Join the herd at Dairy Farmers of America; new career opportunities, weekly job fairs in St. George

CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — If you’re looking to “moo-ve” your career in an exciting new direction, consider joining the herd at Dairy Farmers of America. The nationwide cooperative is passionate about farmers and supplying consumers with safe, nutritious dairy products.

Dairy Farmers of America employees donate meal backpacks to Tan’s Treats, St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Dairy Farmers of America, St. George News

Dairy Farmers of America operates the former Dean Foods manufacturing plant in St. George, acquired after the now-defunct milk production giant filed for bankruptcy in 2019. The facility is under completely new leadership that’s invested in the community and committed to making a difference.

“At Dairy Farmers of America, we’re all about safely making quality ice cream right the first time and having fun along the way,” said Ken Kaneversky, the plant’s general manager. “People will often hear the words ‘Glad to be here!’ as they walk through the plant.” 

Dairy Farmers of America works directly with local, family-owned farms to transform raw milk into products that consumers know and love. The St. George plant produces nearly 2 million gallons of packaged ice cream, frozen yogurt and sherbets every month. Products are distributed under the Meadow Gold Dairy label (a Dairy Farmers of America regional brand) as well as private customer labels.

The plant churns out ice cream products around the clock Monday through Saturday. Employees work 12-hour shifts three days one week and four days the next, meaning they enjoy a long weekend every other week. Whitney Badger, the plant’s human resources manager, said that Dairy Farmers of America firmly believes in promoting a healthy work-life balance.

Filler operator Carter Bundy said the management team truly cares about every employee, adding that his favorite part of the job is the ability to expand his knowledge daily – and sampling all the delicious ice cream.

Dairy Farmers of America employee Ty Brosier at work, St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Dairy Farmers of America, St. George News

Along with creating jobs, Dairy Farmers of America gives back to the communities they serve through the DFA Cares Foundation. On the local level, they’re now sponsoring the farm room at the St. George Children’s Museum. The farm room is one of 12 interactive exhibits that encourage minds both young and old to explore, play and learn. Kids can milk a cow, gather eggs or plant some vegetables, then take a walk into the farmhouse kitchen and prepare a delicious meal.

The cooperative has also partnered with Tan’s Treats, a nonprofit organization working to eradicate food insecurity in Washington County. Many families rely on free school meals when money gets tight, and Tan’s Treats steps in to cover the gap during weekends, holidays and breaks, working with the school district to identify the students at greatest risk. Employees at the St. George plant recently donated 108 food backpacks for spring break.

It takes an incredible team to deliver delicious, nutritious dairy to communities nationwide, and Dairy Farmers of America is looking to expand operations in Southern Utah. The St. George plant, which already provides over 100 jobs in the community, is now hiring for entry-level positions.

There’s no better time or place to make ice cream than the summer in St. George, Badger said. As such, the plant is also opening its doors to job seekers looking for seasonal work.

Dairy Farmers of America offers competitive wages starting at $19 per hour and numerous opportunities for advancement. The cooperative operates four manufacturing plants in Utah and a total of 86 nationwide.

“Working at Dairy Farmers of America is a sweet gig,” Kaneversky said. “We enjoy a highly competitive compensation package, a great working atmosphere, an eye for work-life balance, impressive technology and a great team to work side-by-side with. How do you beat that?”

Packaging operator Miguel Ballona agreed. “It’s easy work, easy money, great pay and I have great people to work with,” he added.

Ken Kaneversky, general manager of the Dairy Farmers of America St. George plant, at the St. George Children’s Museum, St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Dairy Farmers of America, St. George News

Established in 1998 through a merger of four dairy cooperatives, Dairy Farmers of America is now a worldwide dairy marketing cooperative owned by 12,500 family farmers from across the country. The company is grounded in farmer ownership and always seeks new ways to grow and invest for the benefit of all participating farms.

Dairy Farmers of America is the largest supplier of raw milk and the third-largest dairy company on the planet. The cooperative manufactures a variety of dairy products, including cheese, butter, fluid milk, ice cream and dairy ingredients, at plants nationwide. Employees have their fingerprints on thousands of brands across the global marketplace.

Dairy Farmers of America hosts job fairs every Thursday from 2-6 p.m. at the plant, located at 1310 E. Commerce Drive in St. George. Learn more about the cooperative and current employment opportunities at DFAmilk.com/careers.

Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.

• S P O N S O R E D   C O N T E N T • 

Resources

  • Dairy Farmers of America | Address: 1310 E. Commerce Drive, St. George | Website.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!