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.

Industry Partners and Donors

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

Timeline

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

Falcon Foods

Falcon Foods

Dairy Pilot Plant Renovation

Renovation: Industry Partners and Donors

Advisory Committee

Patrons

Benefactors

Supporters

Donors

Alumni and Friends

Supporters

Donors

Renovation: Timeline

Alumni and Friends

In the News

Quotes

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