As part of the Richard E. Lyng Award, the NDB will contribute $2,500 to the Iowa State University Department of Animal Science.

Tim Smith joined Swiss Valley Farms, Davenport, Iowa, as the national sales manager for the company’s Natural Cheese division.

Franklin Foods builds plant in Arizona

Franklin Foods Inc., Enosburg Falls, Vt., said it is building a plant in Casa Grande, Ariz., to accommodate demand for its cream cheese. Production is planned to begin in early 2013. United Dairyman of Arizona is supplying the milk and cream.

Dairy co-op news

California Dairies Inc.  acquired certain assets of Security Milk Producers Association, a California milk marketing cooperative.

Six of Dairy Farmers of America’scheese products were awarded honors at the 2012 National Milk Producers Federation Championship Cheese Contest in Orlando, Fla.  First place winners were DFA Mozzarella, New Wilmington, Pa. (soft Italian cheese category) and La Vaquita Queso Panela, Houston (open class).

In memoriam: George A. Borba

George Antonio Borba, a member-owner and past chairman of the board of California Dairies Inc.  died on Oct.  23, 2012. One of his greatest achievements was initiating three of the largest cooperatives in the nation to merge and form California Dairies Inc., where he served as chairman of the board from its inception in 1999 until 2009.

“George Borba was willing to take a vision of a united California dairy industry and take it to the next level. For this, I have the utmost respect for him,” said CDI member and former chairman of the board, Tony Mendes. “The dairy industry owes a great deal to George Borba. Throughout his career he vigorously advocated on behalf of all dairymen, large or small, always inserting himself personally into issues that affected them.”

Under Mr. Borba’s leadership, CDI surpassed $3 billion in sales making it the second largest dairy processing cooperative in the nation.  Mr. Borba’s dairy, George Borba and Son Dairy, produced award-winning quality milk and qualified to receive the annual quality milk award nine out of 12 years. Furthermore, the George Borba & Son Dairy has been the top quality producer in CDI’s District 1 since 2006.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Delores; daughters Kim Borba, Linda (Armen) Gourdikian, Victoria (Andrew) Rynsburger, Cynthia (Tom) Podmajersky; son George Borba Jr. (Jennifer); 18 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a brother, John and a sister, Mary Borba Parente.