About Us
Our Story
We started Annie G's Dairy to address a clear gap in the current dairy system — creating a model that helps small farmers stay in business, thrive, and reconnect with their communities. After visiting several small farms in Europe and Ireland that successfully operated their processing plants and milk vending machines, we recognized the potential for a similar niche approach to succeed here in the U.S.
In 2014, my husband, a native of Ireland, and I returned to the U.S. to assist my parents on their small, 50-cow dairy farm. By 2017, we officially purchased the farm and modernized the operation to eventually sell our milk directly to the local community.
Given our Midwestern climate, we invested in a modern, cow-friendly robotic milking facility designed to support seasonal grazing from April through October. Our system is grass-based, emphasizing cow comfort, freedom of movement, and natural behavior.
We also implement regenerative agriculture practices in growing our winter crops and maintaining our permanent pastures, with a focus on reducing our environmental footprint and improving soil health. Our ongoing goal is to refine our management approach to minimize intervention and promote overall animal well-being.
Our passion for the dairy industry stems from a lifetime of experience working with cattle and the careers we've each pursued. My husband is an engineer, artificial insemination technician, and farm consultant, while I trained and worked as a dairy and livestock veterinarian. Together, we’ve worked in the dairy sector across multiple countries, including Ireland, New Zealand, Hungary, Germany, and the United States — giving us a global perspective on the industry.
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Our Story Continued…
Through this experience, we’ve seen firsthand the challenges faced by small and mid-sized dairy farms globally, as well as the growing disconnect between food producers and consumers. At the same time, we’ve witnessed a rising interest among consumers in knowing where their food comes from and how it's produced. This reinforced our belief in the importance of creating a direct connection between farms and the public, empowering people to support sustainable, transparent food systems through direct purchasing
We officially opened our on-farm store in August 2024. Customers can now visit during open hours to vend their own fresh, pasteurized milk—available in six natural flavors—directly from the machine. The store also offers a selection of locally sourced products from other small producers in our region, supporting a more resilient and interconnected rural economy.
From the beginning, environmental sustainability has been a core part of our mission. We operate on a glass bottle return system, which significantly reduces single-use plastic waste while preserving the freshness and flavor of the milk. Our minimally processed milk is easier to digest, reflecting our commitment to clean, whole foods. We also use flavor syrups made without artificial sweeteners, dyes, or preservatives—aligning with our values of health, transparency, and trust.
By shortening the supply chain and giving customers direct access to farm-fresh dairy, we're not only reducing transportation emissions but also helping to rebuild the relationship between consumers and their local food sources. This model strengthens community ties, keeps food dollars within the local economy, and provides a tangible example of what sustainable, small-scale agriculture can look like in the U.S. To see what we offer, visit our products page.