with 998 pounds of fat and 808 pounds of protein. The herd also holds a BAA of 109.
Jeff has held many board roles, with both he and Brenda serving as 4-H leaders and as Elders in their church. Jeff serves on the State Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the PA Holstein Association and retired from the AgChoice Farm Credit Board of Directors after 19 years. He also serves on the Executive Committee to the Corporate Board of Directors with Dairy Farmers of America and holds numerous board positions within Dairy Promotion.
Brubaker Farms received the 2014 Pacesetter Award, represented by Mike, Lisa, Luke, Tony and Rebecca Brubaker.
Brubaker Farms received the award for their commitment to environmental stewardship, innovation and growth, and excellence and leadership within the industry.
Brubaker Farms has been leading the way on environmental stewardship, alternative energy, diversification and quality since Luke and Barbara Brubaker took over the operation in Mount Joy, Pa., from Luke’s father, who started in 1929 with eight cows.
The operation now has more than 950 dairy cows, producing an average of 25 million pounds of milk each year, 600+ young stock, and also a 48,000 bird broiler chicken operation. These expansions have not only enabled the operation to maintain financial stability, but they have facilitated the implementation of some of the most innovative resource management solutions in the industry.
The Brubakers have mastered energy efficiency and created a successful profit stream; nutrient trading with the Mount Joy Authority; a digester system to produce enough electricity for the entire farm and approximately 200 surrounding homes; and three solar panels totaling 10,000 square feet produce up to 130 to 150 kw/h a day.
Ninety percent of Brubaker Farms’ crop acreage is no-till for ideal soil conservation and the development rights for the farm have been restricted in perpetuity by the family through a conservation easement.
Brubaker Farms has been recognized for their innovation and commitment with several national awards, including “Innovative Dairy Farm of the Year” in 2011 and the 2012 “Outstanding Dairy Sustainability Award.” In 2013, Brubaker Farms was the winner of the “Top Producer” award given by Top Producer magazine.
In 1994, sons Mike and Tony formed a partnership with Luke and assumed the roles of growing the business for their generation and the next. Just recently, the two sons formed their own LLC and some LPs, with Luke selling off his remaining ownership interest.
The Brubakers are not just environmental and business leaders, they are also community and industry leaders. Collectively, they serve on state and local boards and commissions too numerous to mention and have opened up their farm to educate others in the industry and in the public.
Joe Arthur accepted the Pacesetter Award from Center for Dairy Excellence Board Member Gary Heckman, on behalf of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.
The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank was honored for its collaborative approach to opening new markets for dairy. Like most other food banks, historically the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank has struggled to supply one of its most-requested items: milk. That changed in June, 2014, when the Food Bank announced an innovative milk distribution program was being implemented.
Through the newly formed public-private partnership with the PA Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg Dairies, the Pennsylvania Association of Milk Dealers, Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and the Center for Dairy Excellence, milk is shipped to Harrisburg Dairies and Schneider’s Dairies by Pennsylvania dairy farmers to be processed for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.
As the first approved “charitable milk sub-dealer” in Pennsylvania’s history, the Food Bank now acquires refrigerated fluid milk at a significantly discounted price. This allows the Food Bank to better serve Pennsylvanians who use the Food Bank’s services. The Food Bank is now distributing more than 3,000 quarts of low-fat refrigerated milk each week, with plans to grow this to 5,000 quarts weekly by July, 2015.
To support the new milk distribution program, the Fill a Glass with Hope campaign kicked off in January at the 99th PA Farm Show in Harrisburg. Central Pennsylvania Food Bank Executive Director Joe Arthur was joined by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association to unveil the campaign, encouraging visitors to donate and raise funds for the milk distribution program. Numerous other partners stepped up to sponsor the campaign, with the goal to raise $100,000 in 2015 to help Food Bank reach its goal of distributing 5,000 quarts of fresh milk weekly.
For more information, contact Jayne Sebright at the center at 717-346-0849 or visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org.
The Center for Dairy Excellence is a non-profit organization initiated by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture in 2004. Bringing together people from more than 40 different dairy organizations in Pennsylvania, the center’s mission is to enhance the profitability of the dairy industry by empowering people, creating partnerships, and increasing the availability and use of resources. Learn more about the center at www.centerfordairyexcellence.org.
