How De Grins Oer Dairy grew from a European family’s dream to a leading Michigan dairy recognized for innovation and management.
De Grins Oer Dairy of Blanchard, Michigan, has been named the 2026 Dairy Farm of the Year by the Michigan State University Department of Animal Science, the highest industry accolade at the state level. The award honors farms excelling in management, innovation, quality milk production, and leadership within the dairy sector.
The story of De Grins Oer Dairy began nearly three decades ago when Tjerk and Ramona Okkema immigrated from the Netherlands to the U.S. to pursue their passion for dairy farming. What started in 1999 with a modest herd of just seven cows has grown into a modern, family-operated dairy milking about 690 cows with a 40-stall rotary parlor and extensive crop acreage…