Dairy industry leaders recognized

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Recipients of Illinois Milk Producers Association recognition awards have been announced. The Dairy Industry Service Award and the Sustainability Award showcase leadership, stewardship and excellence in the Illinois dairy industry.

Ken Koch of Brown County is the recipient of the 2021 Dairy Industry Service Award. This award recognizes an Illinois individual who has shown exemplary service and benefit to the state’s dairy industry.

Koch grew up on the family dairy farm and has been involved in the industry ever since. He became co-owner of Kochnook Dairy Farm with his brother and milked with his son, who was the fifth generation to farm there, until the herd was sold in 2019.

Koch served 40-plus years on the Prairie Farms board of directors. He also held a 13-year tenure on the IMPA board of directors.

In addition, Koch served on the St. Louis Dairy Council for 20 years, among other leadership roles. In 2007, the Kochs were presented the Western Illinois Dairy Promotion Committee Heritage Award.

The Dairy Sustainability Award recognizes an Illinois dairy farm or dairy farmer who has made outstanding contributions toward innovative technologies and best management practices to improve environmental stewardship and economic viability.

This 2021 award recognizes Triple V Farms Inc. in Clinton County. Together, three generations of Vonder Haars — Ed, Gary and Ryan — farm the land, raise contract hogs and manage a 100-head herd of Holstein and Jersey dairy cows.

The rural St. Rose dairy farm, purchased in 1965 by Ed Vonder Haar, has been an early adopter of cover crops, proper manure management and nutrient stewardship.

Its emphasis on soil health includes consistent sampling of soils and livestock manure, ensuring proper application that encourages beneficial soil biology and nutritious forages for the dairy herd.

For its environmental stewardship efforts, Triple V Farms was recognized by its local service company, Gateway FS, with the Enduring Farm Award for sustainability efforts in 2019.

With the adoption of cover crop usage for quality forages, the farm has also experienced the added benefit of expense reduction on both feed requirements for the herd and fertilizer inputs for the row crop operation.

Triple V Farms plans to continue its focus on soil health as the driver of many of its decisions to improve the productivity of the dairy herd and the environment.

The next generation, Ryan Vonder Haar and his cousin, Luke, have developed another profitable business for the farm by investing in technology to create a custom drone business specializing in precision application.