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From the Netherlands to Wisconsin

Pentermans

The 2015 Wisconsin Outstanding Young Farmer is a living example of the international scope of the dairy industry. Marieke Penterman grew-up on a 60-cow dairy farm in The Netherlands.  Her original goal was to be a large animal veterinarian and started that pursuit at age 12.  While attending school, she took the opportunity to do internships around the world.  One of those internships took her to Canada where she met a Dutch farmer, Rolf who, with his brother was looking to buy a dairy farm in North America.  While Marieke returned to Holland, Rolf and his brother purchased a farm at Thorp, Wisconsin.  Rolf invited Marieke to come to the farm in Thorp, she did and in December of 2003 they married.

As the dairy herd grew, the decision was made to start making cheese on the farm. Marieke returned to Holland to learn how to make Gouda cheese.  She then worked 240 hours with a licensed Wisconsin cheese maker and got her cheese maker’s license in October of 2006.

By 2013 the dairy herd had grown to 850 when the brothers decided to dissolve the partnership. Marieke and Rolf purchased 100 acres right along a four-lane state highway on the edge of Thorp.  A 400 freestall barn and herringbone parlor was constructed.  Right next to it they built a new creamery and retail store.  Today about a third of the farm’s milk is made into cheese at the site.  And this is not just any cheese; Marieke became the first woman Grand Master Cheese Maker at the Wisconsin State Fair in 2011 and one of her Goudas was named “Best Cheese” in the U.S. Cheese Championships in 2013.

The facility has become a showplace with visitors welcome from 7 am to 7 pm each day. From the cheese store they can view various stages of the cheese factory through huge windows.  And of course, sample the product.  They can take a short walk to the barn to watch the cows being milked at ground level or from one-story above the parlor.  The farm has hosted numerous group tours including the Alice in Dairyland Finalists.  Each year they hold a big open-house with tours, games, cooking demonstrations and an auction to benefit a local food pantry.  Marieke says they want to be a “mini-version” of Fair Oaks Farm in Indiana.

Marieke will now be nominated to represent Wisconsin in the National Outstanding Young Farmer competition in 2016.

First runners-up were Craig and Nicole Schmidt of Juneau, second runner-up was Amy Raboine of Reedsburg. Other finalists were: Jeremy Miess of Muscoda, Tom and Amanda Cornette of Luxemburg and Andrew and Beth Belter of Athens.

Developed in 1954, the OYF program recognizes younger farmers for their progress in their agricultural operation as well as their contributions to the community.

Marieka and Rolf talk about the dairy:

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