Ed Mullins and Dan Zagzebski honored with IDFA Laureate Award
The awards were presented on Jan. 23 during Dairy Forum.
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) recognized the remarkable leadership of Ed Mullins, senior executive officer of Edwardsville, Ill.-based Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., and Dan Zagzebski, president and CEO of Hiram, Ohio-headquartered Great Lakes Cheese Company Inc., by honoring each with the IDFA Laureate Award during the association’s annual Dairy Forum. Now in its third year, the IDFA Laureate Award is given to a leader in the dairy industry who has made significant, prolonged contributions to the development and growth of dairy, IDFA said. Candidates from across the dairy industry, as well as suppliers and academics are eligible, and the awardee(s) is chosen by a panel of industry professionals.
Mullins began his career with Prairie Farms in 1980 and rose to become the cooperative’s CEO and executive vice president before stepping into his current role as senior executive officer earlier this year, IDFA said. Mullins was only the fourth chief executive in the 80-year history of the farmer-owned dairy cooperative.