Annual Conference Awards and Retiree Highlights
Each year at the annual conference we like to take the time to highlight those in the industry that are nominated by their peers. Below is the list of award winners from the past years. If you would like to nominate someone that you know is deserving please do so on the Annual Awards Page.
Past Distinguished Service Award Winners
2025: Nick Heindl
2024: James Hassinger
2023: Peggy Good
2022: Gib Martin
2021: Brett Brumbaugh
2020: No Conference Held
2019: Wilbur Wheeler
2018: Gary Ober
2017:
2016: Robin Breeding
2015: Ralph Kerr
2014: Jerry Thompson
2013: Dan Bowely
2012: Annie Peipenhagen
2011: Bill Chidron
2010: Paul Dix
Past Lab Award Winners
2025: John Pcsolar
2024: Jennifer Rakowski
2023: Frank Early
2022:
2021:Wyleisha Branch
2020: No Conference Held
2019: Amanda Rife
2018: Abigail Acker
2017:
2016:
2015: Abagail Acker
2014: Susan Wise
2013: Bonnie Ford
2012: Joe Dougherty
2011:
2010: Jeffrey Kagarise
Past Inspector/Sanitarian Award Winners
2025: Brian Riley
2024: Eric Garbman
2023: Doug Braham
2022: Terry Mesner
2021: Dean Horst
2020: No Conference Held
2019: Jeff Rosenberger
2018: Tom McCombs
2017:
2016: Dan Fox
2015: James Hassinger
2014: Grant Gayman
2013: Scott Staub
2012: Jay Metzker
2011: Patricia McKenty
2010: Jane Upperman
2025 Award Winners
Left: Brian Riley, Land O’ Lakes - Sanitarian Award
Right: John Pcsolar, Eurofins - Lab Award
Retiree Awards
Joe Houck -2025 Retirement
Company: Dairy Farmers of America (DFA)
Terry Messner - 2024 Retirement
Company: Land O’ Lakes
Rona Robertson - 2024 Retirement
Company: The Hershey Company
Rona retired in April of 2024. She spent over 30 years in the dairy & food manufacturing industry.
Peggy Good - 2023 Retirement
Company: Turkey Hill
Robin Harchak - 2023 Retirement
Company: Maryland & Virginia Producers
Craig Weaver -2024 Retirement
Company: Dairy Farmers of America (DFA)
Craig is retiring with over 44 years of service to the dairy industry!
Don Mihoci - 2023 Retirement
Company: Dairy Farmers of America (DFA)
Gary Ober - 2022 Retirement
Company: Dairy Farmers of America (DFA)
Gary Smith - 2022 Retirement
Company: Dairy Farmers of America (DFA)
Jeff Rosenberger - 2022 Retirement
Company: Dairy Farmers of America (DFA)
Debbie Liggett - 2022 Retirement
Company: United Dairy Inc.
Past Presidents
We want to take the time to highlight those that have lead the PAFP group in more ways than we can count. We thank you for taking the time to help organize the annual conference and continue to grow the PAFP group as a whole. We appreciate you!
2025: Sonya Radel - Dairy Farmers of America
Sonya is a Field Representative for Dairy Farmers of America, dealing in on-farm milk quality and troubleshooting as well as completing Animal Care, Environmental Stewardship and Workforce Development Surveys through the FARM Program in Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania. She has been in this role with DFA for about 4 years now. She is a graduate of Delaware Valley University where she majored in Agribusiness and minored in Dairy Science and Livestock Science.
2024: Ashley Hoover - Land O' Lakes
2023: Janae Klingler - MD-VA Milk Producers
2022: Amanda Wolfe - Land O' Lakes
2021: Wyleisha Branch - Kreider Farms
2020: (No Conference)
2019: James Fleck - Galiker Dairy
2018: Wilbur Wheeler - Dairy Farmers of America
2017: Jake Thompson - Land O' Lakes