HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Center for Dairy Excellence and Dairy Excellence Foundation has welcomed five dairy professionals to the organizations’ board of directors. They are:

• Rebecca Charles, a dairy producer from Lancaster County, Pa., was elected to the Center for Dairy Excellence Board during the December 2025 Board meeting. She filled an open position, which was vacated by Tony Brubaker who reached the two-consecutive term maximum set by the organization’s bylaws.

Rebecca and her husband, Darren, are part of Charles Farms, Inc. near Lancaster, Pa. The family farms 1500 acres, milks 400 cows, and raises pullets. They have a small farm store, Pine View Dairy, where they process their own milk and make ice cream. Rebecca also serves as a large animal veterinarian and is active in her church.

“I am honored to be on the Center for Dairy Excellence board as we continue to seek ways to keep dairy farming sustainable in Pennsylvania for future generations,” she shared.

• Cory Meyers, DVM, also joined the Center for Dairy Excellence Board during the December 2025 Board meeting, filling an open position for a veterinarian, which was vacated by Dr. Jody Kull.

He is a partner at Mid-Maryland Dairy Veterinarians, a six-vet practice serving south-central Pennsylvania, middle Maryland, the West Virginia panhandle and northern Virginia. He grew up on his family dairy farm, Meyers Brothers Dairy, located near St Thomas, in Franklin County, Pa. The farm is still operational today, milking 180 Holsteins and Jerseys. He resides in Chambersburg, Pa. with his wife and children.

“Having grown up within the Pennsylvania dairy industry, my goal of attending veterinary school was to return to south-central Pennsylvania as a dairy veterinarian to actively help dairy farmers and to protect the dairy farming culture so vital to our local communities. The Center for Dairy Excellence reflects those same values with a broader reach extending throughout Pennsylvania,” Cory said.

• Ben Mullen, a dairy producer from Bradford County, Pa., also joined the Center for Dairy Excellence Board of Directors, filling an open position that was vacated by Scott Lackey.

Ben grew up on a dairy farm near Canton, Pa. and now owns Good View Farm LLC, with his wife and children. The farm consists of 730 cows, replacement heifers, and 1400 acres of crop land. He is active in his church as an elder and serves on finance boards as well as president on the board for New Beginnings, a faith-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.

“I decided to join the Board because I have experienced and seen the value of the Center for Dairy Excellence. The Center challenges dairy farmers to be elite, sustainable, innovative, and business savvy, while providing funding, awareness, and learning opportunities to pursue these goals,” he affirmed.

• Hayley Painter was the fourth individual to join the Center’s Board of Directors during the December 2025 meeting, filling an open position for a retail representative that was vacated by Anthony Gigliotti.

Together with her sister Stephanie, Hayley founded Painterland Sisters, an organic company rooted in their family’s fourth-generation regenerative dairy farm in rural Pennsylvania. She is devoted to creating nutrient-rich food that connects consumers directly to the source of their food: the American farmer. She is a passionate advocate for fair wages, regenerative practices, and the preservation of family farming. Through her active involvement in state and national initiatives, Hayley continues to influence the future of regenerative agriculture and the consumer goods industry. She serves as co-CEO of her company.

“Joining the Center for Dairy Excellence Board is an exciting opportunity to contribute to an organization that truly makes a difference for dairy farmers, leaders, and the next generation. I believe strongly in the Center’s mission to empower and support Pennsylvania dairy families and businesses to thrive — it’s essential work that strengthens our communities, economy, and food system,” she satated. 

The Center’s Board of Directors must agree to serve a 3-year term and may be re-elected for an additional term. The Board was developed to represent multiple aspects of the dairy industry, with seats for dairy farmers, allied industry professionals, marketing cooperative employees, veterinarians, retail representatives, processor representatives, and members from the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

• Becky Mohn is one of the new members elected to the Dairy Excellence Foundation’s Board of Directors. She has been employed by Purina Animal Nutrition sine May of 2022 as a dairy nutrition consultant, representing K&K Feeds in Richland, Pa.

Becky is a Pennsylvania native from Berks County who found her passion for agriculture and the dairy industry while attending college at Iowa State University in 2018. During her time at Iowa State, she was actively involved in the Dairy Science Club, Dairy Challenge, and undergraduate research in dairy nutrition. She also completed an on-farm internship with the Dairy Excellence Foundation and a laboratory internship with PEAK Genetics. In her role as a dairy nutrition consultant, she is passionate about helping dairy farmers be good stewards of their cows and calves while providing them with nutrition expertise.

“I deeply value the vision and mission of the Dairy Excellence Foundation. Through the Foundation’s on-farm internship, I gained hands-on experience that empowered me to pursue a career in the dairy industry without a family farm background,” she shared. “I am passionate about supporting and inspiring the next generation through the same educational opportunities and advocating for a sustainable future for dairy.”