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Natural Milk LLC
Stanwood, WA
Change has shaped Jeremy Visser’s life from the beginning – and it’s often opened the door to something better.
“There are opportunities if you are willing to change and willing to adapt,” he said.
Visser is a fourth-generation Northwest Dairyman’s Association dairy farmer whose family’s dairy story began when the first and second generations came to the United States from Friesland, a Dutch province of the Netherlands, in 1913. “I heard stories from my father about my grandfather and my great-grandfather moving from place to place,” he said.
Visser left for Dordt College in Sioux Center, IA, with plans to return to the family farm and begin his journey as a dairyman. He graduated in May of 1999, on the same day his grandfather passed, another of the many changes in Visser’s life.
The years that followed brought more change: upsizing and downsizing, buyouts and buy-ins, and the steady work of finding the right path forward. In 2013, Visser settled in Stanwood, WA, with his home farm, Natural Milk LLC.
Today, nearly 7,000 cows are milked at his dairies – but success is seldom a solo mission, he said. He credits neighbors, trusted employees and the support of his family with the success he’s seen. “I’ve got great managers at each of the farms, great herd managers that have been with me for quite a while,” he said.
For Visser, it’s also important to give back to the community that provides that support. He has served on the Northwest Dairymen’s Association Board of Directors for eight years, a role that emphasizes the importance of looking ahead, even when the path is uncertain. “You really have to be flexible enough to evolve your thinking and really fight tomorrow’s war instead of yesterday’s battle,” he says.
In 2021, the cooperative approved a new production facility project in Pasco, WA to create growth opportunities and strengthen the co-op’s ability to serve markets. “By doing that, it demonstrates to your community and industry partners that, as a group of farmers, you’re willing to invest in yourselves,” said Visser.
Change is also occurring on the consumer front. DariGold’s FIT product line, featuring the cooperative’s ultra-filtered milk, has gained popularity. So much so, that the U.S. Speedskating team touted the drink during the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“I think that one of our great success stories is the FIT product,” he said. “Everywhere I bring it, it’s a hit!”
Visser sees similar opportunity in schools, where demand for nutritious, convenient dairy options continues to matter. With the passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, Visser says the cooperative has the opportunity to help serve schools.
“We make a product to be proud of, that’s good for people, to give them nutrition and protein in convenient packages,” he said. “So we have an obligation to those kids to give them the best.”
For Visser, the dairy industry’s future depends on recognizing change not as a threat, but as an invitation to meet the moment. As consumers look for high-protein foods and new ways to incorporate dairy into their diets, he sees an opening for farmers and cooperatives alike. “I hope we as, we as dairy cooperatives and the dairy industry satisfy that customer need.”
