Crista Hawkins

Oregon Dairy and Nutrition Council

The Oregon Dairy and Nutrition Council (ODNC) works on behalf of all dairy farm families and dairy processors throughout the state of Oregon. Building trust and demand for Oregon dairy products and support for those who make them is accomplished through efforts and involvement in schools, health and wellness, communications and industry development. The ODNC's origins trace back to as early as 1918, when the Oregon Dairy Council was created to advance the benefits of dairy nutrition. The Oregon Dairy Products Commission was later created by the Oregon Legislature as a commodity commission in 1943. These two organizations merged in 1985, but the names remained separate until January 1, 2016. Today, ODNC operates on a daily basis under the supervision of an executive director, who leads a team of nine professionals representing program areas and disciplines necessary to successfully fulfill the mission and shared goals of the Council. The Council is governed by the ten members of the Oregon Dairy Products Commission — six of whom are dairy farmers, plus one dairy processor, and one public member. A representative from the Oregon Department of Agriculture sits on the board as a non-voting member, as does a representative from Oregon State University's College of Agricultural Sciences.