History and Timeline
History
The history of the Midwest Dairy Association™ (Midwest Dairy) weaves through nearly 90 years of dairy history. Farmers in Iowa, Missouri and eastern Kansas formed the Midland Dairy Association in 1971 with headquarters in Ankeny, Iowa, and a program office in Overland Park, Kansas. Their counterparts in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota - all states that produce more milk than they can consume - combined their state promotional organizations in 1993, forming the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council of the Upper Midwest, with headquarters in St. Paul, Minn., and a program office in Brookings, S.D. These two larger organizations joined forces in 2000, forming the Midwest Dairy Association and adding dairy farmers and consumer territory in Arkansas, western Kansas and eastern Oklahoma. The American Dairy Association of Illinois joined Midwest Dairy a year later.
Today, Midwest Dairy represents more than 11,000 dairy farmers, about 20 percent of all U.S. dairy operations. Midwest Dairy programs reach nearly 35 million consumers through marketing, promotion, nutrition education programs and public relations campaigns. Offices are located in St. Paul, Minnesota; Ankeny, Iowa and Overland Park, Kansas.
Dairy Promotion Timeline
| 1915 | National Dairy Council® formed with headquarters in Chicago. |
| 1920s | Local dairy councils organized in metropolitan areas. |
| 1930s | Local promotional groups take shape. |
| 1940 | American Dairy Association founded with headquarters in Chicago. |
| 1960s | Many states enact checkoff laws. |
| 1971 | United Dairy Industry Association formed as umbrella organization for National Dairy Council and American Dairy Association. Midland Dairy Association formed by dairy producers in Iowa, Missouri and eastern Kansas. |
| 1984 | National Dairy Board formed as part of a national checkoff. |
| 1993 | Dairy farmers in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota merge their promotional organizations to form the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council of the Upper Midwest. |
| 1995 | Dairy Management Inc. formed to coordinate National Dairy Board and United Dairy Industry Association activities. |
| 2000 | Midwest Dairy Association created by merger of ADADC of the Upper Midwest and Midland Dairy Association. The merger also includes territories in Arkansas, eastern Oklahoma and western Kansas formerly operated by Dairy Max, Inc. |
| 2001 | American Dairy Association of Illinois joins Midwest Dairy Association, making it the ninth state in the organization and bringing with it promotional responsibilities in Chicago, the nation's third-largest market.
Today the Midwest Dairy Association reaches more than 35 million consumers with their programs focusing upon milk, cheese and yogurt. |