DFA CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE AT JASPER FACILITY
Cooperative News

DFA CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE AT JASPER FACILITY

Kansas City, Kan. (October 8, 2025) – Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), a leading global dairy cooperative with 9,000 family farmers, is proud to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its Jasper Products manufacturing facility in Joplin, Mo. Yesterday, a special mayoral proclamation and ribbon cutting ceremony commemorated this key milestone and honored the plant’s contributions to the local community, economy, and the dairy industry.  

“We are incredibly proud of the Jasper team, and the role this facility plays in DFA’s vision to deliver high-quality dairy and beverage products,” says Ken Haubein, president and founder of Jasper Products. “This anniversary is not just a celebration of our growth, but of our deep roots in the Joplin community. We’re deeply grateful to the dedicated employees whose passion and hard work have been the foundation of our success and to the community of Joplin for their unwavering support.” 

The event featured a proclamation from Mayor Keenan Cortez, recognizing the Jasper Products’ legacy of innovation, economic impact, and community partnership. Since its founding in 2000 and partnership with DFA in 2001, the Joplin plant has grown into one of North America’s premier aseptic manufacturing facilities, producing a wide range of shelf-stable and refrigerated products including nutritious dairy-based beverages made with milk from DFA farmer-owner’s cows, as well as many non-dairy beverages. Earlier this year, the facility reached a significant milestone – producing one billion beverages in cartons and bottles within a single year. 

Every day, more than 120 truckloads of products leave Jasper Products, serving customers around the globe while simultaneously maintaining a strong local presence. With nearly 1,100 employees in the Joplin area – representing approximately two percent of the city’s population, or one in every 46 residents – the facility plays a vital role in Joplin’s economic landscape. 

“As a DFA farmer-owner, I’m proud to celebrate the 25th anniversary of this plant,” says Earl Dotson, DFA farmer-owner from Marionville, Mo. “It’s impressive to see the dedication of the employees and the incredible work that happens every day to bring high-quality dairy products from our farms to families. Every DFA employee always goes above and beyond what’s asked of them. Being able to witness this firsthand really highlights the strength of our cooperative and the teamwork that makes it all possible.” 

The celebration included remarks from plant leadership, local farmers who supply milk to the plant, and civic leaders, followed by a ceremonial ribbon cutting and facility tour.  

About Dairy Farmers of America

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) is a farmer-owned leading global dairy cooperative focusing on sustainability, innovation, community, and the future of family dairies. While supporting and serving 9,000 farmer-owners, DFA manufactures nearly every form, function, and flavor of high-quality nutritional dairy products, including fluid milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, dairy ingredients, and more. These products connect our Cooperative’s family farms to family tables with national and regional brands, such as Alta Dena® Dairy, Meadow Gold® Dairy, Friendly’s®, Borden® Cheese, Plugrà® Premium Butter, and Kemps®, to name a few. On a global scale, we work with some of the world’s leading food companies to develop ingredients that deliver the greatest source of nutrition to consumers around the world, while staying committed to social responsibility and ethical farming. For more information, please visit dfamilk.com.