The Dairy Alliance has launched a new campaign, Portraits of Modern Dairy: Southern Stories, to spotlight Oakmulgee Dairy, a Virginia family farm that has operated continuously for six generations. The initiative aims to show consumers how modern dairy farmers are adopting innovative technologies to improve environmental sustainability and ensure the long-term viability of family farming.
Oakmulgee Dairy, Virginia's oldest continuously operating family dairy, is featured for its efforts in renewable energy and environmental stewardship. The farm partners with Vanguard Renewables to use anaerobic co-digestion, a process that converts dairy cow manure and inedible food and beverage waste from local businesses into renewable natural gas. This process captures methane that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere and diverts food waste from landfills.
The environmental benefits are significant. According to the campaign, the project is estimated to divert nearly 115,000 tons of food waste from landfills annually and achieve greenhouse gas reductions equivalent to removing more than 14,000 gasoline-powered vehicles from the road. Additionally, the process recovers nutrients from organic materials, which are recycled into natural fertilizer for use on farmland to support crop production.
Farrah Newberry, CEO of The Dairy Alliance, emphasized that for the Moyer family, investing in new technology is part of caring for a farm passed down through generations. "Through 'Portraits of Modern Dairy: Southern Stories' we're showing consumers how dairy farmers are turning challenges into opportunities, from transforming waste into renewable energy to helping keep family farming viable for the next generation," Newberry said.
The campaign runs from November 2026 through January 2027 and will share Oakmulgee Dairy's story through video, social media content, and educational graphics. The content will introduce consumers to the people behind the farm, explain how anaerobic co-digestion works, and explore how these practices support the farm's long-term viability.
This campaign matters because it provides transparency about modern dairy farming and highlights how farmers are addressing environmental challenges through innovation. By showcasing real stories of family farms like Oakmulgee Dairy, The Dairy Alliance aims to build consumer trust and demonstrate that dairy production can be both sustainable and economically viable. The initiative also underscores the role of renewable energy in agriculture and the importance of preserving family farming legacies for future generations.
