Y-Run Dairy Farm

Located in Bradford County in northern Pennsylvania, the Kline family includes three generations of dairy farmers who are in the business of producing quality milk—with an eye on a successful and sustainable future.

Over the last 15 years, part-owner Ron Kline and his sons Gary and Glen, who are also part-owners, have grown their operation—Y-Run Farms—to housing 500 cows with 15 local employees.

“We’re probably one of the larger herds in the area, and we were one of the first to expand to this size, nearly tripling our herd,” said Ron. There were initial growing pains with the relatively quick expansion, but Ron said change was a necessity for the Kline family.

The expansion helped keep the farm business appealing for the family’s third generation, currently represented by Glenn’s eldest son, Chad. “I wanted to come back to the farm because there was a future here, especially with the population growing,” said Chad. “As fast as it’s growing, we need to be more productive with the cows, more efficient, and be as sustainable as we can with the land.”

Protecting the land is part of the Kline family’s daily life. “Environmental stewardship is very important to us,” Gary said. “We want to care for the land and ensure it’s sustainable for generations to come.”

Producing a quality product is also extremely important to the Kline family. “Milk quality doesn’t just happen in the parlor,” said Jacob Thompson, dairy management advisor for Land O’Lakes and part of the advisory team for Y-Run. “It’s the environment for the cows, it’s the people who are milking the cows, and it’s the people who are handling and moving those animals on a daily basis. As a cooperative, we look at bringing all those people together to work as a team and deliver positive results.”

According to Gary, being part of the Land O’Lakes system matters to the Kline family because Land O’Lakes is a quality company. “They are honest about their business; they are honest about their relationships and easy to work with,” he added. “And best of all, they produce a product that we can be proud of.”

Thompson pointed to these relationships as being a cornerstone of Land O’Lakes’ success. “Building relationships with the dairy producers is extremely important for the long-term viability of our cooperative and our members,” Thompson said.

Learn more about: North Central Farmer’s Elevator