April 17, 2008 (Reston, Va.) – Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative is pleased to award $5,000 in scholarships to students pursuing careers in the dairy industry. In total, there are five winners, each receiving $1,000 towards their educational costs for the 2008-2009 school year.

“Just like farm expenses, education costs today are sky rocketing,” said CEO Jay Bryant. “More often than not scholarships and financial assistance are the determining factors for students considering college. I’m thrilled that Maryland & Virginia continues to support and invest in students now, ensuring talented and dedicated dairy leaders for years to come.”

With nearly 20 applicants this year, the scholarship competition this year was particularly fierce. All three judges were impressed with the caliber of applicants and commented on how difficult it made their jobs. To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be attending a four-year accredited college or university, pursuing a career in dairy science and be the daughter, son or employee of a Maryland & Virginia member.

The five winners include:

James Franks, Waynesboro, Ga. James attends Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College where he plans to major in Agricultural Engineering. Franks has been an active participant in a variety of youth activities including 4-H, National Brown Swiss Junior Association, and is a junior member of the Ga. PDCA. Additionally, he is an avid showman, traveling across the country to exhibiting his Brown Swiss.

Ryan Haines, Taneytown, Md. Ryan is currently a student at Virginia Tech where he is majoring in Dairy Science and Agricultural Business Management. At Tech, Haines is an active participant of the Virginia Tech Dairy Science Club where he has served on a variety of committees and he has participated on the Virginia Tech Dairy Judging team.

Adam Holter, Jefferson, Md. Adam lives on a dairy farm in Jefferson, Md., where his family also raises bees and chickens. Holter attends Middletown High School and Frederick Community College. He plans on transferring to Shepard University where he will major in Business Administration. He plans on using this degree to return to the farm and be able to diversify his products.

Logan Horst, Chambersburg, Pa. Logan lives on his family’s Holstein and Jersey farm in Chambersburg, Pa. He attends Penn State University’s Mont Alto campus where he is majoring in Agribusiness Management and Animal Science. He has been an active participant in dairy bowl, Jr. Holstein Club, 4-H, and FFA, and has been very successful with both 4-H and FFA dairy judging projects.

Turner Swartz, Port Royal, Pa. Turner attends Penn State University where he is majoring in Animal Science. He is a member of Penn State’s dairy science club and also a member of their dairy judging team that won top honors at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisc., last fall.

Congratulations to all five winners!

Owned and operated by 1,500 dairy farm families from Pennsylvania to Georgia, Maryland & Virginia is a milk marketing and processing cooperative providing consumers throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S. with fresh milk and dairy products. Maryland & Virginia owns and operates three fluid processing plants; Marva Maid of Newport News, Va., Marva Maid of Landover, Md., and Maola Milk and Ice Cream Company in New Bern, N.C.; a manufacturing plant in Laurel, Md.; and an equipment warehouse business in Frederick, Md. The cooperative is also majority owner of a second manufacturing plant, Valley Milk LLC located in Strasburg, Va.