Udermann Family Named 2025 Stearns County Dairy Farm Family of the Year for Regenerative Farming Leadership

(KNSI) – The Udermann Family has been named the 2025 Stearns County Dairy Farm Family of the Year by the University of Minnesota Extension for their work to make their farm a model of regenerative agriculture and environmental stewardship.

The fifth-generation family farm started working the land in 1911. Today, they operate Meadowbrook Dairy Inc. near Sartell. John and Mary Lou Udermann work alongside their sons Alex and Jake, and daughters-in-law Kirsten and Sam, managing over 1,000 acres. The operation includes 80 dairy cows, 300 beef steers annually. They also run a direct-to-consumer grass-fed beef business serving customers across Minnesota.

Since 2016, the Udermanns have fully transitioned to a no-till system with a number of cover crops and precision tools, including GPS, soil probes, and weather stations. They say the results include reduced erosion, improved water quality, and healthier soil.

The family’s commitment to sustainability has earned them significant recognition.

In 2024, they were named Minnesota’s Outstanding Conservationists of the Year and were finalists for the Minnesota Leopold Conservation Award. Additionally, Meadowbrook Dairy became the first Minnesota farm to earn all five endorsements from the Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program, while Kirsten Udermann was named Minnesota Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year.

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