With U.S. agriculture facing a stark succession gap — nearly 1.3 million farmers at or near retirement age versus just 300,000 under 35 — Horizon Organic is doubling down on farmer investment by naming its 2026 HOPE Award and Scholarship recipients and committing sponsorship dollars to Farm Aid and the Organic Trade Association's annual Organic Week.

The announcements reinforce a supply-chain strategy that matters directly to foodservice buyers and grocery operators who source certified organic dairy: the long-term viability of Horizon's more than 500 U.S. farmer partners depends on attracting and retaining the next generation of producers. More than a quarter of those partners have worked with the brand for at least a decade, and 30 have shipped milk to Horizon for more than 20 years.

Scholarships and Awards

Established in 2007, the annual Horizon Organic Producer Education (HOPE) Scholarship supports children, grandchildren, and young relatives of Horizon farmer partners who are pursuing degrees in organic or sustainable agriculture or large-animal veterinary science. Over 19 years the program has awarded 114 scholarships totaling more than $300,000. This year's recipients are Macey Dahl of Cottonwood Farms LLC (Pavilion, N.Y.), Evan Frescura of Frescura Farm (Latrobe, Pa.), Justus Visser of Natural Milk Too (Stanwood, Wash.), and Rachel Hatch of Emary Springs Farm (Freedom, N.Y.).

The 2026 HOPE Awards recognize farmer partners who model best practices across seven categories: Farmer Legacy (Jerry Clapper, Clapper Farms, Laceyville, Pa.), Farm Partner of the Year (Don & Debbie Moreda and Stephanie Moreda-Arend, Moreda Valley Dairy, Petaluma, Calif.), Young Farmer (Lucas Waugerman, Fair Family Farms LLC, Manns Choice, Pa.), Nature (Aaron Schmid, Mountain Meadow Dairy, Trout Lake, Wash.), Social (Jonathan & Ella King, King Dairy, Rushsylvania, Ohio), Innovative/Pioneering (Benuel S. Beiler, Benuel S. Beiler Dairy, Cochranville, Pa.), and Hauler of the Year (Moo Juice Express, Berne, Ind.).

"We are deeply grateful for the impressive and inspiring families behind our more than 500 farmer partnerships, and we know that when farmers succeed, it helps the entire food system succeed as well," said Tyler Holm, CEO of Horizon Family Brands.

Industry Events and Commitments

Beyond its internal recognition programs, Horizon is leveraging two high-profile industry platforms this month. The brand is sponsoring Organic Week (September 14–16, Washington, D.C.), the Organic Trade Association's flagship supply-chain gathering, where Holm will join sector leaders for the "Vision and Values Driving the Future of Organic: CEO Roundtable." Horizon has been an OTA member for more than 25 years. The brand is also sponsoring Farm Aid 2026, the annual benefit festival taking place September 26 in Virginia Beach, and has invited farmer and hauler partners to attend and be recognized for their contributions.

For operators and supply-chain professionals tracking the organic food and beverage sector, Horizon's sustained investment signals ongoing commitment to supply stability — a critical consideration as demand for certified organic dairy in foodservice and retail channels continues to evolve. The brand's B Corp certification and long-tenured farmer relationships also increasingly serve as differentiators in retailer and foodservice procurement conversations where sustainability credentials carry weight. Industry professionals following dairy supply-chain developments will find Horizon's farmer-first model a useful benchmark as the broader organic category navigates succession challenges and input cost pressures.

Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.