Biography/History

The Associated Milk Producers Incorporated, Morning Glory Farms Region was a branch of the dairy marketing cooperative Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI). This region covered the state of Wisconsin, the Chicago metropolitan area, other parts of Illinois, Indiana, and five other Midwestern states. The Morning Glory Farms (MGF) Region of AMPI formed as a result of a merger between the Mid-States Region of AMPI and MGF (formerly Consolidated Badger Cooperative in Shawano County, Wisconsin) in 1986. The national branch of AMPI formed in October 1969 as a result of a merger of the Milk Producers of San Antonio, Texas and the Pure Milk Producers of Chicago, as well as a couple of other dairy co-operatives in the Midwest. Soon after this merger, several other prominent dairy marketing co-operatives merged with AMPI, including the Madison Milk Producers Cooperative Association (MMP) of Madison, Wisconsin. The MMP had been producing Grade A milk and other dairy products for the Madison region since 1922. When MMP merged with AMPI in 1970, the MMP plant became one of the main dairy production plants for the AMPI Mid-States region, which eventually became the Morning Glory Farms Region in 1986. A chronological outline describes the evolution of the Morning Glory Farms Region of AMPI:

1922	Formation of Madison Milk Producers Cooperative Association (MMP)
1934	MMP set up an affiliated organization, Madison Milk Producers Cooperative Dairy, to handle surplus milk from members and convert into Swiss cheese to be sold on the open market
1936	MMP establishes the Madison Milk Pool Cooperative, another subsidiary which handled market reports on prices for milk and dairy sales
1957	The Cheese Producers' Marketing Association, an organization which MMP was a member, went bankrupt after it became entangled in a lawsuit over Swiss cheese production with Kraft Foods
1964	Slight re-structuring of the organization of MMP and its subsidiaries. This effort was led by MMP president Lyman McKee, Manager Henry Thew, and Assistant Manager W.J. (Bill) Rabe
1969	AMPI is formed when the Milk Producers of San Antonio, Texas merged with Pure Milk Association of Chicago, and other dairy cooperatives in the Midwest
1970	Madison Milk Producers Cooperative Association mergers with AMPI and joins their Mid-States region. The MMP plant turns into a main production plant for the Mid-States region of AMPI
1986	The Mid-States Region of AMPI mergers with Morning Glory Farms to form the Morning Glory Farms Region of AMPI
1995	The Madison plant of AMPI, Morning Glory Farm Region closes. The region is acquired by Foremost Farms, United States of America

The Associated Milk Producers Inc., Morning Glory Farms Region, along with the predecessor company, Madison Milk Producers, represent the nature of many dairy and farming cooperatives from the mid-20th century. AMPI- MGF Region produced Grade A milk used in bottles and cartons, and Grade B milk used primarily for butter, cheese, evaporated and powdered milk. It was also involved in Swiss cheese production. Individual farmers could become a member of the dairy cooperative by meeting certain regional, state, and federal standards for milk production.

Before the merger, MMP helped negotiate market prices for dairy products, and worked with milk haulers to expand the market. The Madison based cooperative was organized for the purpose of manufacturing the surplus milk coming into the Madison fluid milk market. Later, it would take some of the surplus milk and convert it Swiss cheese to be sold on the open market. With the proceeding merger with AMPI, and the later formation of AMPI-MGF, the cooperative grew into one of the largest dairy cooperatives in the country. As it continued producing dairy products and working with members, the organization also lobbied for state and federal laws to aid its members. The organization was run by the delegates, who acted as a representative for every 50 farmer members. The delegates chose a board of directors at the annual meeting. The board was responsible for policy decisions.