On the western side of Michigan, nestled amongst miles of picturesque farmland sits the VanOeffelen Farm Services operation. Sprawling across 2,500 acres of owned and rented land, the farm is located in Conklin, just a short drive north of Grand Rapids.
Bought by the VanOeffelen family back in 1939, the property is continuing operations into its third generation. Now run by the four VanOeffelen sisters, their families, and a valued team of employees, the farm promotes quality milk production. Roughly 1,200 dairy cows roam the property, milked three times a day. In addition to dairy, the farm uses its land for double cropping, cover crops and managing manure.
The VanOeffelen Farm Services team believes cows are the center of its operation, putting the highest quality standards of animal care at the forefront in every decision made. Employees say fresh sand is put in twice a week, along with regular evaluation and cleaning of food and water troughs. Comfort brushes have been placed within the cow barn, and most recently the farm made a major upgrade to fans within the facility to keep the animals cool. The team has also implemented testing by Dairy Herd Technicians to monitor and improve the health of their cows and uses its FARM Evaluation results to ensure standards are being met and maintain proper animal care.
Cortney VanOeffelen says the farm couldn’t be successful without its full team of dedicated workers. “This is everybody’s farm. It takes everybody to make it what it is.” She adds empowering people is a major priority. Every quarter, stakeholders involved with the business, including veterinarians, nutritionists and breeders to name a few, gather for a roundtable discussion to share ideas. Priority topics include how to make jobs more efficient and safer, as well as reducing costs without compromising quality.
The VanOeffelen farm continues to be recognized for its efforts to prioritize animal health, including being nominated for a FARM Award in Animal Care & Antibiotic Stewardship. Antibiotics are avoided whenever possible, however the team remains educated on responsible use to keep cows safe. Over the summer, the farm also received a score of 100% on Michigan’s Grade A Survey.
Dedicating time to the community and promoting agriculture learning opportunities is also important at VanOeffelen Farm Services. Besides being involved in the local 4-H chapter, on-site farm tours are common occurrences. Employees say it is important for people to know where their food comes from and the hard work that goes into it. Despite the hard work, the team insists it’s a labor of love. “I love the people and I love the cows,” Cortney VanOeffelen says. “When you love what you do, it’s not work.”
VanOeffelen Farm Services notes it likes being part of Foremost Farms Co-op because of its transparency about the dairy industry. Whether good or bad, the farm is provided information to help make better business decisions. The partnership with its Foremost Farms Field Representative Roger Burtch is also valuable as he gives support and provides helpful resources when needed.
With the younger members of the VanOeffelen family interested in joining the farming operations, the farm hopes to continue its legacy through the next generation and carry on the dairy tradition.
