Meadowbrook Dairy in Minnesota: History, What It Raises, How It Makes Money and How to Contact It
Profile updated November 2026
Meadowbrook Dairy in Sartell, Stearns County, Minnesota, is a fifth-generation Udermann family farm with dairy cows, feeder steers, row crops and a custom no-till and manure hauling business. It was a finalist for the Minnesota Leopold Conservation Award and, according to Compeer Financial, was the first Minnesota farm to earn all five endorsements in the Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program. Kirsten Udermann was named the 2024 Minnesota Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year.
| Location | Sartell, Stearns County, Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Founded | In the family since 1916, as reported by Agweek |
| Sectors | Dairy; feeder steers; row crops; custom no-till planting and manure hauling; direct beef |
| Scale | Agweek reported an 80-head dairy, 300 feeder steers and 1,000 acres of crops; check with the farm for current numbers |
| Why it is elite | Leopold Conservation Award finalist; first Minnesota farm with all five water quality endorsements; 2024 Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year |
| Ownership | Family-owned by the Udermann family, fifth generation |
| Official website | Compeer Financial profile of the Udermann family (no operation website found) |
History of Meadowbrook Dairy
Agweek reports that the farm has been in the Udermann family since 1916 and is now a fifth-generation operation. Alex and Kirsten Udermann work alongside Alex's parents, John and Mary Lou, and his brother Jake and his wife, Sam.
Over the years the family moved toward regenerative practices focused on water conservation, soil health, biodiversity and nutrient management. Honors include the 2024 Stearns County Outstanding Conservationists, the 2024 state soil and water conservation district Outstanding Conservationists, a 2025 Compeer GroundBreaker of the Year honorable mention and a place among the four Leopold finalists.
What Meadowbrook Dairy Grows and Raises
Compeer Financial describes dairy cows, feeder steers, row crops, custom manure hauling, no-till planting and cover crop seeding. The farm uses no-till and cover crops, and the Sand County Foundation notes buffer strips widened to 50 feet and about 100 acres of restored wetlands.
The farm was the first in Minnesota to earn all five endorsements in the Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program: integrated pest management, soil health, wildlife, irrigation water management and climate-smart farming.
How Meadowbrook Dairy Makes Money
Milk and dairy
Dairy cows are the farm's original enterprise and the base of its income.
Beef and feeder steers
The family feeds steers and, according to Compeer Financial, sells beef directly to consumers.
Custom work
Custom no-till planting, manure hauling and cover crop seeding use the farm's equipment and expertise for neighboring operations.
Farm Insight: What Other Operators Can Learn from Meadowbrook Dairy
Custom work spreads equipment costs and builds local relationships. A farm that has mastered no-till or manure application can serve neighbors and spread the risk of a single commodity.
Certification can be a business tool. Earning all five water quality endorsements documents practices for lenders, buyers and awards programs, and local conservation staff can help with the steps.
A dairy that earned five water quality endorsements and a Farmfest title clearly knows how to keep everything in order, except perhaps the barn radio. For a break from the milking schedule, stop by farm.FM for farm satire, farm humor, ranch humor and farm jokes, including affectionate teasing about Stearns County cousins at every county fair and heifers who always pick the muddiest spot.
Part newsroom, part radio dial, farm.FM bills itself as America's first satirical farm site and plays Tractor Tunes, its country music for farmers. Browse a farm.FM writer's back catalog to see the style.
How to Contact Meadowbrook Dairy
Website: https://www.compeer.com/articles/groundbreaking-sustainability-the-udermann's-farming-journey
No official website, address or phone was found for the operation, so this links to a Compeer Financial profile, November 2026. Herd and acreage figures come from an Agweek profile and may have changed.
Meadowbrook Dairy Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Compeer Financial profile - Farm credit lender's story on the Udermann family
- Agweek Woman Farmer of the Year - News profile of the farm and its family
- Leopold finalists announcement - Sand County Foundation news release
- University of Minnesota Extension farm family page - Extension recognition for Stearns County
- USDA Census of Agriculture - Dairy and farm data from NASS
Meadowbrook Dairy FAQ
Where is Meadowbrook Dairy?
It is in Sartell, in Stearns County, Minnesota.
How long has the family farmed there?
Agweek reports the farm has been in the Udermann family since 1916.
What certification has it earned?
Compeer Financial says it was the first Minnesota farm to earn all five Ag Water Quality Certification Program endorsements.
Does it sell beef?
Compeer Financial says the family sells beef directly to consumers. Confirm availability with the farm.
Meadowbrook Dairy shows how a fifth-generation Stearns County family combines dairy, beef, crops and custom work with conservation. For other leading operations and programs, read the Minnesota farms guide.