National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
Representing the Business Interests of Agriculture

Washington, DC – The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) has awarded its prestigious Director of the Year award Clyde E. Rutherford, chairman of NCFC member Dairylea Cooperative Inc.

Rutherford, who has been a member of Dairylea for over 40 years and chairman since 1978, operates a mediumsized dairy farm in Otego, New York.

“Clyde has provided strong and able leadership to Dairylea over the last 25 plus years, and has helped to ensure that his cooperative is well positioned to compete effectively in a changing marketplace,” said Jean-Mari Peltier, president and CEO of NCFC. “He is truly dedicated to the principles of farmer-ownership and I congratulate him on being named Director of the Year.”

The Farmer Cooperative Director of the Year Award was established to recognize the outstanding achievements of a farmer cooperative director who takes the lead to help their board of directors make decisions vital to their cooperative.

Farmer Cooperative Director of the Year nominees were examined by a panel of judges representing the NCFC members and outside experts. In selecting the winners, judges looked at four broad criteria: how well the nominee understands his cooperative; the ability to provide leadership and be a team player; the possession of good business judgment; and the ability to communicate effectively.

The awards were presented on Friday, January 20 at NCFC’s 77th Annual Meeting at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel and Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.