“I am deeply honored to lead The Dairy Alliance and continue serving the Southeast’s dairy farm families,” said Newberry in the announcement. “Our farmers’ dedication and resilience inspire me every day.”

Board President Michael Ferguson, a dairy farmer from Mississippi, called her a “trusted advocate” whose experience, vision, and passion make her “the ideal person” to guide the organization.

Before joining The Dairy Alliance in 2020, Newberry spent 22 years as executive director of Georgia Milk Producers, becoming a central voice in the state and region on issues from environmental rules and animal health to milk pricing. She also served as executive secretary of the Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation, expanding youth programs and leadership opportunities.

Those decades were marked by volatility and contraction. In a Farmshine interview, she noted Georgia’s drop from 525 dairy farms 25 years ago to about 73 today — a trend mirrored across the Southeast and the nation. Milk production and cow numbers in Georgia have since rebounded, but the farm losses inform her leadership approach.

“My entire career has been spent working for farmers,” Newberry said. “I know their expectations. I know what they want from their checkoff… that they can be proud of. What’s most rewarding is hearing from the farmers and understanding what they’re wanting.”

She credits her “talented and committed” team: “We have really good people. The fact that they want to stay on and work with me is wonderful news.”

Newberry’s ag communications and journalism background from the University of Georgia and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College shape her communication-first approach, a priority she sees as essential for farmer confidence and transparency.