40 Under Forty: Heidi Cooper, 31

Photo | Erika Sidor Winners of the WBJ 2018 40 Under Forty award (from left): Heidi Cooper, Pat Davis, Derek Canton, Blaine Schnare.

Write a Comment

General manager & farmer's wife

Cooper's Hilltop Farm, LLC, Rochdale

Lives: Rochdale village in Leicester

Birthplace: Burnsville, Minn.

Colleges: University of Minnesota Duluth, College of St. Catherine in Minnesota

After marrying into the farm celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, this mother of three transformed the retail side of the organization while advocating for the Massachusetts farm industry on a regional and state level. In her time as general manager, Cooper's farm transitioned from offering only fluid milk and cream products to growing and retailing its own beef, pork, chicken, eggs, lamb and veal. The result was a 17-percent increase in customers served daily and a 36-percent increase in annual retail revenues from 2014-2017. Cooper is the Massachusetts Young Farmers & Ranchers chairwoman and sits on the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation statewide board, as well as its Worcester County board. In this capacity, she lobbies the Massachusetts legislature on behalf of the agricultural industry. For Young Farmers & Ranchers, Cooper pioneered its Harvest For All initiative, calling on farmers to donate goods to local communities. In 2017, Cooper rode in the Pan-Mass Challenge with the MFBF team, personally raising $7,800 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

From 40 Under Forty judge Milka Njoroge: “Heidi is active in the community, an advocate for the agricultural community and believes in giving back through Harvest for All.”

What will the inscription say on the statue they eventually build of you? Unapologetically herself, she never took s*** from anyone.

Whose career would you most like to emulate? Ree Drummond. She's a blogger, author, food writer, chef, photographer, and lives on a working ranch with her handsome husband. She's my spirit animal.

Read about the entire 2018 Class of 40 Under Forty

Michael Alden - Ascentria Care Alliance

Che Anderson - City of Worcester

Victor M. Archila - VMA Electric Inc.

Allison Beckler, DO - YOU, Inc.

Sam Bitar - Webster Five

Mark A. Borenstein - Seder & Chandler LLP

Kate D. Campanale - Massachusetts House of Representatives

Derek Canton - paerpay

Ryan Canuel - Petricore, Inc.

Jennifer Caron - Body Therapeutics

Danielle J. Clark - Clark Career Coaching