Congratulations to our 2024 Steve Atkisson Dairy Service Award Winner, Robin Furhman!

Shipshewana, Indiana – The 2024 Steve Atkisson Indiana Dairy Service Award was presented to Robin Fuhrman on March 12, 2024 at the Indiana Milk Quality Conference held at the Blue Gate Conference Center in Shipshewana, Indiana. The prodigious award is presented annually at the Indiana Milk Quality Conference Awards Banquet to a representative of the dairy industry who has made a significant positive impact on Indiana’s dairy industry over a number of years.

      Fuhrman began her career in the dairy industry at Allen Dairy Products in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where she served as the field representative for the dairy producers supplying milk to Allen Dairy. In 1994, she became a part of the field department for Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. with the merger between Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. and Allen Dairy Products. Robin served as the field representative for 32 years. In 2022, Robin received a promotion to the Director of Field Services for Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc., where she works with her fellow field representatives in ten states and acts as the field representative for the dairy producers in Texas.

      Robin also has been a participant on the Planning Committee for the Indiana Milk Quality Professionals, Inc., where she has served as the secretary/ treasurer for 20 years. She has also been active with the Michigan Dairy Industry Conference for the past 17 years, and currently serves as the vice-president of the organization and vice-chair of the program committee. In 2018, Robin was honored to receive the Michigan Dairy Industry Conference Field Person of the Year Award.

      The award sponsored by the Indiana Milk Quality Professionals, Inc., is named in honor of the late Mr. Steve Atkisson, a very well-respected milk quality specialist as well as dairy farm and plant survey inspector with Indiana State Board of Animal Health, Dairy Division. Mr. Atkisson was known for his professionalism, fairness and steadfast dedication to ensuring the safety and quality of milk and dairy products for Indiana’s residents.