DairyBusiness

Haubenschild Dairy Farm, Inc. of Princeton, Minn., was named the 2010 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year during the International Dairy Foods Association’s Dairy Forum 2010. President and owner Dennis Haubenschild received the award

from IDFA vice chair Dave Fuhrmann, president and CEO of Foremost Farms, USA, Cooperative.

Now in its 12th year, this award recognizes U.S. dairy producers that apply creativity, excellence and forward thinking to achieve greater

on-farm productivity and improved milk marketing.

Haubenschild Dairy Farm, Inc., operates on 1,300 acres with 14 full-time employees and 1,100 cows. According to the judges, the farm was selected for its continued emphasis on innovative solutions and ideas, particularly in the areas of renewable energy and sustainability.

The farm was the first to sell carbon credits on the Chicago Climate Exchange. Teaming with the University of Minnesota, the farm is now helping to develop the prototype for a hydrogen-fuel cell-technology system. They hope to find ways to fuel the farm’s tractors with hydrogen fuel cells made with biogas from the farm’s digester.

“Dennis Haubenschild is an innovative leader, friend to the environment and a steward of the industry who uses education and experience to teach others,” said Greg Steele, who nominated the farm for the award. Steele is vice president of Agribusiness Capital for AgStar Financial Services.

Previous winners of the Innovative Dairy Farmer title are Mason Dixon Farms, Gettysburg, Pa. (1999); Clauss Dairy Farms, Hilmar, Calif. (2000); Baldwin Dairy/Emerald Dairy, in Emerald, Wis. (2001); Si-Ellen Farms in Jerome, Idaho (2002); Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy of Kewaunee, Wis. (2003); C Bar M Dairy, Jerome, Idaho (2004); North Florida Holsteins, Bell, Fla. (2005); KF Dairy, El Centro, Calif. (2006); Joseph Gallo Farms, Atwater, Calif. (2007); KBC Farms, Purdy, Mo., (2008); and High Plains Dairy, Friona, Texas (2009).