Committees: Safety & Product Innovation Committee
Celeste is an owner and partner with her husband, Albert, in Blackburn Dairy Farm, a century Jersey and beef operation in Eastern Tennessee. She attended Tennessee Technological University and earned a degree in animal science. Before getting involved in dairy and beef production, she worked in quality control for Kroger, Inc., as a food inspector in grocery and manufacturing for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and in production management for Kraft Foods.
Celeste is the current president of the Tennessee American Dairy Association and also serves on the Dairy Alliance’s board and executive committee. Her prior industry involvement includes the National Dairy Board and Dairy Management, Inc. and the Southeast Council of the Dairy Farmers Association. She is a past secretary and vice president of the Tennessee Beef Council and the Tennessee Beef Promotion Board. The Blackburn's also work with Jefferson County High School’s FFA and 4-H chapters.