WCMA Announces Winners of 2026 Member Impact Awards
Four Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) member organizations have won 2026 Member Impact Awards, celebrating their leadership in advocacy, workplace culture, sustainability, and community engagement. These outstanding businesses will be honored at the Association's Annual Member Meeting and Awards Ceremony on September 23 in Madison, Wisconsin. Registration and sponsorships for the meeting are open now at WisCheeseMakers.org/Events.
“This year’s honorees demonstrate the many ways WCMA members are making a meaningful impact through advocacy, investment in their employees, environmental stewardship, and service to their communities,” said Sara Schmidt, WCMA Membership Director. “We’re grateful to everyone who submitted a nomination and to our Membership Committee for their thoughtful consideration. We look forward to celebrating these outstanding organizations in September.”
Kerry is being honored with the WCMA Advocate of the Year Award for its outstanding leadership in and sustained commitment to influencing public policy. Over the past year, Kerry was a highly engaged participant in both WCMA’s Federal Advocacy Fly-In in Washington, D.C., and State Advocacy Day in Madison. At the federal level, Kerry was integral to WCMA’s opposition to the Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act, expressing concerns that its broad definition of ultra-processed foods could result in warning labels on milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, and other dairy products. At the state level, Kerry actively engaged policymakers in opposition to Wisconsin Assembly Bill 550, pushing back against misleading dairy labeling proposals. Through these efforts, Kerry has demonstrated that effective advocacy means taking initiative, building relationships, bringing others along, and standing up for the dairy industry.
Sigma Foods – Darlington Plant will receive the WCMA Employer of the Year Award, which recognizes organizations that excel in human resources and workplace safety. Sigma Foods – Darlington Plant has a comprehensive workforce strategy centered on developing, retaining, and supporting employees. Over the past year, their first-year employee retention increased from 59 percent to 82 percent, and their long-term retention is 94 percent among employees with five or more years of experience. They offer extensive employee training and leadership development programs for employees, bilingual communication and resources, a strong internal promotion and career advancement philosophy, and employee recognition and safety initiatives.
Nelson-Jameson, Inc. is the winner of this year’s WCMA Sustainable Stewardship Award. Celebrated for years of leadership in environmental stewardship and sustainability, Nelson-Jameson continues to keep the environment at the forefront of its business strategy. Committed to Scope 1 & 2 carbon neutrality by 2035, they are launching their first-ever solar power project at their Jerome, Idaho, distribution center, which is projected to offset 3,115.5 metric tons of CO2 emissions over its lifetime. Additionally, over the course of 2025, they recovered hundreds of tons of waste and greatly reduced their paper and lighting energy usage. Nelson-Jameson is also a participant in the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Alliance and has aligned its work with the UN Global Compact and Sustainable Development Goals.
Lifeway Foods will receive the WCMA Culture of Excellence Award in 2026 for its dedication to social responsibility, community engagement, and a mission-driven corporate culture. When the January 2025 California wildfires devastated Los Angeles, Lifeway donated $10,000 to relief organizations. The Lifeway team also held food drives and delivered product donations to first responders, local food banks, and shelters on the ground in LA. Beyond disaster relief, Lifeway donated more than 230,000 servings of kefir and farmer cheese to organizations addressing food insecurity. Lifeway values inclusion and diverse backgrounds. The company is women-led, and the leadership team includes three female Vice Presidents and a board reflecting a diverse background: a bilateral amputee, a military veteran, and immigrants from multiple heritages.
“We’re proud to celebrate the positive impact of these winners,” said WCMA Executive Director John Umhoefer. “They truly demonstrate the spirit of these awards, and their commitment to engaging their values and improving the lives of those around them helps to foster a stronger and more resilient dairy industry.”
All awardees will be formally celebrated at WCMA’s Annual Member Meeting on September 23 in Madison, Wisconsin. Registration and sponsorships for the event are open now through September 8 at WisCheeseMakers.org/Events.