Zonneveld Family Farms

When John Zonneveld Sr. came to the U.S. from Holland in 1950, he had $20 in his pocket. He started milking cows for a Dutch dairyman, getting five gallons of milk per cow.

By 1968, he had saved up enough money to purchase 20 acres and build his own dairy in Laton, Calif. The family business has grown in the same location to today milking nearly 6,500 cows and farming more than 6,000 acres.

All three of John Sr.'s sons worked on the farm growing up. In 1970, he gave them the option of joining him in the dairy business and starting a family corporation. "We sold the assets to the corporation and continue to pay my father to this day," said John Jr.

The success of the business started with the basics -- making sure the cows were healthy and producing well, and maintaining financial strength. John Sr. kept a journal for each of his sons to track their work on the farm and their individual earnings. He paid a percentage of interest from these earnings back into the dairy as investment.

Josh Zonneveld -- John Jr.'s son and one of the managers of the dairy today -- always knew he wanted to be in the family business. "I have the success and experiences of my grandfather and my dad to learn from. Seeing what they've accomplished makes me excited to see what we can do from here," he said. Several of Josh's cousins and his two brothers also help manage the day-to-day operations of the farm.

Today the Zonnevelds get nine and a half gallons of milk from each cow -- versus the 5 gallons 60 years ago. This adds up to nearly 65,000 gallons each day. Part of this increase is due to innovations in the industry that have helped increase productivity, and part of it is the foundation John Sr. created that continues to drive the Zonneveld Dairies today.

"We've always strived to reduce input costs and get better at the basics," said Josh. "That's a mentality that my grandfather has always shared with us."

The next generation of Zonnevelds inspires confidence in their elders. Josh, his brothers and cousins are interested in lowering costs. They want to make sure that the animals are healthy, and that every animal produces well. They make sure that every cow is well cared for, and bred back in time so she can produce milk into the future.

"What's most exciting is having my family to come to work with every day," said Josh. "I grew up running around and playing with my cousins all day on the farm, so the fact that I'm able to continue that camaraderie in my day-to-day family operation makes the work that much more enjoyable."

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[ChristianAssembly2]

My name is John Zonneveld I live in Sebing Fl, My folks and I moved to the US in 1956, Im now retired had a A/C shop for several years. My son runs it now. I just wanted to say a veiw words that the Zonneveld name is good one.

[steentil99]

In 1990 I worked at this fantastic dairy company and visited it again in '97.

This is the real american dream! The old man always said: What do you want:

survive or be succesful. good luck to all of you!!! Marten Kuipers