Wes and Katy Katzman of Katzman Farms in Whitewater, Wis., turned funds they won into a heartwarming (and dairy-filled) initiative for their local community, with support from Dairy Farmers of America (DFA).
During DFA’s Annual Meeting in 2023 and 2024, the family won an opportunity to donate to a food pantry in their region with funds through our
DFA Cares Foundation.
Knowing the power of milk’s wholesome nutrition and the importance of empowering their community, the family chose to donate
DFA farmer-owned products to two food pantries in their region. The family made multiple donations from October–December 2023 for the holidays and another donation this past June to celebrate
June Dairy Month.
“We're passionate about promoting the dairy industry and DFA while giving back to our local community,” Katy says. “It's rewarding to be able to give back.”
Community matters
One recipient of the family’s donation was
The Community Space, which provides food, clothing, furniture, books and housewares to anyone in the community who needs it — without restrictions. The organization relies heavily on donations of fresh and non-perishable food from area farms and organizations. Milk, produce and meat are always a delicious surprise!
The second recipient of the family’s donation was
Whitewater Community Food Pantry, a place for residents in the Whitewater Unified School District to access fresh food and groceries without charge. Local farmers and gardeners often bring in generous amounts of their harvest to share with their neighbors.
Using their cash prize, the Katzmans procured 108 packs of smooth cottage cheese from DFA farmer-owned brand Kemps®. The smooth cottage cheese has all the protein of cottage cheese in a yogurt-like consistency. The donation also included 180 half gallons of
TruMoo® chocolate milk (another beloved DFA farmer-owned brand) and 216 half gallons of
Kemps whole milk.
The family also donates ground beef and ground pork to these organizations throughout the year.
This gesture is more than just a donation; it's about enriching communities and showcasing the vital role dairy plays in the fight against hunger.
What is the DFA Cares Foundation?
As a farmer-owned cooperative, DFA is committed to our vision of enriching communities and consumers’ lives through all the possibilities of dairy. We care deeply about the well-being of our neighbors and friends, and we’re dedicated to giving back in all the ways we can through DFA Cares.
While caring for our
communities has always been a shared value, we were moved to formalize our commitment in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast region and impacted our member farms. At that time, the DFA Cares Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ran by a farmer-leader board of directors, was born. has always been a shared value, we were moved to formalize our commitment in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast region and impacted our member farms. At that time, the DFA Cares Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ran by a farmer-leader board of directors, was born.
Since then, DFA Cares has made a difference in countless lives through supporting hunger relief efforts, disaster relief, youth education through scholarships and providing veteran support.
How you can take action against hunger
September marks the beginning of Hunger Action Month, an annual nationwide campaign each September, where we come together to raise awareness about hunger in America and inspire action to help those who have difficulty accessing affordable nutrition.
We're excited to see even more inspiring actions like these from the Katzman family and the wider DFA community, as we continue to do our part in the fight against hunger and food insecurity in the places where we live and work. If you’re interested in helping food banks keep refrigerators and shelves stocked, you can make a difference with a
donation to DFA Cares.