Benthem Brothers Dairy is 2021 MSU Dairy Farmer of the Year

Benthem Brothers Dairy announced as 2021 MSU Dairy Farmer of the Year

Benthem Brothers Dairy announced as 2021 MSU Dairy Farmer of the Year EAST LANSING, Michigan – Benthem Brothers Dairy will receive the 2021 MSU Dairy Farmer of the Year Award. The dairy is a family operation run by brothers Doug and Bruce, along with Doug’s son Jason and Bruce’s sons Ryan and Kyle. The award is given by the Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University (MSU) and will be presented during the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference, which will be held virtually Feb. 4-5, 2021. Benthem Brothers Dairy, located in McBain, Michigan (Missaukee County), started with 30 cows in 1981, when Doug and Bruce took over the family farm started Jason, Doug, Ryan, Bruce, and Kyle Benthem. Photo Courtesy Milk Messenger by their parents Edwin and Trina Benthem in the 1940s. farm tour during the 2018 World Dairy Expo. Today, Doug and Bruce are in the process of transitioning the A hallmark of the Benthem Brothers Dairy is incorporation of farm ownership and management to their sons, while providing technology. Perhaps the most influential technological improveleadership and counsel. Jason and the herdsman manage the cows ment began in 2016 with their search for a rotary parlor to improve and work with the employees. Ryan manages feed, purchasing and efficiency and to accommodate a larger herd size without aroundbusiness aspects, while Kyle is taking on the role of crop production the-clock milking. The search led them as far as New Zealand and and serves as the lead for managing milk price risk. Jason is also the ended with a Waikato Milking Systems 60-stall rotary parlor, the main contact for inspections conducted by regulatory agencies and first in the United States. dairy cooperative field staff. The parlor has a laminate composite platform that is 75% lighter Character, unity and teamwork were evident, when representatives than the usual concrete and can be operated by two people with from the Department of Animal Science and MSU Extension vis- only a few steps in the process. It includes automatic pre- and postited the farm. “The family trusts one another and their employees dip sprayers, automatic detachers and electronic milk meters and look to each other to make sure all aspects of the farm are The Benthems also incorporated a CowManager motion-sensing managed and maintained”, said Phil Durst, Extension Educator in system to monitor rumen and cow activity. In addition, radio-frenorthern Michigan. quency identification tags and automated sort gates aid in reducing The nomination statement encapsulates the reason Benthem labor hours and decreasing cow stress. Brothers Dairy was chosen for this award: “Their forward-thinking The World Dairy Expo virtual tour emphasized the family’s apprenature has allowed them to successfully grow and adapt to the chal- ciation for their employees and cow welfare. Ryan Benthem notlenges facing the dairy industry and has proven them a role model ed that “providing a quality working environment…gives us good amongst Michigan dairy farmers.” quality employees. That’s the key for our farm. We have great em The dairy has grown to around 2,850 cows. Expansion was accom- ployees we can rely on every day.” panied by increases in acreage as opportunities arose, including The dairy operation stands out in its dedication to the commupurchase of the original Benthem homestead farm dating back to nity. Family member involvement includes Big Brothers Big Sisthe 1880s, as well as infrastructure upgrades and additions. ters, youth basketball coaching, church activities, Michigan Milk The history of the farm and its trajectory were featured in a virtual continued on page 9