Jer-Lindy Farms and Redhead Creamery, a partnership between two generations of the Jennissen family, were recognized with the 2016 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award for Outstanding Dairy Farm Sustainability.

The 200-cow Brooten farm was acknowledged for its multi-generational commitment to a number of innovative sustainable practices. Highlights include reducing the farm’s energy use by 20% by using an energy efficiency program, using only manure for fertilizer on its 258 acres, and feeding whey byproduct generated while making artisan cheese at their on-site cheese processing operation back to their cows.

Sustainable farmers. Jer-Lindy Farm and Redhead Creamery family members include (left) Lucas Sjostrom, Alise Jennissen Sjostrom holding baby Henry, Linda Jennissen and Jerry Jennissen. In front is Lucy Sjostrom.

The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy®, established under the leadership of dairy farmers, recently announced the winners of the fifth annual U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards at a ceremony in Chicago. The program recognizes outstanding dairy farms, businesses and partnerships whose sustainable practices positively affect the health and well-being of consumers, communities, animals and the environment.

Jerry and Linda Jennissen have owned Jer-Lindy Farms since 1983. Their daughter, Alise, came back to the farm to raise her family and opened the Redhead Creamery in 2013.

Sustainability award winners were selected based on results as measured by economic, environmental and community impact. An independent panel of judges — which included experts working with and through the dairy community — also looked for learning, innovation, improvement, scalability and replicability.