Dairy Farmers of America's Board and management are proud to congratulate Will Gilmer, a DFA member who has been selected as one of four winners of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance's "Faces of Farming & Ranching" program.
Dairy Farmers of America logo
The nationwide contest launched in summer 2012 to help put real faces on the American agriculture industry. More than 100 applications were submitted from passionate, dedicated farmers and ranchers across the country.

"I want to help consumers see that farmers and ranchers have a genuine passion for what they do and take pride in the quality of the food they produce," said Gilmer, who owns Gilmer Dairy Farm in Sulligent, Ala. "It is important to communicate that what we do makes a positive contribution to society. I'm looking forward to being part of a two-way conversation with consumers to continually improve our practices and products."

Gilmer is on the cutting edge of technology using his farm website, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter to promote awareness of the dairy industry. He shares his knowledge and experiences by speaking to civic groups, visiting classrooms, hosting farm tours, and appearing on television and radio shows. He also serves in leadership roles with various agricultural organizations.

The "Faces of Farming & Ranching" winners will act as national spokespeople, and will share stories and experiences on a national stage to help answer consumers' questions about how food is grown and raised to feed the nation.

"Will exudes passion and innovation along with many other great values we emphasize at DFA," said Randy Mooney, Board chairman. "Will's leadership and dedication make him a strong leader and voice for farmers who take great pride in the quality of food they produce."

Gilmer is a third-generation farmer who says farming next to his father is very rewarding. Gilmer Dairy has been in continuous operation since the early 1950s. During the past few years, Gilmer Dairy has provided seasonal strip grazing for a herd of 200 Holsteins. The Gilmers also have started utilizing no-till produce, both summer and cool season silage crops, and upgraded their dairy waste management system to more efficiently use captured nutrients as fertilizer.

01.24.2013