I take my responsibility.

Member dairy farmer Hans Stoecker and his family run their dairy farm called Sonnenborn in the municipality of Engelskirchen in Germany with lots of love and passion. Owned by the family since 1900, the farm has been transformed over time to a modern dairy farm with 180 dairy cows. Hans is not only a member dairy farmer, but also a Member of the Supervisory Board of Royal FrieslandCampina N.V. and a Member of the Board of Zuivelcoöperatie FrieslandCampina U.A.

“We take care of our cows with love 365 days a year. I am a passionate dairy farmer, and I am fortunate to be able to contribute to the success and further development of the cooperative and the company in my other roles. The involvement with the cooperative is the motivation that drives me forward. I see the cooperative as an extension of my own dairy business. FrieslandCampina adds value to the milk we deliver and brings that value back to the farmyard. In my view, this is best achieved with the structure of FrieslandCampina: the cooperative.”

“As a member dairy farmer, I am proud that FrieslandCampina works hard every day to bring our milk to the market. In a competitive market, this is critical to all member dairy farms, including mine. I like to take my responsibility in this. To be successful, we look at the entire chain, from grass to glass. A good product alone is not enough; it is important that the product range we offer optimally matches consumer demand. In Germany, FrieslandCampina, for example, has the Landliebe brand. Besides, we supply dairy made from GMO-free milk. That is milk from cows that have not had any feed made with or from genetically modified organisms. This is something the German consumers are asking for.”

If you think in terms of generations, sustainability makes full sense.

“For me it is very important to leave a sustainable business for the generations to come. This means that we must take good care of animals and nature and that we handle our natural resources with care. This is decisive for the future of the industry that my family and I are part of. I am very proud that my son Andreas will take over our dairy farm, as will many sons and daughters of other member dairy farmers who have confidence in our cooperative tradition. Shaping the future together now, that is what I passionately dedicate myself to every single day.”