SHIPSHEWANA, Ind. – The most recent recipient of the dairy service award from the Indiana Milk Quality Professionals (IMQP), Inc., said the honor has reassured her that she’s made a difference to the dairy industry in the state.

Robin Fuhrman, the organization’s long-time secretary/treasurer, received the Steve Atkisson Indiana Dairy Service Award March 12 during IMQP’s annual conference in Shipshewana. Fuhrman has been director of field services for Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc., since 2022.

The award is given to a representative of the dairy industry who has made a significant positive impact on Indiana’s dairy industry over a number of years, according to IMQP. Atkisson was a well-respected milk quality specialist, and dairy farm and plant survey inspector for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health dairy division, IMQP said.

Fuhrman is the fifteenth person to receive the award.

“Overall, it is very exciting and very humbling to know that the people of the dairy industry feel I am worthy of such an acknowledgment,” she explained. “I try to do my best at my position and to help wherever I can. This award is reassurance that I am doing my part to keep the dairy industry vital and strong.

“My fellow peers have noticed me and what I have added to our industry, and observed the efforts I have made to assure the yearly conferences are a success for everyone to enjoy the time we have together while learning from the wonderful topics and speakers we have.”

After Fuhrman was notified she had won the award, she said she “went through a range of emotions. To name a few – first, excitement; second – humbling; third – sadness that my husband and sister were not here to participate in the excitement of being selected for the award. My husband of 28 years passed away on July 25, 2022, and my sister, who helped with the conference, passed away on Jan. 25, 2023.”

She was able to share her acceptance of the award with her 104-year-old grandmother, Edna Heathers, her sister, Lori Bowman, her niece, Emily Stoll, her sister-in-law Charlene Minick, and her best friend, Dusty Newman.

Fuhrman grew up on a dairy farm outside of Kendallville, Ind. Her family shipped milk to Allen Dairy Products, which later merged with Prairie Farms Dairy. She began working for Allen Dairy in Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1990.

“When I was in college at Purdue University, one of my dairy professors knew I was interested in being in the dairy industry,” Fuhrman recalled. “He had heard of an upcoming opening at Allen Dairy and knew I was from a dairy farm near that area. When we were touring the Purdue Dairy Farm, I kept asking questions as to why things were being done the way they were. He turned to me and said, ‘You will be the next fieldman at Allen Dairy.’”

After sending out several resumes prior to her graduation, including to Allen Dairy, she received a call from the dairy’s general manager to schedule an interview.

Fuhrman said she’s been told numerous times that she was the first female field representative in the state. She served as field representative for 32 years before her promotion to director of field services.

“In 1990, the dairy industry was mainly composed of men. It took me several years to get the title changed to field representative. Now, the tables have turned and there are many women in the industry. Oh, how things have changed over my 34 years.”

She has been active with the Michigan Dairy Industry Conference for 17 years, and serves as the organization’s vice president and vice chair of the program committee. Six years ago, she received the conference’s Field Person of the Year Award.

“By growing up on a dairy farm, the dairy industry is just part of who I am,” Fuhrman noted. “I loved growing up on a dairy farm. As a family, we all worked together on the farm. We were also very involved in many projects in 4-H. This background instilled in me the importance of family and serving the community. Once I was ready to enter the workforce, I could not think of another industry that would fulfill my desires to assist the farming community and be able to be around cows on a regular basis.”

Receiving an award named after Atkisson was an honor, Fuhrman said.

“When I first met him, he was the chief of survey (for the state of Indiana dairy division). He was responsible for the state survey department where he oversaw the dairy inspection program. He always conducted himself as a gentleman.

“He was able to work with everyone in the dairy industry with respect, which in turn gave him respect from his peers. I was privileged to get to work and learn from him. He made a definite impression on me, which taught me how to conduct myself even better.”