U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards Outstanding Dairy Farm Sustainability Nomination Form

Outstanding Achievement in Resource Stewardship Award Nomination Form

 Use this form to nominate a dairy farm operation for the Outstanding Achievement in Resource Stewardship Award.  Please refer to the appropriate form if you are submitting a nomination for a different category.  Nominations must be received by 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time on Friday, March 3, 2017.

Nomination Process

The sixth annual U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards will be presented in June 2017 by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy® (Innovation Center). The awards recognize dairy farms, businesses and collaborative partnerships for practices that deliver outstanding economic, environmental and/or social benefit, all helping to advance sustainability of the dairy industry and food system.

Overall Award Categories Farms may be nominated for any of the following awards:  Outstanding Dairy Farm Sustainability Award  Outstanding Dairy Processing & Manufacturing Sustainability Award  Outstanding Achievement in Resource Stewardship Award  Outstanding Achievement in Community Partnerships Award

Nomination Eligibility & Process  Completed nomination forms and accompanying information will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. CST on March 3, 2017.  Nominees must: o Be an active U.S. dairy* farm operation. o Possess a current state milk permit or contract calves/heifers to licensed dairy farms. o Be open to an assessment for validation of the submitted information, as needed. o Be willing to share information with the industry, media and/or public about the submission.  Nominations may be submitted by any individual, group or organization involved with or part of the U.S. dairy industry and may be submitted on behalf of themselves or others.  The nominated program, project or practices must have been implemented in the U.S.  There is no fee to enter this nomination.  Nominees are eligible to submit a new nomination each year.  Previous winners are eligible for nomination after two full program years have elapsed.

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Selection Criteria Nominations will be evaluated in three areas: results; learning, innovation and improvements; and potential for adoption by other dairy farms or businesses. The Outstanding Achievement in Resource Stewardship Award recognizes dairy operations (both on and off the farm) that have measurable success in managing their resources with optimal efficiency and quality. Successful nominations have implemented efficiencies or innovations in areas such as energy, water and soil conservation, manure and waste management, and employing renewable energy sources. Details on individual questions are included in each section of the form beginning on Page 4.

Judging Process Evaluations will take into consideration differences in size, region and scope of projects as needed. An objective judging panel will make the final assessment and selection. The judging panel will include experts from academic institutions, government and nongovernmental organizations, and the agricultural/dairy/food industries.

Award Winners Winners will be notified by May 1, 2017. Winners will receive:  An official commemorative trophy.  Recognition via public relations and other promotional activities, including at an awards ceremony during a meeting of the Innovation Center’s Sustainability Alliance, the industrywide leadership team. This event is expected to be held June 28-29, 2017.  Use of the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards logo for marketing purposes for up to one year.  Case studies about their stories featured on USDairy.com/Sustainability.

Honorable mentions also may be identified at the discretion of the judging panel.

Submission Process  Nominations will be accepted via mail or electronically and must be received by 11:59 p.m. CST on Friday, March 3, 2017.  Photos, slides, videos or news articles will not be evaluated. Although these materials are great examples of storytelling, only the written application and supporting letters will be reviewed.  The nomination form and accompanying information will not be returned.  The Innovation Center reserves the right to publish all or part of the information provided in the nomination form.  Email a scanned or PDF version to: [email protected] OR send by mail to: Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy Attention: U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards 10255 W. Higgins Road, Suite 900 Rosemont, IL 60018

Questions?  Go to USDairy.com/Sustainability/Awards; email [email protected]; or call John Monaghan at 847-627-3324.

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Nominations must be received by 11:59 p.m. CST on March 3, 2017. About the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy

The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy is a forum that leverages the collective power of the dairy community to address the changing needs and expectations of consumers through a framework of shared best practices and accountability. Our voices span the food chain, from dairy farms through retail, including farmers, companies, organizations and grocers.

We focus on priorities that are pre-competitive in nature, where working together brings strength and the opportunity to make meaningful change. Initiated in 2008 by dairy farmers through the dairy checkoff, we collaborate on efforts that are important both to us and our valued customers – issues like food safety, nutrition and health, the environment and economics.

Through the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, the dairy community supports socially responsible, economically viable and environmentally sound dairy food systems that promote the current and future health and well-being of our consumers, communities, cows, employees, businesses and planet. We are dedicated to ensuring high quality, nutritious dairy products that are responsibly produced and transparently marketed in ways that help consumers make informed choices.

For more information about the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, go to USDairy.com.

 Use this form to nominate a dairy farm operation for the Outstanding Resource Stewardship Award.  Please refer to the appropriate form if you are submitting a nomination for a different category.  Nominations must be received by 11:59 p.m. CST on Friday, March 3, 2017.

Section 1 — Organizational Overview

1. Name of operation:

2. Please provide a brief description of the operation: (limit 350 words) Include (as applicable), for example: - Average number of cows (milking and dry) - Volume of milk sold in last 12-month period - Other livestock - Crops, acreage - Barn design - Annual revenue - Number of employees (including owner/operator) - History of operation and succession plan Judging Criteria (0 points) — Judges will not be evaluating Questions 1 and 2.

3. Please provide a brief summary describing why national recognition is deserved in the Outstanding Achievement in Resource Stewardship Award category: (limit 200 words) Please include the following: - Briefly describe key programs, projects and/or practices. - Describe what is important, new or innovative. - Summarize the goals and results. What did the farm strive to achieve and how was it successful? Judging Criteria (4 points) — Judges will be evaluating if the summary is clear and concise.

Section 2 — Telling the Sustainability Story

1. Need: What problem or opportunity was addressed? Were there external factors that encouraged or pressured action? (limit 250 words) Judging Criteria (4 points) — Judges will be evaluating if the need is clear and relevant.

2. Goals: How did the effort support overall objectives for the farm operation? What were the specific project goals — environmental, economic and social, as applicable? (limit 250 words) Judging Criteria (4 points) — Judges will be evaluating how well the goals address the need and to what extent the effort addresses multiple aspects of sustainability (environmental, economic, social).

3. Approach: Describe the approach taken. (limit 400 words) Judging Criteria (4 points) — Judges will be evaluating how well the approach matches the need and if it is unique and/or compelling.

4. Resources: Discuss the use of resources - including money, people, collaborators, and science or research – in reaching the goals stated in Section 1. (limit 250 words) Judging Criteria (4 points) — Judges will be evaluating for the effective use of multiple resources to address the need.

Section 3 — Results

1. Our Planet: Conservation/Environmental Stewardship: How was success monitored, measured and evaluated? Were efficiencies gained (e.g., the ability to do more with less)? How were the environmental benefits quantified? Were there additional intended or unanticipated benefits in other areas? (limit 500 words) Judging Criteria (14 points) — Judges will be evaluating how effectively the activities were measured and monitored, if the project was evaluated to ensure success in environmental stewardship, the level of environmental benefits achieved, what long-term environmental benefits are foreseen and how effectively these results were communicated to others.

2. Our Businesses: Economic Vitality: How was the business success of the activity monitored, measured and evaluated? Were economic efficiencies or new revenues generated? Was there a financial payback, and how was it measured? Was there an economic benefit to the community? (limit 500 words) Judging Criteria (14 points) — Judges will be evaluating the effectiveness of the activity’s measurements in dollars or equivalencies, if the project was evaluated to ensure economic success, the level of economic benefits achieved, what long-term economic benefits are foreseen and how effectively these results were communicated to others.

3. Our Communities, Consumers, Employees and Animals: Social Responsibility: Did the project have a positive impact on the community, and/or create a positive perception of the nominated dairy within the local community? Were there direct or indirect economic impacts on the community? Did it help achieve community or employee goals? If so, how did that positive aspect come about? Did the project affect working conditions? Did the project have a positive impact on herd health and productivity? Does the dairy participate in the NMPF FARM program? How were these successes communicated to neighbors and other members of the public? (limit 500 words) Judging Criteria (14 points) – Judges will be evaluating how effectively the activities were measured and monitored using stories or hard numbers, if the project was evaluated to ensure success in social responsibility, the level of substantial social benefits that were achieved, what long-term social benefits are foreseen, and how effectively these results were communicated to others.

Section 4 — Lessons Learned and Replication

1. Lessons learned: What key lessons were learned? How were they identified, recorded and shared with other dairy producers? How were existing practices leveraged and built upon to create a superior outcome or innovation? (limit 200 words) Judging Criteria (12 points) — Judges will be evaluating how well the project advanced the sustainability of the dairy industry, what the nominee learned from the project and to what extent the project built on existing practices for a better outcome.

2. Replication: Explain the benefit and relevance of this work to the dairy industry, other dairy producers, the local community and/or other stakeholders. How were results shared with others for replication? What future plans exist to maintain, improve or build on these efforts? How can the project, program or practice be adopted by others? Could others follow the lead of the nominated farm? (limit 200 words) Judging Criteria (12 points) — Judges will be evaluating the project’s innovativeness, its relevancy to other operations and how easily it can be duplicated.

Section 5 — Letter of Recommendation

Please submit one letter of recommendation. Letters should help validate the nominee’s leadership and achievements in sustainability. Judging Criteria (6 points) — Judges will be evaluating if the letter of recommendation support the sustainability claims of the nominee.

Section 6 — References

Please provide the name, address, phone number and email address of two references that we can contact in regard to sustainability on the nominated farm. These can include Extension agents, consultants, vendors or suppliers, for example. Judging Criteria (0 points) — Judges will not be evaluating on this information. The references will only be contacted to confirm and corroborate the information on the nomination form.

Section 7 — Farm Information

Judging Criteria (0 point) — Judges will not be evaluating this information. Information on Nominee Farm (if applicable) 1. Farm organization (check one) ☐ Sole proprietorship ☐ Partnership ☐ Corporation ☐ LLC ☐ Other; describe: ______

2. Does the farm market its milk through a cooperative (this does not affect the evaluation of the nomination)? If yes, please indicate which one. If not, where is the milk marketed?

Nominator Contact Information Company: Contact Name: Last First M.I. Address: Street Address Suite/Unit #

City State ZIP Code Email Phone: ( ) Address: Website:

Nominee Contact Information If same as nominator, check here and skip. ☐

Farm Name: Contact Name: Last First M.I. Address: Street Address Suite/Unit #

City State ZIP Code Email Phone: ( ) Address: Website:

Nominations must be received by 11:59 p.m. CST on Friday, March 3, 2017.

Please let us know how you heard about the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards. (Check all that apply.) ☐ Information on USDairy.com ☐ Innovation Center Webinar ☐ Referred by colleague/friend

☐ Read about in a publication ☐ Email from Innovation Center ☐ Other: ______

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