Tom and Kristin accepting their award with two of their children at our annual awards banquet on January 9.

The Young Cooperator of the Year award is announced at our annual Winter Conference each year. This award is given out to a couple or individual who exhibit a strong passion for the dairy industry. They are actively involved on their farm, in dairy and other agriculture related organizations, and in their local community.

This year’s 2026 Young Cooperator of the Year award was presented to Tom Duden & Kristin Reiman Duden of Princeton, MN.

Tom and Kristin farm on the same farm Kristin’s family has called home for over 90 years. They currently milk 30 Jersey cows where the cattle have access to an expansive 60-acre pasture where they spend most of their time when the weather and seasons are fit. The couple tag teams perfectly with Kristin being the herdsman and takes care of the cattle each day, while Tom is the expert on the agronomy front.

They have served on the Young Cooperator (YC) Board with First District Association since 2024 and have jumped right into the action. The couple has served as Vice President of the board, earning them a trip to the National Milk Producers Federation’s YC Leadership and Development Program and Joint Annual Meeting this past fall in Arlington, Texas. They have also traveled Washington D.C. to advocate for the dairy industry. Tom and Kristin have recently transitioned into the Chairpeople role on First District Association’s Young Cooperator Board, as well as being selected to serve on the National YC Board.

Kristin and Tom in Washington D.C. at the National YC Leaders Forum in June 2025.

Tom and Kristin take great pride in promoting the dairy industry in a variety of ways. For several years they have hosted a food truck event on their farm where they invite the public out to their farm to enjoy a meal all while learning about dairy farming. They have also brought animals to various businesses and classrooms to share their passion.

Besides dairy promotion, Tom and Kristin are also very involved within their local agriculture community. Kristin serves on the Minnesota Jersey Cattle Association Board of Directors as the State Jersey Queen Coordinator and the Youth/Junior Committee, as well as the Dairy Princess Coordinator for the Mille Lacs County American Dairy Association. Both Tom and Kristin are active with the Princeton FFA Chapter. She is an advisor and Tom serves on the alumni board. He also is on the Minnesota FFA Alumni Board and is a big advocate for rural mental health serving as a Farmer Mental Health Consultant with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

The couple’s nominator wrote, “Tom and Kristin are true examples of ‘leading to serve’ and that can be shown in everything they do and are involved in. They both have so much on their plate between the farm and work but still take the time to be involved in the various community, agricultural and dairy organizations because they care.”

The National Young Cooperators (YC) Program provides up-and-coming leaders in the dairy industry with a better understanding of issues facing farmers and cooperatives. The program, managed by the National Milk Producers Federation, provides year-round educational opportunities to inform and build leadership abilities in the next generation of dairy farmers.

Here at First District Association, our Young Cooperator Board consists of couples and individuals under the age of 45. This group meets and plans various events throughout the year including a Bingo Night where food shelf donations are collected, a summer picnic hosted at one of our member-owners farms and have the opportunity to attend National Young Cooperator events.

Congratulations Tom and Kristin!