Jay Bryant, CEO of Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association (MDVA), was recently awarded the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) Robert B. Engel Farmer Co-op Manager of the Year Award. The award is for the recognition of individuals that oversee and manage their organizations effectively and who provide impactful advocacy for the cooperative model.
“For more than 20 years Jay Bryant has led our cooperative through challenging dairy farm economics, a pandemic, and the purchase of new processing plants,” said Kevin Satterwhite, President of MDVA’s farmer-led Board of Directors. “By leveraging strategic decision-making, building a top-notch staff team, and embracing dairy supply chain sustainability, Jay has cemented his legacy as a dairy cooperative leader.”
One of Bryant’s notable accomplishments has been his adept handling of MDVA’s strategic direction, leading to solid financial results and substantial benefits for the cooperative’s member-owners. Under his leadership, MDVA’s plant capacity has seen a remarkable growth of 55%, achieved through the strategic acquisition of two additional processing plants. This expansion has not only increased MDVA’s operational capabilities but has also paved the way for the introduction of its own branded product line, Maola. The incorporation of Maola into MDVA’s product portfolio has not only diversified revenue streams but has also enhanced the cooperative’s market presence, solidifying its position as a key player in the dairy industry. Bryant extends his leadership through positions on the boards of National Milk Producers Federation, MilkPEP and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.
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About Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative
Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative is a community of more than 900 dairy farm families in 10 states passionate about cultivating dairy goodness and bottling fresh Maola brand milk and dairy products. Our farmer-owned cooperative owns five dairy processing plants that process more than three billion pounds of milk annually. Our diverse portfolio of dairy products are then distributed to consumers in the United States and ingredients customers worldwide. Our cooperative is a leader in sustainability, partnering across the supply chain to deliver sustainable solutions to our member farms. We take pride in supporting the educational and nutritional needs of the communities in our milkshed through our MDVA Fund. For more information about Maryland & Virginia, visit www.mdvamilk.com.
About NCFC
Since 1929, NCFC has been the voice of America’s farmer cooperatives. Our members are regional and national farmer cooperatives, which are in turn composed of nearly 2,000 local farmer cooperatives across the country. NCFC members also include 26 state and regional councils of cooperatives. Farmer cooperatives allow individual farmers the ability to own and lead organizations that are essential for continued competitiveness in both the domestic and international markets.
America’s farmer-owned cooperatives provide a comprehensive array of services for their members. These diverse organizations handle, process and market virtually every type of agricultural commodity. They also provide farmers with access to infrastructure necessary to manufacture, distribute and sell a variety of farm inputs. Additionally, they provide credit and related financial services, including export financing.
Photo Caption: Jay Debertin, President and CEO of CHS Inc. and Chair of NCFC’s Executive Council presents MDVA CEO Jay Bryant with the 2024 Robert B. Engel Farmer Co-Op Manager of the Year Award. The announcement was made at NCFC’s 95th Annual Meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Contact: Amanda Culp, aculp@mdvamilk.com, 540-333-9873
