Miltrim Farms Wins WMC Business Friend of the Environment Award
By Chuck Sanger
(ATHENS, Wis. Nov. 17, 2021) – David Trimner of Miltrim Farms is not a loud, chest-thumping, look-at-me type.
So, when his farm was awarded the “2021 Business Friend of the Environment Sustainability Award” by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce his reaction should not surprise anyone.
“It was a little unexpected,” Trimner said. “But we’re really excited. And proud.”
This year’s winners were chosen for their innovative approaches to environmental protection, demonstrating sound environmental practices that are good for Wisconsin’s environment and its economy. The nine award winners from around the state were chosen by an independent panel of judges representing industry, the Department of Natural Resources, an environmental non-profit, an environmental attorney, and an environmental consultant.
Kim Bremmer, Executive Director of Venture Dairy Cooperative (VDC) who, along with Andy Johnson of Johnson Consulting, nominated Miltrim Farms, a VDC member, for the award and didn’t consider the award unexpected.
“I wasn’t surprised at all,” said Bremmer. “Miltrim Farms is an exceptional example of a Wisconsin dairy farm that is able to quantify their ongoing commitment to sustainable farming practices that far exceed industry standards. It’s why we nominated them.”
Miltrim Farms, a fourth-generation family CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation) received the award in the small company category. And, if that was not enough, Trimner was honored when he learned what good company Miltrim Farms was in.
“Kwik Trip won the sustainability award in the large company category,” Trimner said. “Kwik Trip is a great company with an outstanding reputation of environmental stewardship. To be mentioned in the same breath with them was humbling.”
Trimner’s advice to other family CAFOs interested in dialing up their sustainability focus is to follow the path Miltrim Farms did.
“We started with small improvements,” Trimner said. “Working hard to protect the waterways that we directly impact, while building soil health. We continue to build our farm sustainability program and try new things, but the most important thing is to get started.”
For more information on Venture Dairy Cooperative, click here.