Farm Feature

Crisly Farm - The Mathison Family

Just outside Cumberland, Wisconsin, Crisly Farms is a fourth-generation dairy rooted in tradition, hard work, and a love for the life they’ve built. Founded in 1909 with just 16 cows, the farm has been passed down through generations of the Mathison family, each carrying forward a commitment to quality and care.

Today, husband-and-wife team Kyle and Sara, along with their children Grant and IdaRose, care for 130 cows, primarily Holsteins, with a growing number of registered Jerseys, honoring Sara’s childhood love for the breed. Their herd averages an impressive 85 pounds of milk per cow each day. But for the Mathisons, farming has always been about more than numbers.

It’s the sound of their children’s laughter echoing down the barn aisle, the glow of sunrise over the pastures, and the quiet satisfaction that comes from caring for each cow. Kyle manages the fields and equipment, while Sara oversees milking and herd care; each bringing their own strengths, yet sharing the same goal: building something lasting for their family and community.

Every drop of milk produced at Mathison Family Farms is handled with care, tradition, and purpose. This milk helps craft the award-winning, farm-fresh cheeses made by Burnett Dairy Cooperative®. From their family to your table, it’s dairy done with heart.

Horse Creek Holsteins - The Johnson Family

Fifth-generation farmer Ted Johnson, his son Hanns, and their family run Horse Creek Holsteins in the heart of Northwest Wisconsin, where caring for their cows, their land, and their legacy go hand in hand.

For the Johnsons, great cheese begins long before it reaches the creamery. Together, they raise healthy cows and steward the land that has sustained them for generations. As active members of the Horse Creek Watershed Group, they collaborate with neighboring farms to protect local water by planting cover crops, maintaining grass waterways, and preserving natural buffer strips; simple steps that make a big difference. Healthy soil, clean water, and well-cared-for cows mean better milk, and ultimately, better cheese.

Their milk is crafted into artisan cheese at Burnett Dairy Cooperative®, where Ted has served on the board since 2013, bringing his passion for sustainability and stewardship to the co-op as well. From the barn to the fields to the creamery, every member of the Johnson family contributes to producing wholesome, high-quality cheese for tables near and far; proving that when a family works together, their impact extends far beyond the farm.

Minglewood Inc. – The Solum Family

Minglewood Inc. blends over a century of family tradition with cutting-edge dairy innovation. Founded as a homestead in 1894, the Solum family built Minglewood on values of quality, stewardship, and exceptional cow care. Fifth-generation farmer Kristen (Solum) Quist and her husband, Jacob, are carrying forward this legacy. Kristen grew up on the farm and works alongside her parents as she transitions into leadership, ensuring Minglewood remains in family hands for generations to come.

Today, the farm milks 1,200 Holsteins using eight robotic milking systems, delivering consistency and precision in every drop. Smart sensors monitor each cow’s health, often detecting potential illness days before symptoms appear, supporting healthier cows and consistently high-quality milk.

Minglewood also leads in sustainability, becoming the first U.S. dairy farm to install a Sterjholm sand separator. This innovation recycles more than 86% of the fine-grain sand used for bedding, creating both economic efficiency and environmental responsibility.

Since joining Burnett Dairy Cooperative® in 2019, Minglewood has supported the farm-to-fork movement, connecting local production to communities across the region. More than just a farm, Minglewood is a living example of how tradition and technology work hand in hand to shape the future of dairy.

Ringa-Lea Farm – The Odden Family

In the rolling hills of northwest Wisconsin, Ringa-Lea Farm is where hard work and family values go hand in hand. Even the farm’s name tells a story, blending two farm names, Ringaboo and Alfalfa-Lee, to honor the roots that built it. Since the Odden family first purchased the land in 1917, they’ve carried forward a tradition of care for their cows, their land, and each other.

Today, fourth-generation brothers Tyler, Nathan, and Kanen work side by side, just as their parents and grandparents once did. What started with 30 cows has grown into a thriving herd of 662 Holsteins, producing enough milk daily to make over 5,000 pounds of Burnett Dairy cheese. Their connection to the cooperative runs deep. Not only through the milk they ship, but through leadership as well. Middle brother Nathan serves on the Burnett Dairy Cooperative® Board of Directors, helping shape the future of the co-op their family has proudly supported for over two decades.

On the farm, it’s not just the brothers hard at work. You’ll often find the next generation in rubber boots, feeding calves, leading show cows, or tagging along to learn the ropes. From the barn to the boardroom, the Oddens are proof that when you work together, you grow more than crops—you grow a legacy.