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It is no secret that working in the dairy industry can be financially challenging, but for young Butler County Farm Bureau member Emily Mullen, this challenge was more of an opportunity.

Mullen is the owner and operator of Mullen Dairy and Creamery in Okeana, Ohio. What began as a small swine and dairy operation in 1898 is now a fourth-generation, fully functioning educational dairy farm. Not too long ago, Butler County was home to 88 dairy farms. Now Mullen’s is one of two.

While the changes she has implemented have helped to expand, diversify and save her family farm, it became clear to her that the county’s dairy industry itself could use some help as well.

In 2022, the dairy department at the Butler County Fair was struggling and was in the process of shutting down completely. Mullen left the fair with a heavy heart that year. Shortly after, she realized she had the ability to make a real impact with the replacement heifers, but it would take commitment from the 4-H and FFA exhibitors in the county.

Mullen created a unique “rent-a-calf” program, “Hands, Hooves and Hearts” that would allow Butler County 4-H and FFA kids who did not have the ability to take on a home dairy project to rent-a-calf from Mullen Dairy for the county fair, with no financial investment. The exhibitors signed contracts stating how many hours and days per week they would be responsible for taking care of the calf at Mullen Dairy.

The program has only grown over the last few years. Mullen had 25 exhibitors who signed a contract to dedicate three hours a week to come to the farm and help prepare their calf for the county fair in 2025.

“I can tell you few things are as rewarding as watching these kids develop their own leadership styles and confidently exhibit an animal at the fair in front of a crowd,” Mullen said.

About the farm

When Mullen returned to the farm six years ago after attending Ohio State ATI, she knew she had an uphill battle to keep the farm afloat. Her dream was to open a creamery to provide another source of income to fund a new facility and connect with consumers.

“My dad made the decision to sell the hogs and grow our dairy herd. The joke in the community was that he prayed so hard for heifer calves that God blessed him with four female children,” Mullen said. “My dad had no intentions of any of his children returning to the farm, but I had very different plans.”

Mullen remembers attending Farm Bureau meetings as a kid and became an Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation scholarship recipient in high school, giving her more opportunities to be involved in college which led to her getting more involved in Butler County Farm Bureau where she has made connections that have helped her make important operational decisions.

“Farm Bureau has given me the opportunity to work with industry professionals, giving me the  confidence to ask the tough questions, push the label and take calculated risks,” she said. “It’s the kind of community everyone hopes to have around them.”

Passion, hard work and industry support helped pave her way to success. The new facility has one robotic milker and housing for their 65 lactating cows, 15-20 dry cows and around 25 calves. To maximize the space, the creamery is in the front of the facility.

Now run by Mullen’s two sisters, Elizabeth and Amber, the five-year old creamery offers 35 different flavors of fluid milk, as well as a variety of yogurt, plus soaps and lotions that are all bi-products from the Mullen Dairy and are marketed to the local community.

Consumer education

The Mullen family believes that the best way to share the story of agriculture is through transparency. The farm offers school groups the opportunity to tour the facility and see firsthand how the milk they are purchasing from the creamery comes to be.

The income from the tour groups and the creamery store front is what gives the Mullen family the ability to continue to diversify and develop their operation.

Mullen hopes to expand the creamery and create a more interactive learning center for consumers who come to tour the facility.

“Our education program allows us to shake the hands of the consumers we feed and show them the care that goes into raising the animals,” she said. “Our goal for the future is to better teach our community where their food comes from.”

Contact The Mullen Dairy and Creamery via email at [email protected] or visit their Facebook page for more information about the business or to schedule a tour.

Photos by Megan Roell