Perry Baeten’s path in the dairy industry is one of resilience, innovation and a deep-rooted passion for excellence. His dedication to sustainable growth, employee development and technology-driven efficiency has earned him the prestigious MILK Business Young Producer of the Year Award — a well-deserved recognition for a producer who has navigated challenges and built a thriving operation.
Baeten’s story starts with his parents, who established their dairy back in the early ’80s.
“My dad bought the farm in 1979, and it wasn’t operating at the time. My mom started milking cows in 1980 with about 30 cows, and by 1989, they had doubled to 70 cows,” he recalls.
But as the farm grew, so did the decisions that would shape its future. In 2012, during a pivotal transition, Baeten made the life-changing decision to buy into the farm.
“My parents were getting a divorce at the time. My mom wanted to continue farming, and my dad didn’t, so I bought his share,” he explains. “My mom and I farmed together until 2015, when I bought her out.”
It was a bold move, and one that his wife, Cassandra, admits she didn’t fully understand at first.
“We weren’t together yet when he first took over,” she says. “When we got together in 2013, he had already been back on the farm for a year, and honestly, there were some decisions he made that I wasn’t quite on board with. But in the long run, looking back now, I can see how they’ve been for the better.”
Growing Pains and Big Gains
Since taking over, Baeten has led the farm through significant expansions. This journey first began in October 2016, when they started milking 70 cows at their home farm and another 70 in a neighbor’s barn.
“We did this to pay down debt faster and make our cash flow work so we could be approved for our 300-cow expansion,” Baeten says.
Once construction was underway, they brought all the cows home in April 2017.
“We were milking 140 cows out of our 70-stall tiestall barn, with half housed in the barn and the other half living outside,” he recalls.
By August, the new barn was finally complete and more animals were added, but they still had to bring roughly 300 cows in and out of the tiestalls.
“We got sick of that pretty fast,” he says. “So, in September, we came up with a low-cost way to milk more efficiently. We retrofitted our tiestall barn into a double-10 flat barn parlor and added a holding area. Then, two years ago, we installed a parallel parlor in our old heifer barn and brought our herd up to 700 cows.”
For Cassandra, the early years of marriage and dairy farming felt like a whirlwind.
“It was quite the roller coaster,” she says. “I was going to school, had an internship, then got a full-time job, but I was still out milking in the mornings, coming home, milking again and feeding calves. Before we had the parlor, it was a lot. And financially, things were tight. Some months were really tough.”
But through it all, they leaned on each other.
“It kind of feels like a blur now,” she admits. “We just kept going. Every day, you just get up, do the work and somehow we’ve made it over that hump where we can finally breathe a little.”
Technology, Teamwork and a Trusted Adviser
One of the reasons Baeten was recognized as Young Producer of the Year is because of how he embraces technology.
“We installed a herd monitoring and cow manager system,” he says. “It’s like having an extra set of eyes in the barn. It cut our shots for breeding in half and helps with health monitoring. Our death losses are at a bare minimum.”
Beyond technology, Baeten takes great pride in his team.
“We have nine employees between both milking shifts, plus myself,” he says. “It was a challenge transitioning from doing everything myself to managing people, but I’m proud of our team. They take care of the cows, keep everything clean and show up ready to work. That means a lot.”
Brad Zellner, a dairy nutritionist with ProActive Technologies, has worked closely with Baeten for more than a decade.
“I started with Perry doing the nutrition work right about when he took over the farm,” Zellner says. “We both learned together. There were some mishaps here and there, but nothing major. It’s worked out well for both of us.”
Zellner credits Baeten’s drive and adaptability as keys to his success.
“He’s very aggressive, and he likes to stay up on new technologies,” Zellner adds. He’s good with people. His employees respect him. It feels more like a family than just a job.”
Watching Baeten build his operation from the ground up has been especially rewarding.
“Perry didn’t have a lot of help from family or outside sources. He built this all himself, with his wife, and brought in the people he wanted on his team,” Zellner says. “That’s why he deserves this recognition.”
Zellner often points other young farmers toward Perry as an example.
“I reference him quite a bit,” he says. “The things he’s tried and the way he handles challenges are a great resource for others to learn from.”
When the days get long, Zellner says Baeten’s character shines.
“He’s quite the character and always fun to talk to,” Zellner says.
“It doesn’t feel like work when you’re here. Even when times were tough, we got through it, and now we know what’s possible. That kind of perspective is priceless.”
Zellner also recalls times when the two had to get creative.
“We had some years where we were short on feed and had to try rations that weren’t common around here,” he says. “It was trial and error, but we figured it out. The expansions brought their own headaches too, but we talked through them and worked it out. Perry’s the kind of guy you can bounce ideas off of and know he’s going to think it through.”
Zellner even penned one of the nomination letters for the award.
“I didn’t nominate him directly, but I wrote one of the letters. I believe in what he’s doing,” he says. “He’s earned this.”
Raising a Family on the Farm
The Baetens have two children, Nathan and Ivanka. Raising a family while managing a dairy has been another challenge.
“It’s definitely been a learning curve,” Cassandra admits. “I’m not out in the barn like I used to be, which makes it harder to help out. But I hope the kids want to be part of the farm someday. I’d love for them to work elsewhere first, learn different practices, and then come back if they choose.”
For now, the kids are growing up surrounded by the farm.
“They drive their pedal tractors in the barn and play with their dog. It’s different from when I was out there milking every day, but they’re still involved in their own way,” she says.
Long Days and Hard Work
Long days are just part of dairy farming. But with 700 acres devoted to corn and alfalfa, the days during silage season can be grueling.
“Luckily, we have a custom operator do our fieldwork, so Perry isn’t physically in the fields all day, but he’s constantly checking in, making sure everything runs smoothly,” Cassandra says. “Some days are really long, and we definitely get frustrated with each other. But at the end of the day, we need each other. Sometimes you just have to step back, take a breath, and talk things through.”
Zellner agrees, saying, “Sometimes I’d show up, and he’d be in five places at once. I don’t even look for him anymore — I just text and ask where he is. He’s always juggling something, but that’s what makes him good at this.”
Looking Ahead
Being able to see her husband recognized for his hard work has meant a lot to Cassandra.
“He’s not one to be in the spotlight, so this is big for him,” she explains. “I think it’s a great opportunity for younger producers to hear his story and realize farming now isn’t just about driving a tractor. It’s about perseverance. Hopefully, it inspires others to keep going, even when things get tough.”
As for advice to other farm spouses, she has this to say, “You’re not always going to like each other’s ideas. Just listen, let it sink in and talk it over. Perry’s pretty stubborn, and I can be bullheaded too, but we always work through it. In the end, you figure out that what they want to do is usually for the best.”
For Baeten, the journey is far from over. Expansion is always on the radar, but only in ways that make sense for the farm’s future.
“We’re planning to add a sand separation system, a bigger feed pad and a truck scale,” Baeten says. “The goal has always been to create long-term sustainability on the farm.”
Looking at the operation today, he takes pride in what they’ve built.
“You can drive past our place, and it shows for itself. We keep things clean, our cows are healthy and our milk quality is excellent. Seeing everything come together after years of hard work and knowing that our employees take pride in our operation — that makes me proud.”
And with his family by his side, Perry Baeten’s story is still being written with one determined step at a time.
