The Young Cooperators’ (YC) Program is an organization of participants in the Young Cooperator program. Its goal is to develop leadership skills among young members of the cooperative, by understanding the framework of the cooperative. By meeting with AMPI's management and marketing team, and the directors and dairy industry leaders, the YCs hope to extend their milk marketing knowledge and to reflect progressive thinking.

The YC program is designed to provide an incentive for young members to express themselves and take an active role in their cooperative, to learn from the past and provide for the future.
 

A group of YCs react to a comment made during a
get-to-know-you game at
the "Harvest Break" event
in Portage, Wis. Participating from left, as couples: Josh and Linda Dickmann, Pierz, Minn.; Tom and Lisa Miller, LaCrosse, Wis.; Matt and Polly Timmer, Ellsworth, Minn.; David and Robin Trott, Ladysmith, Wis.; Bill and Merri Post, Chandler, Minn.; and Mike (not pictured) and Shelly Harren, of Holdingford, Minn.

Purpose
• Educate young members in the value and philosophy of AMPI.
• Develop a broader knowledge of AMPI.
• Develop a keener insight as to the need for dairy cooperatives and the role that their cooperative plays as part of their operation.
• Provide the tools to develop cooperative leadership skills.
• Bring young AMPI members together to share ideas and experience, discuss solutions to common problems and to promote the dairy industry.

Eligibility
• Must be between the ages of 18 and 40.
• Must be actively involved on an AMPI-member dairy farm.

YC Divisional Structure
• Each AMPI division has a YC chairperson and spouse, and a vice chairperson and spouse.
• Each AMPI division has a YC group with local activities such as plant tours, farm tours and other local meetings.
• Each division chairperson and new YC members can attend YC corporate meetings and AMPIs annual meeting.

YC Corporate Structure
• YC corporate board is made up of a President, Vice President, Past President, Member-At-Large, and a Secretary (each board position includes a spouse).
• There are two YC corporate meetings per year, one includes a Butter Plant tour, Corporate Office tour and discussions with corporate office staff, the corporate general manager/CEO, and the corporate board chairman. The second meeting is held at an AMPI division, with a plant tour and a farm tour in that area.
• All YC corporate board members and spouses attend AMPI's annual meeting.

Joining the YC organization
• Call your local AMPI division office or field rep for a membership form, or download the form here.