Congratulations to Carlson Dairy, LLP for being named Minnesota’s 2009 Producers of the Year by Minnesota Milk Producers Association! The award is given out every year to producers who have a proven commitment to managing their dairy for quality, enthusiasm in promoting the dairy industry and are active leaders in their local community.
Carlson Dairy is a century farm near Willmar, Minn. that is owned and operated by Curtney and Louise Carlson with their two sons, Chad and Carl, and their families. Chad and Kindra Carlson have three sons, Cael (9), Caden (7) and Conlan (3). Carl and Kellie Carlson also have three sons, Colten (12), Clay (10) and Cavin (2).
Operating a high-producing, well-managed, innovative, and sustainable family-owned dairy is their vision. One of their first steps to accomplishing this vision was modernizing their facility by transitioning from a 100-cow tie-stall herd into a new 450-cow freestall barn and milking parlor across the road in 2000. Then recently in 2008, the Carlson’s transitioned their 6-row freestall barn into a 10-row cross-ventilated barn with sand bedding, and a new manure handling system where the sand is continuously recycled and reused with the help of two new sand settling lanes.
Carlson Dairy currently milks 900 dairy cows in a double 14 parallel milking parlor. Apart from family members, they have 15 full-time and 5 part-time employees. The Carlson’s understand that part of their business mission requires them to be engaged and involved at a local and state-wide level. Curtney has served on the Mamre Township Board for the last 14 years, including the past 6 years as President. Within Kandiyohi County, their family also currently serves and holds offices on the American Dairy Association Board, DHIA Board,
and Holstein Association Board of Directors.