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C E L E B R A T I N G
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Y E A R S
DAIRY ST R 25
December 9, 2023
“All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 25, No. 20
Bottling milk for over a century
Lamers Dairy supporting local family farms since 1913
taste of its milk, which goes from cow to bottle within hours. “Milk comes in and goes right back out,” Lamers said. “Milk bottled today came in fresh yesterday. We are one of only three uid milk processing plants left in the state and represent one-half of 1% of uid milk on the market. The challenge right now is servicing that uid market because of the number of plants that have closed.” The ve farms that Lamers Dairy picks up milk from are located within 30 miles of the plant. Their largest farm milks 200 cows.
By Stacey Smart
stacey.s@dairystar.com
APPLETON, Wis. — As one of the few remaining milk bottling plants in Wisconsin, Lamers Dairy is committed to quality and freshness as well as creating a product with a long shelf life. The company currently processes milk from ve local farms as it continues a family tradition started in 1913. “It’s all about keeping milk local, supporting family farms and putting out the best quality milk possible,” said Mark Lamers, president of Lamers Dairy. “We’re here to
PHOTO SUBMITTED
The Lamers family — Joe Lamers (front, from le�), Mark Lamers, the late Dick Lamers, Tom Lamers and Tim Lamers; (back, from le�) Bryan Lamers and Eric McGuire — operate Lamers Dairy near Appleton, Wisconsin. Lamers Dairy has bo�led milk since 1913 and currently bo�les milk from ve local family farms. serve the community and our local family farmers and try to keep those farm-
ers in business.” Lamers Dairy, near Appleton, was the second
A labor of love Mahoneys close 18-year dairying dream
of three stops Oct. 26 on the Professional Dairy Producers Dairy Proces-
sor Tours. Known for its nostalgic glass bottles, the dairy promotes the fresh
Fantastic Friday night lights Stratford Tigers revel in backto-back state championships
By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
GLENWOOD CITY, Wis. — In the nal days of November, Tom and Debbie Mahoney closed a chapter that encompassed the past 18 years of their lives at Pine Lane Dairy when they dispersed their herd. “The tractor quit on me one day, and it felt like a sign,” Tom said. “I thought, ‘If I need to buy another tractor, we’re committed for at least another ve years.’”
By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Turn to MAHONEYS | Page 6
Turn to LAMERS | Page 2
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Tom and Debbie Mahoney watch with tears in their eyes as their cows go through the sale ring Nov. 30 in Loyal, Wisconsin.
Carter Lueck, a junior at Stra�ord High School, plays on the offensive and defensive lines on his school’s successful football team. Lueck’s family operates a 500-cow dairy near Stra�ord, Wisconsin.
STRATFORD, Wis. — Dedication, perseverance and mental toughness played a key factor as the nal seconds ticked off the clock before the Stratford Tigers football team captured their second Division 6 state championship title in a row Nov. 16 at Camp Randall Stadium in MadTurn to STRATFORD | Page 7