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ST. PAUL, Minn. — Molly Pelzer, the current CEO of Midwest Dairy, the checkoff organization representing over 4,000 dairy farmers in a 10-state region, announced her retirement from the group effective in March.
Midwest Dairy’s board has engaged a search firm to guide the selection of the next CEO for the organization.
Pelzer started her career with Midwest Dairy as a program director working with schools and healthcare professionals in June 1984. Since then, she has held numerous leadership positions before accepting the role of CEO role in 2019.
Prior to Midwest Dairy, she worked with the Midland Dairy Association and Dairy Council Inc., both former checkoff organizations that are now part of the Midwest Dairy organization. A registered dietitian, Pelzer graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
“Molly has contributed almost 40 years of experience to the dairy checkoff and her achievements will be celebrated. She has held leadership roles across the organization and has truly made an impact,” said Charles Krause, corporate board chair of Midwest Dairy.
“I have appreciated Molly’s work ethic, devotion to the dairy farmers and focus on making a difference. I wish her nothing but the best as she enjoys her retirement.”
Pelzer is the third CEO in Midwest Dairy’s 23-year history. In her role as CEO, Pelzer provides strategic guidance to Midwest Dairy’s staff of more than 55 employees.
Through her leadership, Midwest Dairy focused on maximizing the dairy farmers’ investment in the dairy checkoff by strategic collaboration with targeted retailers, foodservice, wellness and industry partners, as well as focusing on research that leads to the development of solutions for industry and consumer needs.
During Pelzer’s tenure, she has played a critical role in building trust and demand for the dairy industry.
She is most proud of creating the metrics scorecard developed at Midwest Dairy over the last four years. This scorecard helps clearly communicate to farmers the impact of their checkoff investment.
Pelzer has also enjoyed working closely with the farmer boards and takes great pride in checkoff being farmer-led.
“Over my time at Midwest Dairy, I have seen checkoff strategies evolve and foster new ideas that make a difference for dairy farm families. It has been a privilege to work for dairy farmers in each of my roles in dairy checkoff and I will continue to be a dairy advocate in my retirement,” she said.
“Knowing how hard they work to produce milk that feeds and nourishes the world is a daily inspiration. I owe my career to the dairy farm families in our 10-state region.
“Thank you for what you do and for allowing me to work with you to build trust and demand for dairy.”
Midwest Dairy has retained Fred Pabst, dairy and agriculture search practice leader at Herd Freed Hartz, to lead the selection process for the next CEO.