Expanding into dairy processing

MORRIS, Minn. — The sprawling concrete shell of a building at Riverview LLP’s West River Dairy facility is a buzz of activity. Inside, workers are mixing cement, tiling floors and welding pipes for framework, all preparing for the company’s newest venture: the Stevens Milk Plant.

As construction progresses along schedule, the Minnesota Senate Agriculture Committee visited the site July 15, touring several agricultural operations and research facilities throughout Senate District 12.

Riverview Dairy near Morris was the first stop on the all-day, multi-stop excursion. Sens. Aric Putnam, Robert Kupec and Torrey Westrom, along with Rep. Paul Anderson, were on-site to learn more about the company and the plant’s purpose and progress. Other visits included the University of Minnesota’s West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris and Dorrich Dairy in Glenwood.

Riverview began in 1939, focusing on crops and beef cattle, before opening its first dairy farm in 1995.

Lloyd Fehr helped his sons, Gary and Brad, start the dairy.

“There’s nothing like young minds, I can assure you that,” Fehr said.

Today, the company is family and employee-owned, with multiple dairy farms throughout Minnesota and other operations in Arizona, Nebraska, New Mexico and South Dakota.

The West River Dairy facility produces milk and renewable natural gas while working with local farmers for feed. The dairy holds around 8,000 cattle, with a proposed expansion set to push that number to nearly 19,000. The expansion would add permanent jobs, provide a market for 10,000 acres of locally grown crops and supply fertilizer to around 7,700 acres a year.

The proposed expansion coincides with the construction of the Stevens Milk Plant — an almost 150,000-square-foot facility expected to be completed in early 2027. After breaking ground in 2025 and completing the necessary underground work and site preparation, the facility began to take shape as precast building erection commenced in February.

Once up and running, the plant will create 65 permanent full-time positions, resulting in an annual payroll estimated at $6.5 million.

During the committee’s tour, Riverview partners Adam Zeltwanger and Brady Janzen, along with project manager Lyle Grimm, explained the new plant along with the installation of equipment, such as specialized evaporators, milk silos and dryer systems. Grimm said the facility will receive 4 million pounds of milk daily, where it will then be converted into high-value ingredients like skim milk powder, non-fat dry milk and cream for both domestic and international use.

The plant’s design focuses on operational simplicity and food safety, specifically to produce ingredients for infant formula. Sustainability is also a key factor, as the facility will feature a water recovery system designed to recycle 150 million gallons of water every year. This water will serve several purposes, supporting both plant operations and the needs of the dairy’s livestock, which will reduce the farm’s reliance on local groundwater.

Janzen pointed to the broader industry as inspiring this expansion. He emphasized the “demand-driven growth” for U.S. dairy products, highlighting that U.S. dairy exports have climbed from 3% to nearly 20% over the last two decades.

The project has also been a collaborative effort involving local and regional partners, such as Herzog Roofing Inc. based in Detroit Lakes and precast panels from Taracon Precast near Hawley.

As Riverview moves forward with construction and other expansions, the company plans to continue to evolve.

“We think there’s room for everyone in dairy,” Janzen said. “Hopefully, this investment can grow the future. We definitely want to see the total industry succeed, because it takes everyone.”