Nebraska farmer thrives despite scaling down, decreases in state dairy production

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Right now, there are fewer than 100 dairy farms across the state, according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

Melisa Konecky, owner and operator of Beauty View Farm in Wahoo, said her family had to change gears to remain in business as dairy production decreased in Nebraska.

At the farm’s height, they were milking nearly 100 cows.

But after a failed expansion effort in the early 2000s, the farm “changed direction” and started processing its milk into products.

“We’re a little over two dozen cows, but everything that we produce is privately used,” Konecky said.

She said there have been several challenges recently, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the rising interest in buying local has sustained the newly opened farm store.

“We survived through COVID, where, you know, things that were normally at the grocery stores weren’t there,” she said. “That helped us a lot, and people are kind of looking more local for products.”

To help supplement the income, the farm holds tours and sells wholesale products to Dutch Girl Creamery.

Konecky said the statewide decline in dairy production leaves an open market for farms like hers.

“I think that opportunity is there, especially as people get more removed from farms and wanting to see, you know, where their milk comes from,” she said. “But also, you’re buying a product that came directly from the farm that you’re at, which is really cool.”