Guida's Dairy gets top recognition from all-star

Dairy Foods, April, 2008

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- All Star Dairy Assn., Inc. held its 50th annual convention March 5-9 at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort. Pres. Robert Mertz and Sr. v.p. James Sutton presided over another record attendance which included 52 dairy, water, and custom mold members representing 76 plants.

The convention featured Patrick Hamby (dairy buyer for Wal-Mart), a presentation from Nick Vafiadis of CMAI and Bob Yonkers of IDFA discussing commodities, Patricia Hibberd of Tuft's University covering "Probiotics," Martin Brauch and Carl Herbein presented "Captive Insurance," Keith Murdock presented "Dairy in Canada," and featured speaker Harold Lloyd discussed "Am I The Leader I Need To Be."

Newly elected board members were Chris Hackman, Prairie Farms; Walter "Dub" Garlington, Plains Dairy; Roger Gifford, Gifford's Ice Cream; and Robin Schroeder, Schroeder Milk.

The following were recognized with awards:

* Dairy of the Year Award: Guida's Dairy, New Britain, Conn.

* Purchasing Awards (large company): Plains Dairy, Amarillo, Texas

* Purchasing Award (small company): Hudsonville Creamery, Holland, Mich.

Quality Assurance Awards--

* Best Fluid Plant: Aurora Organic Dairy--Platteville, Colo.

* Best Ice Cream Plant: BGC Southwest Ice Cream--Tyler, Texas

* Best Buttermilk--Country Classic Dairies--Bozeman, Mont.

* Best Sour Cream--BGC Dairy--Tyler

* Best Cottage Cheese--Turner Dairy--Pittsburgh, Pa.

* Best Yogurt--BGC Dairy

* Best Ice Cream Mix--Schneider Valley Farms--Williamsport, Pa.

* "Doc Lawrence" Most Improved Plant--Schneider Dairy--Pittsburgh, Pa.

* "Thoroughbred Award"--(Supplier of the Year)--Dupont Liqui-Box--North Royalton, Ohio

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The John D. Utterback Annual College Scholarship awarded $7,000 evenly to the following member employees or dependants to be used toward a Food Science degree:

Zachary Evanitsk, Emily Caldwell, Tiffany Boudreau, Lydia Giles, Logan Meisler, Gregory Winshel, Ryan Williams.

The association, started in 1958, has 177 member companies representing over 275 plants in 46 states, Puerto Rico, and Nova Scotia as well as 24 affiliate members.