Blueprints for the future

YC families gather for a group photo following the picnic lunch in Portage, Wis

AMPI Young Cooperator (YC) families explored “Blueprints for the Future” during the annual YC    
Summer Tour in Portage, Wis.

This year’s event attracted 65 participants, including nine families attending for the first time.

A tour of AMPI’s newly rebuilt Portage plant headlined the event. Participants saw the packaging lines in action and learned more about the investments helping to position the cooperative for future success.

The group also visited the Hoard’s Dairyman farm, museum and magazine, as well as the National Dairy Shrine Museum.

Evelyn Lyle, daughter of Jay and Kathy Lyle of Stewart, Minn., gets close to the herd during the AMPI Young Cooperator Summer Tour at the Hoard’s Dairyman Farm near Fort Atkinson, Wis. The historic farm was established in 1899.

AMPI thanks Advanced Process Technologies, AtoZ Process Solutions, Basset Mechanical, Custom Fabricating & Repair, C.D. Smith, Excel Engineering, Precision Drive & Control, Inc. and Van Ert Electric for sponsoring this year’s tour.

AMPI sales and marketing team members connected with domestic and international customers, generating interest in the cooperative’s natural and processed cheese portfolio. Conversations with prospective customers in Latin America highlighted opportunities to expand sales and strengthen demand for products made from members’ milk.

The show reinforced AMPI’s growing export momentum. The cooperative recently began shipping shredded and sliced cheese to Costa Rica through distributor PMT and continues exploring additional international opportunities. Export partners will also showcase AMPI cheeses at upcoming trade shows.

Plant operations manager Mike Clemmons leads YCs on a tour of the newly rebuilt Portage plant. The co-op’s only consumer-packaged cheese plant specializes in products for foodservice customers, including American cheese slices and loaves, and natural cheese shreds and chunks.

AMPI donated 40 burger meal bags, including Dinner Bell Creamery American cheese slices, to the Portage Food Pantry during the YC Summer Tour. Presenting the donation are, from left, Oscar Estrada, division manager; Domenica Barreno Loza, office assistant;  April Meyer and Renae Penland, value stream buyer/planners.

A stop at the Hoard’s Dairyman Farm and Museum gives members a chance to explore the rich history of dairy farming at the former home of Hoard’s Dairyman, one of the nation’s oldest and most influential dairy publications.

Drayden Moldan, son of Dain Moldan of Sleepy Eye, Minn., watches the dairy herd during a stop at Sassy Cow Creamery in Columbus, Wis., where the Baerwolf family welcomes visitors to learn about dairy farming. 

Ellie Golombeski, daughter of Jake and Angie Golombeski of Morristown, Minn., samples AMPI-made cheese during a visit to the Hoard’s Dairyman office.

Cora and Walter Wohlk, children of Clayton and Becky Wohlk of Almena, Wis., showcase their new event- themed hard hat and construction vest provided for members during the summer tour.

A stop at the Hoard’s Dairyman Farm and Museum gives members a chance to explore the rich history of dairy farming at the former home of Hoard’s Dairyman, one of the nation’s oldest and most influential dairy publications.