Since 1903, Westby Cooperative Creamery has been owned and governed by its farmers in Westby, Wisconsin. From the beginning, Westby has been creating fresh, award-winning dairy products using milk from their farmer-owners and the fewest ingredients possible. They have always focused on keeping batch sizes small and the quality of milk they use high to make consistently delicious products that their loyal customers love. In the early days, they were a butter producer but have since expanded to include cottage cheese, sour cream, French onion dip, yogurt, cheese curds, and cheese.

Westby uses a cooperative business model in order to keep decision-making in the hands of the farmers. Their co-op is made up of over one hundred farmers and their families whose milk is supplied on a daily basis and who share a common philosophy focused on animal welfare and sustainability. They operate with a seven-member board of directors that are all farmer-owners. These board members are responsible for governing the creamery and making decisions about the future of the cooperative. Like most cooperatives, they also have a full team of employees who work directly with the farmers in marketing, sales, quality management, and farm program coordination. Marketing Manager, Emily, says that her favorite part of getting to work with all of these local farmers is their kindness and down-to-earth disposition. 

Each farm is audited using the National Dairy FARM certification process, which ensures proper herd health planning, science-based practices, facility evaluations that look for proper ventilation, pasture access, water supply, bedding, and overall cleanliness. The cows are also checked for cleanliness, body condition, movement ability, and joint health.

Having happy and healthy animals is reflected in their products’ taste and uniqueness. Not only are they the only cottage cheese manufacturer in Wisconsin, but they won the 2020 World Championship Cheese contest’s cottage cheese category, giving them endless bragging rights. In addition to championship wins, Westby is certified Safe Quality Food Level III, MOSA Organic certified for the organic product line, and Orthodox Union Kosher certified. Their products are also all rBST-free, and they recently added an organic product line that continues to expand.

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This article was originally published in the October/November 2020 issue of our bi-monthly newsletter, The Morsel. If you’d like to read more stories like this one and stay up to date on the latest co-op news and events, pick up a print copy in-store on your next grocery run or find more news on our website here.