Maytag Dairy Farms in Iowa: History, What It Makes, How It Makes Money and How to Contact It
Profile updated November 2026
Maytag Dairy Farms in Newton began in 1919 when E.H. Maytag bought a Holstein cow, and in 1941 it made the first wheels of Maytag Blue, promoted as America's first blue cheese. Awards include James Beard Foundation honors. Few Iowa dairy names have this much heritage.
| Location | Newton, Jasper County, Iowa |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1919 (dairy); first blue cheese wheels October 11, 1941 |
| Sectors | Dairy; artisan cheese |
| Scale | Herd dispersed in 1990; company buys milk from local farmers |
| Why it is elite | Pioneering American blue cheese; James Beard and Sofi awards |
| Ownership | Family until 2019; later changed hands, per published coverage |
| Official website | Maytag Dairy Farms official site |
History of Maytag Dairy Farms
Maytag Dairy Farms began in 1919, when E.H. Maytag, son of the appliance company founder, bought a single Holstein cow to supply milk for his children. After his death in 1940, sons Fred and Robert took over, and Fred's son Fritz led the company from 1962 for about 50 years.
Fred worked with Iowa State University to develop an American blue cheese from cow's milk, and the first wheels were formed on October 11, 1941. The family showed cattle at livestock shows across the U.S. until it dispersed the herd in 1990 and began buying milk from local farmers.
What Maytag Dairy Farms Grows and Raises
The company makes Maytag Blue and other cheeses at Newton. Since 1990 it has sourced milk from local farms, which links the cheese to Iowa dairy producers.
Its cheeses have won a Gold Sofi Award in the cow's milk category, and the company has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation. The brand sells by mail order and online.
How Maytag Dairy Farms Makes Money
Blue cheese sales
Maytag Blue is the flagship product, sold under a heritage brand.
Mail order and online
The company was an early adopter of mail-order cheese delivery, per published coverage, and sells through its website.
Milk purchasing relationships
Buying milk from local farmers ties the company to regional dairies.
Farm Insight: What Other Operators Can Learn from Maytag Dairy Farms
A university partnership can turn a farm product into a lasting brand. The Iowa State collaboration created a recipe that is still the identity of the company.
Heritage and awards matter in specialty food, and mail order let a small Iowa town sell across the country long before e-commerce.
Only in Iowa can a washing-machine family end up famous for mold, and it is a compliment of the highest order. The cheesemongers at farm.FM appreciate farm satire, farm humor, ranch humor and farm jokes, and a blue cheese with a James Beard medal is irresistible. Please pass the crackers.
For context, farm.FM is the nation's first satirical farm site and the home of Tractor Tunes, country music for farmers. Its contributors each keep an archive, and this one is a good sampler of ranch humor and farm jokes.
How to Contact Maytag Dairy Farms
Website: https://maytagdairyfarms.com/pages/our-story
Address: 2282 East 8th Street North, Newton, Iowa 50208
Phone: (800) 247-2458
Email: support@maytagdairyfarms.com
Contact details as published on the operation's own website, November 2026. Phone hours listed as Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Confirm before traveling.
Maytag Dairy Farms Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Maytag Dairy Farms - Our Story - Official history and awards
- Maytag Dairy Farms overview - Independent summary of ownership and history
- Mission to Maytag - Magazine profile of the dairy and cheese
- USDA NASS Iowa 2022 Census of Agriculture - State farm counts and dairy inventory
- Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship - State agriculture agency
Maytag Dairy Farms FAQ
Where is Maytag Dairy Farms?
Newton, Iowa.
When was Maytag Blue first made?
The first wheels were formed on October 11, 1941.
Does the company still keep a herd?
No, it dispersed its herd in 1990 and buys milk from local farmers.
What awards has it won?
James Beard Foundation honors and a Gold Sofi Award, per its website.
Maytag Dairy Farms shows how Iowa dairy heritage can become a national specialty brand. Read our Iowa farms guide for the state's wider farm picture.