E. Linwood Tipton will step down at the end of this year as head of the International Dairy Foods Assn.

Tip Tipton gave the keynote speech at the Dairy Forum and announced his planned retirement from IDFA.
La QUINTA, Calif.—More than 600 dairy industry leaders were on hand at this year’s Dairy Forum to hear the news that E. Linwood Tipton will step down at the end of this year as head of the International Dairy Foods Assn.

Connie Tipton has been named executive v.p. and will succeed her husband as president and CEO of the Washington-based association starting January 1, 2004. Connie Tipton has been with IDFA since 1981 and she has served in an executive capacity since 1989.

Attendance was up roughly 10% at the 2003 Forum, which was held at the La Quinta resort near Palm Springs, Jan. 19-22. Programs focussed on topics ranging from international dairy opportunities to government’s role in milk pricing, and obesity and dairy. Awards included IDFA’s Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year, co-sponsored by Dairy Today Magazine, Dairy Foods’ and Dairy Food’s Processor of the Year. More details will appear in the March issue of Dairy Foods.