Cornelius Blanding Honored as "Community Celebrity" by Cabot Creamery

CDF Board Member and Federation of Southern Cooperatives/ Land Assistance Fund Executive Director Cornelius Blanding was named a 2019 Community Celebrity by Cabot Creamery Co-operative, the New England and New York farm-family owned dairy co-operative.  Blanding was recognized for his work with rural, limited resource communities around the world.

The Georgia resident and Alabama native will join dozens of other hard-working volunteers on an all-expense-paid cruise courtesy of Cabot.

"The Cabot farmers have a different perspective on what defines a true celebrity,” says Cabot CEO Ed Townley. “For them, the kind, giving souls who make a significant difference in their communities each and every day are the real celebrities. That’s why, in 2010, Cabot created the Community Celebrity Cruise; to honor the achievements and contributions of those hard-working volunteers, and to encourage more people and organizations to join us in applauding and recognizing their efforts.”

 “The focus of my service involves farmers and cooperatives in the Southern United States, Africa, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean" said Blanding. "My efforts are usually centered on farmer-to-farmer exchanges, cooperative development, and business and marketing planning. By helping farmers establish cooperatives and gain financial independence, we are also developing people to become leaders in their communities.”

Blanding is not the first CDF board member to be recognized as a Community Celebrity. In 2017 CDF Board Chair Rich Larochelle, retired Senior Vice President of NRUCFC, and Hall of Fame inductee, was recognized for his service to cooperatives.

The 2019 Community Celebrity Cruise set sail from Boston on September 29, 2019, making stops in Portland, Bar Harbor, St. John and Halifax. This marks the seventh Community Celebrity Cruise; more than 200 volunteers have been honored thus far for making a positive impact on their communities. For more information, visit cabotcelebritycruise.com.

About Cabot Creamery Co-operative

In 2019, Cabot Creamery Co-operative celebrates a century of continuous operation in Vermont,.  The cooperative makes a full line of cheeses, Greek yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese and butter. In 2012 Cabot became the first dairy co-op and cheese maker in the world to become a certified B Corps.  Cabot is owned by the 850 dairy farm families of Agri-Mark, with farms located throughout New England and upstate New York.