Grotegut Dairy Farm Named 2025 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year

by Dairy Herd Management Magazine and International Dairy Foods Association

Grotegut Dairy Farm of Newton, Wisc. was recognized today as the 2025 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year at the International Dairy Foods Association’s (IDFA) Dairy Forum. The award is presented each year by IDFA and Dairy Herd Management magazine. As detailed by Dairy Herd Management in its feature story on the award-winning farm, Grotegut Dairy is a cutting-edge operation with an impressive herd of 3,500 milking cows and a host of contemporary solutions that put the farm ahead of its time.

The dairy has a proud family history, tracing its roots back to its founding in 1965 by the parents of the current owner, Doug Grotegut, who runs the farm today with his nephew, Eric, and Eric’s wife, Rosario. Doug’s sons Kip and Gavin are also very much involved in the day-to-day operations. Winner of multiple industry awards, Grotegut Dairy is renowned for embracing data-driven technologies that ensure optimal efficiency and minimal environmental impact.

“IDFA celebrates Grotegut Dairy Farm in Newton, Wisconsin for its commitment to technological innovation, building a sustainable future, and giving back to their local community,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA president and CEO. “The farm has invested in technology to ensure unparalleled health and productivity in its herd, relying on data to make informed decisions that increase efficiency and deliver sustainable outputs. I was impressed with Grotegut’s digester operation in how it removes methane and captures a high-value carbon credit by sending energy halfway across the country via pipeline to fuel vehicles like compressed natural gas semi-trucks. Grotegut Dairy is truly an outstanding American dairy farm.”

“This method is actually pulling a diesel semi off the road in favor of a CNG semi,” said Doug Grotegut about the farm’s methane digester operation in Dairy Herd Management magazine. “As a result, the offset is worth about ten times as much as a regular carbon offset—depending on the market—because we’re pulling diesel fuel emissions off the road and replacing them with vehicles running renewable energy.”

Grotegut Dairy also farms 3,500 acres of crops managed by the 50-employee operation. The farm has invested in multiple data-driven solutions to ensure environmental and economic sustainability, including utilization of Ever.Ag’s Feed King, Cainthus to optimize milk production, Maternity Warden to leverage precise herd health, My Dairy Dashboard, and Mobile Manifest, in addition to partnerships with Corteva and DTE Biomass Energy. Additionally, the farm’s improved feed efficiency reduces their cumulative carbon footprint through feed conservation, bioenergy production, and utilization of manure solid byproduct as bedding substrate. These innovations, along with their efforts to enhance diversity and community involvement in the industry, demonstrate the forward-thinking of Grotegut Dairy.

“We go out every day and make sure the cows are taken care of, also take care of the employees that take care of the cows, and everything else falls in line. And we give thanks to the good Lord, too,” said Doug.

The award was accepted by Doug and Jean Grotegut. You can read more about Grotegut Farm in this feature story from Dairy Herd Management magazine. Grotegut Dairy Farm was nominated by Ever.Ag and recognized as the top nominee by a panel of industry judges.

Previous winners of the Innovative Dairy Farmer title are Mason Dixon Farms, Gettysburg, Pa. (1999); Clauss Dairy Farms, Hilmar, Calif. (2000); Baldwin Dairy/Emerald Dairy, Emerald, Wis. (2001); Si-Ellen Farms, Jerome, Idaho (2002); Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, Kewaunee, Wis. (2003); C Bar M Dairy, Jerome, Idaho (2004); North Florida Holsteins, Bell, Fla. (2005); KF Dairy, El Centro, Calif. (2006); Joseph Gallo Farms, Atwater, Calif. (2007); KBC Farms, Purdy, Mo., (2008); High Plains Dairy, Friona, Texas (2009); Haubenschild Dairy Farm, Inc., Princeton, Minn. (2010); Brubaker Farms, Mount Joy, Pa. (2011); Sweetwater Valley Farm, Philadelphia, Tenn. (2012); McCarty Family Farms, Rexford, Kan. (2014); Hilmar Jerseys, Hilmar, Calif. (2015); Holsum Dairies, Hilbert, Wis. (2016); Jer-Lindy Farms LLC, Brooten, Minn. (2017); Schrack Farm Resources LP, Loganton, Pa. (2018); Foster Brothers Farms, Middlebury, Vt. (2019); MVP Dairy of Kansas and Ohio (2020); and Homestead Dairy, Plymouth, Ind. (2021); Hildebrand Farms Dairy, Junction City, Kan. (2022); Bar 20 Dairy of Kerman, Calif. (2023); and Bateman’s Mosida Farms of Elberta, Utah (2024).

A call for nominations for the 2026 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year award will be released this summer. You can learn more about the award here.