Meet Our Producers
The Vandenberg Family (Vandenberg Dairy Ltd.)
One generation to the next, Vandenberg Dairy takes pride in the milk they produce and the land they love.
“This farm was passed on to my brothers and me by our dad and we see ourselves as stewards of God’s creation,” says Rick Vandenberg. “We want to give it to our kids, if they desire it, in better condition than what we got it in.”
With three brothers, 15 cousins and grandma Vandenberg all within walking distance, the dairy has always been a family affair. If one family goes on vacation, the others pitch in to get the chores done, be they milking, haying or bottle-feeding the calves.
Managing the 1,000-acre dairy is a huge commitment. “The price of fuel is driving up everything. The other thing that really affects us is the price of grain. We have to pinch our pennies and make sure we’re doing everything as efficiently as we can, says Rick.”
“That’s why we bought shares in the Co-op. I think everybody is pretty much behind it. We’d like to see our retired cows sold locally at a fair price. It seems to me that the major grocery chains have a strangle hold on prices, so it’s nice to see something like this start up.”
For the Vandenbergs, stewardship means a commitment to the land, planning for the future and creating a sustainable business that will serve their family for generations.
This week, the Co-op is using Vandenberg meat in their Dairymen’s Farmer Sausage, made with quality beef, niblets of cheddar and a hint of mustard. Ask for it by name at Northwest Premium Meat Cooperative.