We are a RAWMI Listed Farm!
2023 Weston A Price Raw Milk Farmer of the Year
De Melkerij (“The Dairy” in Dutch to pay homage to our Dutch heritage) is owned and operated by Esther Arkfeld and is a micro-dairy located in rural Iowa. What started out as buying one milk cow to produce nutrient rich, fresh milk for our family has turned into something bigger. On our homestead we rotationally graze Jersey cows. All are registered, a2/a2, and fed a natural diet of fresh grass supplemented with free-choice hay and a very small amount of non-GMO/organic grain (corn and soy free) as a treat at milking time. Our cows also enjoy free choice minerals, kelp, and Redmond salt to balance out their nutritional needs. All our cows are dearly loved, named, and add much joy to our family and homestead.
We are the first farm in Iowa to be RAWMI certified! The desire to produce safe raw milk is what brought me to RAWMI. I believe that getting back to nature and allowing our animals to live the life they were naturally created for, ultimately allows them to produce healthy and delicious milk. My part is to produce it in such a way that it remains as safe and fresh as possible. By implementing safe processes and procedures and by using an on-farm lab, which allows me to test our milk frequently, I can be confident in meeting the RAWMI standards for safe, quality fresh milk for my family and community.
Being a part of the RAWMI family not only helps us produce great quality milk it also allows us to stay up to date on the latest innovations and study data of the raw milk world.
Natural living and accessibility to nutritionally dense foods are at the core of what our homestead is all about. We produce fresh milk, grass fed and finished beef, free-range eggs, raw honey, and herbal products.
In addition to being a RAWMI listed farm we are also proud members of Farm-To-Consumer-Legal -Defense-Fund, National Ladies Homestead Gathering, and Weston A Price.
We are the first farm in Iowa to be RAWMI certified! The desire to produce safe raw milk is what brought me to RAWMI. I believe that getting back to nature and allowing our animals to live the life they were naturally created for, ultimately allows them to produce healthy and delicious milk. My part is to produce it in such a way that it remains as safe and fresh as possible. By implementing safe processes and procedures and by using an on-farm lab, which allows me to test our milk frequently, I can be confident in meeting the RAWMI standards for safe, quality fresh milk for my family and community.
Being a part of the RAWMI family not only helps us produce great quality milk it also allows us to stay up to date on the latest innovations and study data of the raw milk world.
Natural living and accessibility to nutritionally dense foods are at the core of what our homestead is all about. We produce fresh milk, grass fed and finished beef, free-range eggs, raw honey, and herbal products.
In addition to being a RAWMI listed farm we are also proud members of Farm-To-Consumer-Legal -Defense-Fund, National Ladies Homestead Gathering, and Weston A Price.
We are a RAWMI Listed Farm!
What does this mean? This means we have and still are following the training and mentoring of RAWMI. We follow and adhere to the strict common practices set by the Raw Milk Institute. Part of these common standards is regular testing of our milk.
We submit data monthly to show that we are in compliance with RAWMI Common Standards, which target a rolling three-month average of <5,000 standard plate count (SPC) and <10 coliforms per ml of raw milk.
Our rolling three months average:
Standard Plate Count (cfu/ml) / Coliforms (cfu/ml)
July -No data, cows dry
June -No data, cows dry
May 0/400
Average 0/400
Yearly test averages:
2024 to date -.35/320
2023 - .16/300
2022 -0/331
For more information, please check out the RAWMI website below
RAWMI LISTED Farmers — Raw Milk Institute
Do you want to produce milk?
Are you interested in becoming a raw milk producer in Iowa? Do you have questions about the Iowa law? Do you want to see how a working homestead operates? We are happy to discuss the ins and outs of what it takes to get started whether it's starting a homestead or producing milk. Consultations are available by appointment. Reach out to us for more details on our fees .
Friendly reminder: Please be aware that our farm is both a working farm and private residence, so we ask visitors to refrain from trespassing into areas other than the Milk Pick Up room. For your safety and theirs, please do not touch or feed the animals. Thank you!
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
Duet. 6:4-6
Duet. 6:4-6