Press Release
Horizon Organic, a pioneer in organic dairy and the largest USDA-certified organic milk and dairy brand in the world, operates under the belief that doing business and doing good should coexist and can be mutually beneficial.
This month, Horizon is demonstrating its ongoing commitment to farmer partnership by today announcing the recipients of 2025 Horizon Organic Producer Education (HOPE) Scholarships and HOPE Awards, including Pavilion residents Macey Dahl and Zachary Tillotson, as well as sponsorship of Farm Aid 40.
Over the past 18 years, the HOPE Scholarship program has awarded 85 scholarships to young family members, including children or grandchildren, of Horizon farmer partners, totaling $236,500 in scholarships. This year’s scholarship winners are:
Macey Dahl (Pavilion), Cottonwood Farms LLC
Evan Frescura (Latrobe, Pa.), Sunrise Ridge Farm
Jack Fry (Chestertown, Md.), Fair Hill Farms
Rachel Hatch (Freedom), Emary Springs Farm
Zackary Tillotson (Pavilion), Cottonwood Farms LLC
“Being named a 2025 HOPE Scholarship recipient for the third time is an incredible honor for both me and my family,” Tillotson said. “The financial support is meaningful, but more important is the recognition of the hard work and dedication that family farms like ours put into agriculture every day. It means so much to know that Horizon values the next generation of farmers and is committed to supporting our future. I’m extremely grateful for this investment in my education, while preparing to build on my family’s legacy in farming and continue our strong relationship with Horizon.”
HOPE Award recipients exemplify the power to create positive change in their communities by embracing and bringing to life the spirit of organic principles, serving as a model for other organic farmers and helping to secure the future of organic dairy farming.
Horizon has a more than 30-year history of partnering with family farmers, building one-on-one relationships and investing in farmers in a way that allows them to operate more sustainable businesses.
Nearly 150,000 family owned and operated dairy farms ceased operations in the United States between 2017 to 2022, and approximately 300,000 of the 1.3 million active farmers are under the age of 35. Horizon Organic is committed to helping farmers be able to make decisions that lead to thriving farms by bolstering the future of organic farming and advancing the current food system.
The HOPE Scholarship is an annual program that encourages young people from Horizon Organic farm families to seek careers within organic or sustainable agriculture and/or large animal veterinary science. The HOPE Awards are announced annually to celebrate Horizon Organic’s family farmer partners who demonstrate excellence and leadership in organic dairy farming.
The HOPE programs celebrate the achievements of Horizon Organic’s farmer partners who are raising the bar for organic dairy farming. Farmers learn how to care for their land through direct observation, hands-on experience, experimentation, and generational wisdom. They are not only experts, but also crucial partners in researching, innovating, and applying practices that contribute to more resilient agriculture.
“This month we are recognizing all our farmer partners do to provide Horizon Organic with high-quality organic milk, while also advancing organic farming overall and inspiring the next generation to join the organic movement,” said Tyler Holm, CEO of Horizon Family Brands. “From our Legacy HOPE Award winner, Chuck Deichmann, who has been supplying milk to Horizon for more than 25 years, to the scholarship recipients just beginning their farming career, we are proud of the partnership we share with each of our family farmer partners.”
This year’s HOPE Award winners are:
Farmer/Partner of the Year Award: Ben Stoltzfus (Parkesburg, Pa.), Swampy Hollow Farm
Nature Award: Todd Frescura (Latrobe, Pa.), Frescura Farm and Sunrise Ridge Farm
Social Award: Matt & Megan Fry (Chestertown, Md.), Fair Hill Farms
Innovative/Pioneering Award: Riley Smith (American Falls, Idaho), Nature Ridge Organic Dairy
Legacy Award: Chuck Deichmann (Belmont), Willow Creek Farm
Young Farmer Award: Daniel Sparks (Cassopolis, Mich.), Sparks Cedarlee Farm
Hauler of the Year: Idaho Milk Transport (Burley, Idaho)This year, Horizon
Organic is proud to be a sponsor of Farm Aid 40 and has invited Horizon farmer and hauler partners to this celebration of family farms. Horizon has a long history, spanning more than 20 years, of sponsoring and inviting farmers to attend Farm Aid 40.
This login for commenting on stories or submitting stories, and is not associated with Early Access Pass or Deal of the Day
Copyright © 2008-2022 The Batavian. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
