Upstate Niagara's Young Cooperators (YC) Program

What is a YC? A Young Cooperator is a young dairy farmer who represents the future of our industry. Upstate Niagara's YCs have attended the Northeast Cooperative Council (NECC) and National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) programs in recent years. Upstate Niagara would like to involve more people in these programs.

The Young Cooperator Program is designed for dairy farmers under 40 years of age and prepares them for future leadership roles, and teaches them how their cooperative works. The program enables YCs to have an impact on cooperative policy.

A former YC sums it up, "The best time to start educating and training dairy farmers to become dedicated members and promoters of our cooperative is when they are young." Upstate Niagara must continually prepare their young farmer members for the future.

With this in mind, we need your help. Please let us know about your children and their role on the farm. Contact Jodi Smith at the Upstate Niagara Membership Office with any YC participants and program ideas at 1-800-724-MILK.