Edge receives national honors for communications

A video series highlighting sustainability, the “Working for You” member newsletter and Edge’s Facebook page earned national awards in the Cooperative Information Fair contest put on by the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.

The Dairy Strong Sustainability Alliance social media campaign on YouTube received first-place honors in the social media category. Edge’s Facebook page won honorable mention in the social media page category and the Working for You print newsletter received honorable mention for membership newsletter (under $5,000 per issue).

The video series showcases the innovation and commitment of farmers to conservation, including through their involvement in the Dairy Strong Sustainability Alliance.

Edge’s Facebook page engages with members, prospective members, the broader dairy community and customers about the co-op and the value it brings. The monthly Working for You newsletter provides information to members about current issues, the work the co-op is doing on their behalf, upcoming events and the value of their membership.

“It is more important than ever to communicate with our members, our customers and our communities through a variety of channels,” Tim Trotter, Edge’s executive director, said. “From sharing what our members are doing in the realm of sustainability with the broader public to keeping our members up to date on the latest policy happenings, Edge is being heard where it matters.”

Edge beat out contest entrants from various types of cooperatives from across the country, including larger cooperatives like Land O’ Lakes.

“Our communications team does a great job, working hard to create relevant, high-quality content to strengthen the image of the dairy community and also the voices of our members,” Trotter said.

The sustainability video series is produced in partnership with the Dairy Business Association in Wisconsin and the alliance, a collaborative group across the dairy supply chain focused on measurable improvement in environmental practices, energy use, animal care and other areas. Watch the videos on the Dairy Strong YouTube channel at youtube.com/dairystrong.