UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

DPP

Falcon Foods

Dairy Pilot Plant Renovation

To meet the student demand and industry standards, UW-River Falls developed a project to renovate its Dairy Plant. To date, the Wisconsin State Building Commission has approved $1.9 million to the project and UW-River Falls has supported the project with $525,000 to fund the physical renovation and infrastructure upgrades. An additional $4 milliion is being sought from industry partners for the purchase and installation of equipment. To date, $2.1 million in gifts and $900,000 in equipment donations have been gratefully received.

Modernizing the 30-year old Dairy Plant equipment and processes will help provide more effective teaching and training through the introduction of food product and security technology. This will continue to give UWRF graduates a competitive edge as they enter the industry.

The growing student interest in dairy product processing and manufacturing is demonstrated by the nearly 20 students now working part-time in the Dairy Pilot Plant during the academic year. We foresee at least doubling that number, with the renovated plant facilities that allow for concurrent production of cheese and ice cream and an increased production throughout the year. The Food Science and Technology major, Food Processing Technology minor, International Food Operations Management dual-degree program and dairy plant renovations will also result in greater student interest and enthusiasm.

Renovation: Industry Partners and Donors

Advisory Committee

  • Advanced Process Technologies, Inc.
  • AgriBank/Compeer Financial
  • Agropur
  • Ampco Pumps Company
  • Associated Milk Producers Inc.
  • Complete Filtration Resources Inc.
  • Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery
  • Foremost Farms
  • FOSS North America, Inc.
  • Grassland Dairy Products, Inc.
  • Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc.
  • Loos Machine
  • Marathon Cheese, Inc.
  • Milk Specialties Global/David and Frankie Lenzmeier
  • Mullins Cheese, Inc. 
  • Nasonville Dairy, Inc.
  • Saputo Cheese USA, Inc.
  • Sargento Foods, Inc.
  • Welcome Dairy
  • Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association

Patrons

  • Central Wisconsin Cheesemakers and Buttermakers Assoc.
  • Fristam Pumps
  • Kwik-Trip
  • Prairie Farms Dairy
  • Sartori Cheese

Benefactors

  • AGC Heat Transfer
  • Great Lakes Cheese Co., Inc.
  • Klondike Cheese
  • La Grander Hillside Dairy, Inc. 
  • Lynn Dairy
  • Nelson-Jameson, Inc.
  • Organic Valley

Supporters

  • Bletsoe Cheese, Inc.
  • Nicolet Natonal Bank 
  • Chr. Hansen
  • Dairy Connection, Inc.
  • Dairy Famers of America
  • Eau Galle Cheese
  • Henning's Cheese
  • Investors Community Bank
  • Schuman Cheese/Lake Country Dairy, Inc.
  • Land O' Lakes

Donors

  • Ag Source Cooperative Services
  • BMO Harris Bank
  • Color Craft Graphic Arts
  • Culver's
  • Eastern Wisconsin Cheesmakers and Buttermakers Assoc.
  • Indue
  • International Dairy Deli Bakery Association
  • Kemps
  • NW WI Managers/Fieldmans Association 
  • Page & Pedersen International, Ltd.
  • Specialty Cheese
  • Taylor Cheese Corporation
  • Whitehall Specialties

 

Alumni and Friends


Supporters

  • William "Bill" Boehm
  • John Umhoefer

Donors

  • Dave Coggins
  • Jerome "Jerry" and DeAnn Gaska
  • Ryan Haack
  • Doug Hein
  • James Heuer
  • Dayton Hougaard
  • Gary Ingli
  • Ella Kauer
  • Jason Kjos
  • Renee Knutson 
  • Audrey and Jim Kusilek
  • Dale E. Larson
  • Joe and Mary Miller
  • Allison Nohre
  • Tim, Kim and Lizzy Pruss
  • Julie Stucky and Dave Simpson
  • Greg Tauchen - Harmony Valley Farms
  • Mary and Dean Van Galen
  • Carie Wagner
  • Anonymous

Renovation: Timeline

The following proposed timeline is tentative and subject to changes.

January 2022

Sanitary Installation begins

July 2022

Equipment Commissioned

August 2022

Testing and Licensing

September 2022

Grand Reopening

Alumni and Friends

Leave a legacy by making a contribution to our milk can campaign in support of the dairy plant renovation. Donate now.


In the News

Click on the links below to access any current News Release coverage.

October 2022: UW-River Falls Renovated Dairy Plant Due to Re-open this Spring (WisBuisness

December 2019: UW-River Falls Dairy Plant Renovation Underway (Dairy Star)

October 2019: WCMA Pledges Another $50,000 Gift to Launch Final Phase of Fundraising Campaign for UW-River Falls Dairy Pilot Plant (Hoard's Dairyman)


Quotes

“The renovation of the Dairy Plant is a high priority for the university. It will be a state-of-the-art facility that will expand our capacity to support businesses, as well as provide students with exceptional, hands-on experiences fostering the next generation of leaders in Wisconsin’s signature industry.” - Maria Gallo, UWRF Chancellor

“As you may notice, I did not call this a donation, but an investment, which I believe it is. This not only serves to educate our future employees but may open opportunities for research and product development.” - Trevor Wuetrich President Grassland Dairy

Contact Us

Animal and Food Science
anfdsci@uwrf.edu
715-425-3704
242 Food Science Addition
590 S. Spruce Street
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