Congratulations to the Foremost Farms 2026 Udder Excellence Winners!
Recognition is at the heart of what makes Foremost Farms a great place to work. Whether it’s acknowledging a coworker’s everyday contributions through Kudos or honoring exceptional achievements through our Udder Excellence Awards, celebrating one another helps strengthen our culture and bring our values to life.
“Everyone has the opportunity to recognize the contributions, collaboration and impact happening every day,” said Kari Paterson, Vice President of Human Resources. “When we take time to recognize great work, we create a stronger, more connected cooperative.”
The Udder Excellence Awards are our premier employee recognition program, featuring seven award categories presented bi-annually to individuals and teams who go above and beyond in support of our cooperative’s success. Congratulations to the following recipients, selected from nominations submitted between January and June 2026.
Breakthrough Thinker Award
LaTasha Dean – Cheese Packaging, Richland Center
Tasha consistently steps up to guide her team at the Richland Center plant, identifying challenges and developing practical solutions while ensuring everyone’s ideas are heard. She embodies the “one team” philosophy and goes above and beyond by mentoring and training others at the Pack 1 location. Her knowledge, patience and willingness to share expertise have strengthened team efficiency and created a supportive environment for new team members.
Culture Steward Award
Kelli Jo Welsh – Milk Runner, Richland Center
Kelli consistently steps up to identify problems, embrace challenges and drive improvements. Even on difficult days, she maintains a positive attitude and inspires those around her to achieve more. She brings strong energy to creative problem-solving, readily embraces new challenges and quickly identifies the tools and support needed to succeed. Her drive, adaptability and commitment to improvement make her a dependable leader and a positive force for the team.
Data Catalyst Award
Carlie Nelson – Supply & Demand Planning Analyst II, Headquarters
Carlie exemplifies the Data Catalyst award by turning complex data into clear, actionable insights that drive better decisions. In just one year, she has grown into the owner of her department’s demand plan while expanding analytical support across commercial, operations and finance teams. Carlie goes beyond providing data, as she identifies trends, highlights risks and connects the dots across supply, production, demand, customers and margins. Her curiosity, collaborative approach and ability to make data meaningful have made her a trusted thought partner and a catalyst for smarter decision-making across the organization.
Operational Optimizer Award
Wynn Peters – Lead Process Operator B, Greenville
Wynn demonstrates exceptional technical expertise, initiative and commitment to operational excellence. He proactively identifies potential equipment and process issues through detailed trend and data analysis, while developing practical solutions to improve performance. His work refining startup procedures reduced “Milk to Milk” time by 45 minutes, and his development of a solids ratio calculator is helping improve consistency, efficiency and profitability. Wynn’s curiosity, problem-solving mindset and drive to help the Greenville team succeed make him a true catalyst for improvement.
Risk Taker Award
Kelly Zimmer – Talent Development Director, Headquarters
Kelly exemplifies the Risk Taker award through her innovative work developing Foremost Farm’s Leadership Pipeline. She challenged the status quo by creating a sustainable, people-focused framework that provides a shared approach to leadership development at every level. Kelly actively sought input across functions and management levels, listened to feedback and adapted while confidently moving the initiative forward. Her collaboration, thoughtful risk-taking and commitment to investing in people are helping strengthen leadership, succession planning and a culture of growth across Foremost.
Silo Breaker Award
Gregory Roberts – Maintenance Supervisor, Marshfield
Greg demonstrates exceptional ownership and leadership in Marshfield’s wastewater pre-treatment operations. His proactive approach, strong vendor partnerships and focus on efficiency have driven meaningful improvements, including a seeding trial that increased bio-life by 60% and established an effective process for quickly recovering from septic conditions. His consistent communication and collaborative leadership have earned respect within the team and community, including formal recognition from the City of Marshfield Wastewater. Greg’s initiative and commitment to excellence make him a valuable asset to Foremost Farms.
Value Maximizer Award
Peter Myers – Automation Controls Engineer II, Headquarters
Pete consistently embraces innovation by turning business challenges into scalable, efficient technology solutions. His programming expertise and forward-thinking approach have improved workflows, increased efficiency and created reliable systems that support future growth. Pete looks beyond the immediate request to understand the bigger need, delivering practical solutions that often exceed expectations. His technical expertise, collaboration and commitment to continuous improvement make him a valued partner and key contributor to the cooperative’s success.
Foremost Farms employees may read the full list of nominations on Main Street, the cooperative’s employee intranet.