Next-Generation Dairy Producers
Nearly 300 million acres of U.S. farmland are expected to change hands in the next 20 years. Beyond the transfer of land, and the often-complex succession planning process, investing in the next generation involves the transfer of skills and knowledge. Now’s the time to cultivate multigenerational success through asset, resource and financial stewardship.
A farm’s future is stronger when the next generation has a voice in the dream.
Through authentic storytelling, Greyden and Hudson Maddox use social media to bridge the gap between their 5th-generation California dairy and thousands of followers, proving that family and faith remain the heartbeat of modern farming.
From a land deed signed by Abraham Lincoln to real-time biometric cow sensors, see how one Wisconsin family blends a 160-year legacy with cutting-edge tech to redefine modern dairy.
At Riverview’s five-state dairy operation, ‘Be Kind’ isn’t just painted on the walls — it’s a safety protocol, a business strategy and the reason 26 interns came for the cows but stayed for the people.
A New York farmer’s viral videos exposing pressure tactics by solar developers caught the attention of USDA’s new Special Envoy for American Landowners, John Rich, turning a local fight into a national one.
As you move beyond sentiment to strategy, these financial stress tests and creative internal financing tools can help engineer a successful, bankable dairy farm transition.
From a 1972 diner meeting to a high-tech digital revolution, the Noble family combined a pivot to organic with data-driven management to save one of Southern Oregon’s last dairies.
From a 13-year-old’s dream to a first-generation legacy, the Handels prove resilience and family connection are the true love languages of the U.S. dairy farm.
At MVP Dairy, two fourth-generation farm families with more than 100 years of farming history have come together to build a system where every decision is made with the next generation in mind.
The skills that built successful dairy farms in the past aren’t necessarily the ones that will drive success in the future.
Though fire reduced her grandparent’s milking parlor to rubble, the tragedy only strengthened Makenna Skiff’s resolve to rebuild and carry on the dairy legacy her grandparents started more than 50 years ago.
With more than half of producers lacking a succession plan and 25% set to retire by 2031, the dairy industry faces a succession cliff that threatens to erase family legacies and vital operational knowledge.
While building ownership in his family’s dairy, Eric Weaver has also built a following of more than 450,000 subscribers by sharing everyday life on the farm through YouTube.
Succession planning often gets pushed aside. But the decisions made in the next 90 days can shape ownership, leadership and the future of the operation.
By balancing grit, family ground rules and a 100-stall rotary expansion, Kate Musselman is transforming her grandparents’ 30-cow legacy into a 4,500-cow powerhouse in Martinsburg, Pa.
By using a formal offer, we transitioned our son from “helping out” to a professional partner, valuing his expertise in securing our dairy’s future.
The dairies that thrive tomorrow won’t look like the ones that succeeded yesterday, and neither will the skill sets it takes to run them.
After 17 years battling the silent killer of stray voltage, the Den Hoed family is using an audacious faith and elite self-sufficiency to build a brand-new future for the next generation.
By pairing immigrant grit with a million-worm revolution, Anthony Agueda is using natural engineering to protect his family’s legacy and redefine the American Dream for California dairy.
This fashionista is proof the future of dairy is fulfilling, fun and fierce — swapping heels for high-tech tags to lead her family’s Texas dairy legacy into a new era of innovation.
The cows are back. Discover how Circle J Dairy is using vertical integration to bulletproof its future, showing that resilience is the secret ingredient in every bottle.
Why top dairies are choosing strategic partners over private equity to build an infinite business model that survives market volatility and supports the next generation of ag-entrepreneurs.
Consolidation risk is not limited to smaller operations. Succession gaps, management transitions and strategic exits are driving consolidation regardless of size.
As the dairy industry navigates the future, it’s clear using a combination of innovation, consumer engagement and sustainable practices will be pivotal.
Wybrand Vander Dussen, 2025 Milk Business Young Producer Award winner, carries his family’s multigenerational dairy legacy with inspiring resilience, passion and a heart for the future.
This old compensation model — where family members accept below-market wages in exchange for a promised future inheritance — brings as many headaches as it solves, especially when it comes to succession planning and family harmony.
This season of change is not just about farewells to summer but an embrace of growth for our family and our farm.