Awards celebrate collaboration, product quality, and community leadership in the dairy industry
Two of the dairy industry’s leading cooperatives, Prairie Farms Dairyand Hiland Dairy, were recognized for their achievements at the 2025 QCS Annual Conference in Boston. The event highlighted excellence in innovation, product quality, and community impact.
Together with Rocket Products, the two companies received the QCS Collaboration Award for their joint Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) campaign. The charitable initiative raised awareness and funds for childhood cancer research while uniting both brands under one shared mission — giving back to their communities.
“Working with Rocket Products and our lemonades for this campaign was truly special,” said Matt McClelland, CEO and Executive Vice President of Prairie Farms Dairy. “We’re proud that this collaboration supported Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s mission and brought our employees, customers, and communities together in a meaningful way.”
“This partnership reflects the cooperative spirit that defines our industry,” added Rick Beaman, President of Hiland Dairy. “When companies share a purpose, the impact reaches far beyond business — it strengthens communities and lives.”
Honoring Dairy Quality Excellence
In addition to their collaboration award, both cooperatives received several QCS Dairy Quality Excellence honors. The program recognizes exceptional performance in product quality, food safety, and operations.
Prairie Farms Dairy earned:
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2025 Dairy Quality Award Winner and Weber Finalist – Olney, IL plant
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Merit of Excellence Awards for Fluid Milk – Anderson, IN; Hammond, LA; Jefferson City, MO; O’Fallon, IL; and Olney, IL
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Cultured Products Quality Winner – Quincy, IL
Hiland Dairy received:
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Merit of Excellence Awards for Fluid Milk – Fayetteville, AR; Fort Smith, AR; Little Rock, AR; and Springfield, MO
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Cultured Products Quality Winners – Norman, OK and Wichita, KS
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Ice Cream Quality Award Winner – Springfield, MO
These honors showcase both companies’ long-standing dedication to producing safe, high-quality dairy products. They also highlight the shared cooperative values that continue to drive excellence across the North American dairy sector.
