Steinhurst Dairy in Ohio: History, What It Raises, How It Makes Money and How to Contact It
Profile updated November 2026
Steinhurst Dairy is a 550-cow family dairy in Creston, Ohio, run by brothers Eric and Kurt Steiner and their uncle John. Purina Animal Nutrition profiles it as a Purina Dairy Ambassador Herd and says the farm has passed through seven generations, with three generations working together today.
| Location | Creston, Ohio |
|---|---|
| Founded | Not published; seven generations on the farm (Purina profile) |
| Sectors | Dairy |
| Scale | 550 cows (Purina profile) |
| Why it is notable | Seven-generation dairy named a Purina Dairy Ambassador Herd, reinvesting in new facilities |
| Ownership | Eric Steiner, Kurt Steiner and their uncle John share ownership; Kurt's son Christian also works there |
| Official website | Purina Animal Nutrition: Meet Steinhurst Dairy |
History of Steinhurst Dairy
Purina's profile says the Steiner family's dairy has passed through seven generations. Kurt Steiner's father built a couple of barns and a silo in 1970, and the family has since torn those down to make room for a new transition cow barn.
Three generations now work together. Eric and Kurt Steiner and their uncle John share ownership, and Kurt's son Christian also works on the farm. Kurt says replacing old facilities gives the next generation hope and something to work toward, and that he wants his children to take over a business they are proud of.
What Steinhurst Dairy Grows and Raises
The dairy milks 550 cows. The main current project is the new transition cow barn, which houses cows around calving, when they are most vulnerable to health problems. Building that barn in the footprint of 1970 buildings shows how a long-established farm can renew itself on the same site.
The family credits a positive team environment for its employees as a key to success, and the Purina profile names it a Dairy Ambassador Herd, a program that highlights dairies that work with the company. The profile does not give feed, milk production or cow comfort details, so none are stated here.
How Steinhurst Dairy Makes Money
Milk sales
As a 550-cow dairy, the farm's main income is milk. Healthy fresh cows are central to milk output, which is why transition-period housing is a common investment for dairies of this size.
Keeping and developing employees
The family points to team culture as a driver of success. Dairy work is continuous, and consistent employees help protect milk quality and cow health, which supports income indirectly.
Reinvestment for the next generation
Replacing 1970 barns with a new transition cow barn is a capital investment aimed at the next generation. The cost was not published, and no financial figures are stated here.
Farm Insight: What Other Operators Can Learn from Steinhurst Dairy
Reinvest when the next generation is ready to join. Kurt Steiner links building new facilities to hope for his son and others coming up. Families planning transitions can pair succession talks with a facility plan so heirs see a future in the business.
Treat transition cows as a priority. A purpose-built transition barn reflects the principle that the weeks around calving shape a cow's whole lactation. Dairies of any size can review stocking density, bedding and ventilation for fresh cows, and ask a nutritionist or Extension dairy specialist for help.
Seven generations of Steiners have seen plenty of barn raisings, and the old 1970 silo coming down is the closest thing Creston has to a dramatic finale. For farm satire about transition cows, silos and arguments over who gets to drive the skid steer, farm.FM has the farm humor. The ranch humor and farm jokes there are affectionate, and a family that wants its kids to be proud of the farm deserves nothing less.
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 Steinhurst Dairy
Website: https://www.purinamills.com/dairy-feed/education/detail/meet-steinhurst-dairy
A Steinhurst Dairy website was not found; this page is the Purina profile. No address, phone or email was verified, and it is a working dairy, so confirm before visiting.
Steinhurst Dairy Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Purina: Meet Steinhurst Dairy - Profile of the family, herd size and building project
- Ohio State Buckeye Dairy News - Extension dairy newsletter with Ohio dairy profiles
- USDA NASS Census of Agriculture - Dairy and farm statistics for Ohio
- USDA NASS Quick Stats - Look up Ohio milk cow and milk production data
- USDA Farmers.gov - Federal programs for dairy, loans and succession help
Steinhurst Dairy FAQ
Where is Steinhurst Dairy?
In Creston, Ohio.
How many cows does it milk?
The Purina profile says 550 cows.
Who owns it?
Brothers Eric and Kurt Steiner and their uncle John share ownership, with Kurt's son Christian also working there.
What is it building?
A new transition cow barn, replacing barns and a silo built around 1970.
Steinhurst Dairy is a fitting example of a seven-generation Ohio dairy that keeps reinvesting for the next family member. For more on the state's dairy sector and the other profiled operations, read the Ohio state guide.