PHOENIX, Jan. 23, 2024—Bateman’s Mosida Farms of Mosida, Utah was recognized today as the 2024 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year at the International Dairy Foods Association’s (IDFA) Dairy Forum. The award is presented each year by IDFA and Dairy Herd Management magazine. As detailed by Dairy Herd Management in its feature story on the award-winning farm, Mosida Farms is a labor of love for generations of the Bateman family, and today is owned and operated by the four families of Steve, Brad, Jason and the late Lance Bateman. The magazine goes on to report how the Bateman family has taken major steps in the last decade to implement innovative growth strategies that provide greater sustainability for the family’s 12,000-cow dairy farm housed on four different sites, 2,000-head of beef with two separate feed yards and 3,500 acres of cropland.

“IDFA is grateful to the Bateman family for their progressive vision and leadership that prioritizes cow care, sustainability, elevating technology and innovation in service to high-quality dairying, and outstanding efficiency,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA president and CEO. “Mosida Farms is one of the most sophisticated agricultural operations in the nation and U.S. dairy is honored to have families like the Batemans setting a high standard for productivity and innovation that paves the way for our industry to thrive.”

The Bateman family has been operating a 600-kW solar array on their dairy operation since 2013, allowing them to produce clean energy for the dairy, as well as the local community. The family experimented with vertical farming in a controlled environment to produce wheat and barley grass for their nutritious feed. They continue to push the envelope in nutrient management and are currently in the process of implementing a project to expand their waste storage facilities, install a centrifuge to treat their waste stream more effectively and construct earthen structures to further prevent any nutrients or stormwater from entering nearby Utah Lake.

"Our dad always said you can't stand still,” said Brad Bateman. “You always have to be learning, growing, and getting better. He often told us to get out there and learn. Go see how we can improve. This approach has certainly played into our drive for sustainability."

Dairy Herd Management writes that Mallory Tucker, the farm’s marketing manager and Brad’s daughter, recalls that her family would get in a car and drive to Idaho or other states to learn from other dairy producers.

“Vacations always turn into an opportunity to see other dairies that helped enhance our operation,” said Mallary Bateman. “How can we improve? What can we learn? We always have taken that approach and then turned it around to help others.”

“You have to work to make it possible for your kids to continue the business, and get them involved early to keep them there,” said Steve Bateman.

“An industry goal should be to create enduring family farms that can stand the test of time and truly become sustainable farms,” added Brad.

The award was accepted by Mallory Tucker. You can read more about Mosida Farms in this feature story from Dairy Herd Management magazine.

Bateman’s Mosida Farms was nominated for the award by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food led by Commissioner Craig Buttars.

Previous winners of the Innovative Dairy Farmer title are Mason Dixon Farms, Gettysburg, Pa. (1999); Clauss Dairy Farms, Hilmar, Calif. (2000); Baldwin Dairy/Emerald Dairy, Emerald, Wis. (2001); Si-Ellen Farms, Jerome, Idaho (2002); Pagel's Ponderosa Dairy, Kewaunee, Wis. (2003); C Bar M Dairy, Jerome, Idaho (2004); North Florida Holsteins, Bell, Fla. (2005); KF Dairy, El Centro, Calif. (2006); Joseph Gallo Farms, Atwater, Calif. (2007); KBC Farms, Purdy, Mo., (2008); High Plains Dairy, Friona, Texas (2009); Haubenschild Dairy Farm, Inc., Princeton, Minn. (2010); Brubaker Farms, Mount Joy, Pa. (2011); Sweetwater Valley Farm, Philadelphia, Tenn. (2012); McCarty Family Farms, Rexford, Kan. (2014); Hilmar Jerseys, Hilmar, Calif. (2015); Holsum Dairies, Hilbert, Wis. (2016); Jer-Lindy Farms LLC, Brooten, Minn. (2017); Schrack Farm Resources LP, Loganton, Pa. (2018); Foster Brothers Farms, Middlebury, Vt. (2019); MVP Dairy of Kansas and Ohio (2020); and Homestead Dairy, Plymouth, Ind. (2021); Hildebrand Farms Dairy, Junction City, Kan. (2022); Bar 20 Dairy of Kerman, Calif. (2023).

A call for nominations for the 2025 Innovative Dairy Farmer award will be released this summer. You can learn more about the award here.

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The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation’s dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, which supports more than 3.2 million jobs that generate $49 billion in direct wages and $794 billion in overall economic impact. IDFA’s diverse membership ranges from multinational organizations to single-plant companies, from dairy companies and cooperatives to food retailers and suppliers, all on the cutting edge of innovation and sustainable business practices. Together, they represent most of the milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and cultured products, and dairy ingredients produced and marketed in the United States and sold throughout the world. Delicious, safe and nutritious, dairy foods offer unparalleled health and consumer benefits to people of all ages.