The
Valley Queen Cheese Factory
Three Generations of a Swiss American Enterprise
in Milbank, South Dakota
Three Generations of a Swiss American Enterprise
in Milbank, South Dakota
Many
Swiss who immigrated to the USA in the nineteenth and twentieth century used
their knowledge in milk and cheese production to make a living in their new
home country. This is also true for Alfred Gonzenbach and Alfred Nef who opened
the Valley Queen Cheese Factory in Milbank, South Dakota in 1929. This was
the beginning of an extraordinary success story. Despite early problems with
the milk delivery the Valley Queen Cheese Factory became an important employer
in the region and a pioneer in the industrialization of milk processing and
cheese making. Like their fathers, Max Gonzenbach and Rudy Nef contributed
a lot to the progress and continuation of the cheese making industry. They
modernized the factory and
applied new business ideas. In 1964 they installed large cheese vats and drain tables to handle 30,000 pounds of milk with a single agitator.
applied new business ideas. In 1964 they installed large cheese vats and drain tables to handle 30,000 pounds of milk with a single agitator.
And
as early as 1971 they began experimenting with automated cheese making. To
prevent the migration of Midwestern farmers to California, they founded the
Midwest Dairy Institute (MDI) in 2001. The Institute serves as an educational
center to help area farmers keep up with the latest technologies in dairy
production. In 2003 the National Cheese Institute (NCI) bestowed its highest
honor, the NCI Laureate
Award,
on Max Gonzenbach and Rudy Nef for their long-term contributions to the development
and promotion of the cheese making industry of this country. Currently the
Valley Queen Cheese Factory is run by the third generation of the Gonzenbach
and Nef families. It produces about 65 million pounds of cheese yearly. The
factory and the MDI are open to the public. For appointments, call (605) 432-9000.
Wegbeschreibung/Directions: Milbank lies about 700 miles NW of Chicago. Take
I-90 becomes I-39 N (Tollway). Go onto I-90 W. Merge onto I- 29 (Exit 396B).
Take the US-12 W (Exit 207) toward SUMMIT/ABERDEEN. Turn RIGHT onto US-12.
Homepage:
http://www.vqcheese.com/
Literatur/Literature:
Frazee, Patricia J.. “Alfred Gonzenbach
and the Making of the Valley Queen
Cheese Factory in Milbank, SD” In: SAHS
Review, Vol. XXX, No.1, Februar 1994, S.
3-24.
Homepage:
http://www.vqcheese.com/
Literatur/Literature:
Frazee, Patricia J.. “Alfred Gonzenbach
and the Making of the Valley Queen
Cheese Factory in Milbank, SD” In: SAHS
Review, Vol. XXX, No.1, Februar 1994, S.
3-24.
