HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Dairy Excellence Foundation’s “A Toast to Dairy” fundraiser event had a record-breaking crowd, drawing 400 people from across the dairy industry to Melhorn Manor in Mount Joy last month. Featuring meal stations sourced with Pennsylvania Preferred ingredients, artisan cheese sampling from the PA Cheese Guild, and a casual, upbeat atmosphere, all proceeds from the event support the Dairy Excellence Foundation’s mission to empower the next generation of dairy.
“With 400 attendees, our ‘Toast to Dairy’ event has grown over the last few years to be such a memorable and beautiful evening for celebrating Pennsylvania dairy. Because of everyone who supported the event, we were able to raise funds that will directly impact our on-farm internship program, provide scholarship opportunities, and offer dairy education programming for students of all ages this school year,” said Emily Barge, communications and marketing manager at the Dairy Excellence Foundation.
“From artisan cheese and beef brisket to smoothies, ice cream and cheesecake, we’re grateful for the local businesses who support this event every year and allow our attendees to get a true taste of Pennsylvania dairy,” she continued.
This year’s event featured farm-to-fork food stations sourced with local products from more than 15 food donors, artisan cheeses from the Pennsylvania Cheese Guild, guided cheese and chocolate tasting sessions led by the Cheese Guild, and beverages from local wineries, breweries and distilleries – several of which are owned by dairy farmers. Attendees also enjoyed a photo booth, live caricature artist, live music, and a live raffle.
“This event is a great opportunity to mingle with friends and acquaintances, meet new people, and to support the dairy industry and agriculture in general,” shared one attendee.
“I liked being able to socialize with friends and make new ones. I liked how everything was independent and not scheduled. This allowed me to mingle at my own pace,” added another attendee.
Aside from numerous businesses, 27 farms helped to sponsored the event: Apple Shamrock Dairy, Brubaker Farms, Dry Creek Farms, Evergreen Farms, Franklin View Farms, Jobo Holsteins, Jubilee Dairy LLC, Kish-View Farms, Kreider Farms, Kurtland Farms, Mark Hershey Farms, Meadow Spring Farm, Meadow Vista Dairy LLC, Meadow Wood Farms, Mount Rock Dairy, Oregon Dairy, Pleasant Lane Farms, Reinford Farms, Ricecrest Farms, Rohrer Dairy Farms, S&A Kreider Farms, Schrack Farms, Star Rock Farms, Stoner Hijos Farm, Walmoore Holsteins, Way-Har Farms, and Zugstead Farm.
“This year we reached more than $50,000 in sponsorships and had more than 100 generous sponsors and donors. We are truly grateful for this support,” shared Jayne Sebright, executive director at the Dairy Excellence Foundation. “Many of this year’s sponsors were directly from the dairy farm, demonstrating just how committed our farm community believes in supporting the next generation of dairy. By supporting this event, these dairy farms are helping the Foundation continue to reach more students who are passionate about a future career in dairy farming.”
In addition to financial sponsors, several businesses made in-kind contributions by donating artisan cheese, food products, flowers, raffle baskets, and more. They included: Ashcombe Farm & Greenhouses, Bell & Evans, Center for Dairy Excellence, Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, Chester Springs Creamery, Conebella Farm, Country Growers PA, Country Joy Flowers, Crystal Imagery, Crystal Spring Farm, Delgrosso’s, Deliteful Dairy, Destiny Dairy Bar, Evans Candy, Fisher & Thompson, Four Seasons Produce, Fox Meadows Creamery, Giorgio Fresh Mushrooms, Groff’s Candies, Hallowed Ground Honey, Hershey’s Chocolate, Homestead Nutrition, JDK Catering, Julie Noel Design, Karn’s Quality Foods, Klein Farms, Konhaus Print & Marketing, Kreider Farms, Lake Tobias Wildlife Park, Lancaster DHIA, Lanco-Pennland Quality Producers, Lapp Valley Farm Creamery, Little Valley Custom Work LLC, Lone Oak Farm, Martin’s Potato Rolls, Melhorn Manor, Merrymead Farms, Moyer’s Sawmill, Mud Luv Pottery, Old Mill Creamery, Oregon Dairy, Pampered Chef (Jodi Kensinger), Patches Family Creamery, Pennian Bank, Pennsylvania Cheese Guild, Pennsylvania Potato Cooperative, Pepe Saya Buttery, Perrydell Farm and Dairy, Pike Creek Coffee Roasters, Pleasant Lane Farms, Progressive Dairy Solutions, Pure Wild Tea, Ritchey’s Dairy, Riverside Blooms, Rocky Ridge Meats, Rutter’s, S Clyde Weaver, Inc., Sarris Candies, Savencia Cheese, Shady Maple Farm Market, Target, Taylor Chip Cookies, The Painterland Sisters, The Pennsylvania Bakery, Troegs Independent Brewing, Turkey Hill Experience, Ulrich Farm, Utz, Vale Wood Farms, Wawa Dairy, Way-Har Farms, Weaver Insurance Associates, Weis Markets, Wilbur Chocolate & Cargill, Yoder’s Country Market, and Zinpro.
