The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced an expansion of its government relations and advocacy operations to strengthen the association’s federal and state engagement on behalf of the dairy industry.
The expanded team is led by Chelsie Keys, senior vice president, government relations, and includes Rob Rosado, vice president, legislative affairs and Adam Tarr, vice president, legislative affairs. IDFA also announced that Darrin Youker has joined the association as director, state government relations and Cal Wilson has joined as manager, government affairs. Youker and Wilson will report to Keys.
“The policy landscape for dairy has fundamentally changed,” said IDFA President and CEO Michael Dykes. “Today, major decisions affecting dairy manufacturers, processors, retailers and consumers are increasingly being shaped not only in Washington, but in state capitols nationwide. IDFA is heavily investing in advocacy to ensure our industry is effectively represented at every level of government.”
The expanded structure reflects IDFA’s continued investment in policy expertise, member engagement, coalition building, political engagement and coordinated advocacy as issues affecting dairy are increasingly shaped at both the federal and state levels of government. Those issues include food and nutrition policy, food ingredients, safety and labeling, sustainability, packaging and recycling, labor, transportation, trade, taxes, supply chain resilience, school meals, SNAP and WIC modernization and a growing number of state-level food policy proposals.
IDFA has also established a strategic advocacy fund to support these efforts, deepen member engagement and further target coalition and advocacy efforts in states where policy risks and opportunities are greatest.
“State advocacy has become critically important to the future of the dairy industry,” said Keys. “IDFA is building the team, resources and partnerships necessary to engage effectively in key states while continuing to lead on federal priorities important to dairy manufacturers and marketers. We are creating a more integrated advocacy operation that combines federal engagement, state engagement, political operations, coalition development and strong member participation.”
As director, state government relations, Youker will lead IDFA’s state advocacy work, tracking and engaging on the growing volume of state legislative and regulatory activity affecting dairy. He will develop strategic advocacy initiatives and coordinate closely with IDFA members, state partners, coalitions and policymakers across the country.
Youker joins IDFA with more than two decades of experience in agriculture policy, government affairs, advocacy communications and journalism. He comes to IDFA from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, where he served as policy director and helped lead the department’s legislative agenda, stakeholder engagement and federal agriculture work. His background also includes government affairs roles with Horizon Farm Credit and the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, where he advocated on agriculture, conservation, transportation, tax, environmental and rural policy issues. Earlier in his career, Youker led member communications for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and worked as a journalist covering agriculture, transportation and government.
“Darrin brings exactly the kind of experience IDFA needs as state policy becomes increasingly important to the future of dairy,” said Dykes. “He understands agriculture, coalition building and the realities of state policymaking, and he will be an immediate asset to our members.”
As manager, government affairs, Wilson will support IDFA’s federal and state advocacy efforts, legislative tracking, member engagement, fly-ins, political engagement and IDFA PAC operations. Wilson joins IDFA after serving on the staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, where he gained experience across the committee’s broad agriculture policy portfolio and supported the work of members and senior staff during a fast-paced Congress. He previously interned for the Senate Agriculture Committee and for the office of former Senator Pat Roberts. Wilson is a graduate of the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
“Cal’s experience with the Senate Agriculture Committee gives him a strong foundation in the policy issues that matter to food and agriculture,” said Dykes. “He will be an important addition to our Government Relations team as we continue strengthening IDFA’s advocacy, member engagement and political operations.”
IDFA is also hiring a director, PAC and political affairs, to further strengthen the association’s political engagement and PAC operations.
“These investments reflect IDFA’s long-term commitment to ensuring the dairy industry has a strong, credible and effective voice in the policymaking process,” Dykes said. “Our members expect strong advocacy, thoughtful policy leadership and meaningful engagement at every level of government. This enhanced team positions IDFA to deliver exactly that.”
