Seeing the good in a challenging year

From Brody Stapel, Edge president

The end of a year can provide an opportunity to pause, catch your breath and glance back.

There are always memories made, milestones reached and lessons learned.

Considering the once-in-a-lifetime struggles so many people faced this year, it’d be understandable to break the rearview mirror and say good riddance to 2020.

But there was some good amid the uncertainty. We all learned a little more about what we value most – our families and friends, our health and our ability to make a living doing what we love to do.

As we close out this extraordinary year, I want you to know that at Edge we were reminded of how much we value you, as members and as an essential part of our country’s dairy community, and how proud we are to work on your behalf every day.

Here are a few of this year's bright spots:

• Facilitating Edge member Amy Penterman’s attendance at the White House as President Trump signed the USMCA trade deal.
• Hosting some of the country’s top decision-makers on members’ farms, including Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, to hear directly from members about federal dairy programs.
• Supporting the dairy community during COVID-19, from advocating for financial assistance for farmers to communication to one-on-one help for members.
• Fighting for truthful dairy labeling, and pushing for new international trade opportunities and solutions to worker shortages.
• Unveiling the Producer-led Group Roadmap, a guide created through the Dairy Strong Sustainability Alliance and other partners for farmers looking to start watershed conservation programs.
• Launching the Dairy Stream podcast and featuring perspectives on everything from safeguarding employees during the pandemic to understanding producer price differentials.
• Awarding two Edge member students with $1,000 scholarships to further their agricultural education.

As unsettling as 2020 has been, Edge’s dedication to members never wavered, and it won’t in 2021. We will always make sure your voice — the voice of milk — is heard.

On behalf of the staff and board of directors, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.