Wuethrich Family Foundation Inc. Wins Regional Collaboration Award

The Wuethrich Family Foundation won the Momentum West’s Regional Collaboration Award in 2022 for a transformational gift of up to $1 million to UW-River Falls for a dairy plant renovation establishing the Wuethrich Family/Grassland Dairy Center of Excellence. The Wuethrich Family Foundation and Grassland Dairy Products, Inc., dairy industry leaders and longtime UWRF strategic partners contributed an additional $475,000 toward UWRF’s Dairy Pilot Plant Renovation Project, bringing their cumulative support to $1 million, earning naming rights for the facility.

“The $1 million in donations from the Wuethrich Family Foundation and Grassland Dairy Products, Inc., helped bring this project to fruition,” said Steve Jahn, Executive of Momentum West. “The dairy center, opened in October 2023, will provide students and dairy industry employees to participate in high-tech, hands-on learning for making dairy-based products.

The Wuethrich Family Foundation is Committed to Helping Cultivate the Next Generation of Dairy Industry Leaders 

Dairy has been a strong driver of economic growth in Wisconsin. With nearly a fourth of total dairy farms in the U.S. being located in Wisconsin—generating $45.6 billion annually in economic output—it is no surprise that industry leaders are invested in growing the next generation of dairy farmers.

“For the future of dairy processing in Wisconsin to advance, innovation and modernization are essential,” said Trevor Wuethrich, president of Grassland Dairy Products, Inc. “We regard our donation as an investment in UWRF—and the future of our industry—by providing students with real-life experiences. We are honored to have our names associated with this facility, which has earned its status as a dairy center of excellence.”

The latest Wuethrich-Grassland contribution allows UWRF to complete the four-year, $8 million renovation and provide its students with state-of-the-art, hands-on learning experiences in developing, producing, and marketing cheeses, ice cream, and other dairy products.

Learn more about the Wuethrich Family/Grassland Dairy Center of Excellence.