Meet Adam and Marie Vanden Wymelenberg of De Pere, Wisconsin – recent first runners-up in the state’s Outstanding Young Farmer contest! What makes their story special? They built their thriving dairy farm dream entirely from scratch, despite neither growing up on a commercial dairy.
Their journey began in 2009 when Adam bought his grandparents’ old pig farm. He started incredibly small, renovating the barn and eventually milking just one special-needs calf he raised. By 2016, Adam and Marie were ready to expand, renting a local barn and bringing home their first herd of 65 cows. Building the farm wasn’t easy. They faced challenges like low milk prices, high feed costs, intense competition for farmland, losing their milk processor right before buying their current farm in 2018, and even major rain delays during construction. But they persevered, constantly learning and innovating. They upgraded their milking systems significantly over the years, moving from a single bucket to a modern milking parlor and comfortable freestall barn. Adam focused on smart, efficient practices like reusing warmed water for the cows (improving health and milk production) and designing a well-ventilated barn with comfy sand bedding. Today, they milk 280 cows. The larger herd allows Adam to focus more on management and spend more time with family. Their long-term goal is to potentially grow to 500-1000 cows.
Marie, originally an ER trauma nurse, is a vital partner on the farm. She handles everything from milking and feeding calves to scheduling, accounting, and HR. While still working part-time as a nurse, she also launched a popular farm store from their home, selling local goods with plans to expand into a dedicated space offering educational experiences. Marie is also actively involved in advocating for better childcare solutions for farming families in rural areas. The Vanden Wymelenbergs credit their success to hard work, continuous learning, the support of friends, neighbors, and family, and their strong partnership. Their journey shows how passion and determination can turn a big dream into a growing reality.
