Forward Under 40 Award
The Dairy Girl Network is proud to open nominations for the DGN Forward Under 40 award, presented biennially at the DGN Forward TogetHER National Conference. Four passionate dairywomen whom are working to better our industry today will be honored at the next DGN Forward TogetHER on October 27-29, 2026 in Lexington, KY.
The honored dairywomen will exemplify passionate involvement and leadership to move the dairy industry forward. The ideal candidate possesses strong leadership skills, innovative thinking and ideas that are impacting and moving the dairy industry forward. Her type of dairy work may be diverse. (For example, a dairy farmer, or working with an agribusiness or an agricultural educator, etc.) All applicants must be nominated by fellow dairywomen and men from across the country and will be judged by an outside panel made of anonymous industry professionals and producers.
Nominations will close on August 31, 2026 midnight CST.
Applications for the 2026 Forward Under 40 award are open! Nomination form:
Previous Winners:
Renee Norman-Kenny (2024)
Renee Norman-Kenny, a lifelong dairy enthusiast which was rooted on her home farm of Normandell Farm in Liberty, Pa. Her passion and dedication to her beloved Jersey cows and the greater dairy community has only continued to blossom since. Together with her husband, Clayton, Renée owns and operates Kenny Jersey Farm LLC, which they purchased from family in 2015. Norman-Kenny’s hands-on management and partnership in the daily operations of Kenny Jersey Farm serve as the foundation for her significant contributions to the dairy industry. Currently, she serves on the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Jersey Cattle Association and the American Dairy Association North East. Norman-Kenny plays a pivotal role as the Operations Officer of DGN, along with freelance communication projects and a flower business. Her commitment to DGN, both professionally and personally, has been instrumental in its success, culminating in the celebration of DGN’s 10th anniversary.
Kim Tarvis (2024)
Kim Tarvis is an Associate Professor of the Animal Sciences at the State University of New York at Cobleskill Agriculture and Technology where she is soon-to-be Professor of the Animal Sciences. As the 2024 Cobleskill Student-Voted Faculty Mentor of the year, her daily office hours have a line down the hallway as the advisor to almost 60 students. She coaches the Dairy Challenge team putting in hundreds of hours each year which her 2024 team took home an honorable second place. Tarvis is the faculty mentor of Sigma Alpha where she uplifts a large group of women. Tarvis’s impact extends beyond the classroom, as she furthers her own education through her doctoral thesis, where she is studying the effects of teaching methods in how to teach. By studying more types of accommodations and learning methods, she creates a classroom environment where students of any neurodiversity or learning style can thrive and become interactive in dairy. Tarvis’s commitment to education, mentorship, and the future of dairy inspires her students and colleagues alike, making her a well-deserving recipient of this recognition.
Andrea Mouw (2024)
Andrea Mouw is owner and founder of Dairywise Laboratory Services LLC. After graduating from Washington State University, Mouw’s diverse career in agriculture has spanned roles as a veterinary assistant, herdsman and lab analyst. Mouw is deeply engaged in her local dairy community from active participation in local fairs and boards to the founding of a nonprofit aimed at fostering sustainable agriculture in African communities. Mouw plays a role in local dairy initiatives, such as the Dairy Heifer program in Magic Valley, where she sponsors and mentors young participants. Her dedication to advancing agriculture is shown in her active participation in the Leadership Idaho Agriculture (LIA) program. Her impact is felt in every aspect, from her hands-on involvement in the milking parlor—where she actively participates in herd cultures for her lab—to leadership roles in meetings and on boards such as the local Farm Bureau. She is helping farmers’ children in Uganda be able to attend school, learn about farming sustainability and helping improve their family’s well-being. Mouw’s contributions through local mentorship, leadership, and global sustainability initiatives demonstrate her dedication to advancing the industry and inspiring others.
Dr. Michelle Schack (2024)
Dr. Michelle Schack is a partner in the Dairy Veterinary Service Clinic in Chander, Ariz. and trusted advisor to many producers across the state. As a co-founder of the dairy education company DairyKind, Michelle has delivered over 40,000 trainings to dairy farm employees focusing on animal care and handling beyond her in-person visits. She is on the Animal Welfare Committee for the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and mentor to food animal veterinary students at Arizona Vet Schools. Her passion beams through her story shared in speaking roles and she inspires not only new members but also those of us that have been in agriculture for many years. Dr. Schack consistently breaks down barriers, mentors those around her, and champions the advancement of women in agriculture. Her leadership, dedication, and motivational spirit have made her a standout in the dairy industry, where she continues to leave a lasting impact.
Julie Abrahamzon (2022)
Abrahamzon has experience in leading high performing teams, business development, strategy and financial management. She has a deep passion for delivering value to dairy customers and developing her teammates. Starting as an “only” in her early days as a management associate, she has risen to be an outstanding leader and enacted positive change for the Cargill organization along the way. Early in her career, she became one of the first, and youngest, female sales leaders within the Cargill Animal Nutrition business. Thanks to her incredible work ethic and key allyship—which she always is quick to mention— she became “the only” female on the Cargill dairy leadership team before she turned 30. She is currently the commercial director for the Cargill Animal Nutrition North America Dairy Business. She has been with Cargill for 16 years in a variety of leadership roles, all within animal nutrition and health.
Amanda Freund (2022)
Freund was raised on a multi-generational dairy farm, embracing responsibilities and privileges from childhood through her adulthood. She served in the Peace Corps in Zambia. Freund is involved with her family’s farm market, nursery and catering operation, in addition to being a principal employee of CowPots. She is active with her Cooperative’s Young Cooperators organization, served with Connecticut Farm Bureau, Connecticut Dairy Board and hosts her own podcast that focuses on connecting people to their food. She opens her farm and business to the public to encourage and improve consumer and neighbor perceptions and knowledge. Freund has been featured by Forbes, has engaged policy makers at every level from hosting the Undersecretary of the USDA to local and congressional officials. She lends her voice and talents as a speaker and panelist often, including at the DGN Forward TogetHER Conference.
Emily Yeiser-Stepp (2022)
Yeiser-Stepp has impressed many people by how she manages a team and the dairy farmers she serves. Through her professional career, she has always made it a point to uplift those around her. Her confidence and integrity have allowed her to always speak her mind and stand up for what she believes in – and who, she believes in. This has a domino effect because of her mentorship and sponsorship for other women, which in result they have been able to do the same for other women. Her confidence and open mind allow her to effectively lead the National Dairy FARM Program, that is creating a better life for dairy animals and a stronger trust between farmers and consumers. She has been involved in a lot of dairy organizations including, but not limited to, Dairy Girl Network, YDLI, WDE Youth Planning Committee, WDE Dairy Judging Contest Official, Maryland State Fair, PSU Dairyman’s Scholarship Committee and her local bible study. Today, she serves as the Vice President of the NMPF FARM program.
Leaine Souza (2022)
Souza is making a difference in her local, state and national community. Her husband’s family has a dairy farm in which she is active along with her husband and children, giving back to their local community and involvement in 4-H. She continually advocates for dairy producers to ensure their voice and specific issues and concerns are being heard. Souza also serves on the board of DairyCares and California Ag Council. She has volunteered to assist DGN in organizing events at the World Ag Expo for dairywomen to connect during the event. Souza has been a Land O’ Lakes employee for over 15 years starting her career at the Tulare Butter Manufacturing Facility, holding several roles in quality and member and government relations organization. She is currently the director of the western region for member & government relations.
Candace White (2018)
White, from Mill Hall, PA, is the Dairy Manager at Paul Dotterer & Sons and is a third generation dairywoman overseeing the milking center and all herd health as well as managing over 15 employees and 1,650 cows and heifers. White is also serving her second three-year term on the PDMP Board of Directors and also serves on the Pennsylvania Beef Council Board of Directors. She has been at the forefront of using social media to educate consumers about the positive aspects of not only the dairy industry, but dairywomen specifically. You have recently seen her on the She-I-O music video produced by Land O’ Lakes.
Jessica Peters (2018)
Peters grew up on her family dairy farm in Meadville, PA where they milk Jerseys. She went to Pennsylvania State University and before returning to the farm full time, she traveled to New Zealand to explore their culture and dairy industry. She is also active with her local county fair and the Pennsylvania State Jersey Association where she serves as treasurer. Peters is a Young Dairy Leaders Institute (YDLI) Class 10 graduate and has grown as a leader and continues to inspire others by sharing her role as a dairy farmer and the challenges we face. She writes a blog post for Hoard’s Dairyman, wrote a children’s nursery rhyme book and even started a dairy dance off challenge. Through social media, Peters shares her authentic, comedic and inspirational thoughts on the industry and what farmers do to a large group of followers.
Jessica Tekippe (2018)
Tekippe has been deeply rooted in the dairy industry from a young age. From competing in the national dairy quiz bowl contest, to being crowed Iowa Dairy Princess, she has pushed through on her dream to own her own dairy one day. In partnership with her husband, they have started their own farming operation from the ground up. Tekippe has also had a big role on changing the nutritional outline of the global dairy industry. As the lead for research and develop for Ajinomoto Animal Nutrition North America she has decided it is vital that the dairy industry rise to the level that the swine and poultry industries are for amino acids. Tekippe has a hunger to completely change where nutrients for the dairy cow come from.
Kristi Fielder (2018)
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Fielder started as an intern with GENEX and she has held multiple roles in the company ever since. She has now advanced her career to serve as the Vice President of Production and manages over 125 employees in production locations throughout the USA. She and her staff are responsible for the health and well-being of the dairy and beef bulls and the production of over 12 million units of semen. Fielder contributes significantly in the GENEX senior management team and challenges the ‘we’ve always done it this way’ of thinking.