Reviving the family dairy

PERHAM, Minn. — After a 5-year hiatus, familiar sounds have returned to the Minten barn near Perham: pulsators vibrating, milkers pumping, chains rattling and cows mooing. Twenty-four-year-old James “Jimmy” Minten has finally achieved his dream of having his own dairy cows and selling milk.

“You’ve got to have a lot of faith; without it, nothing is going to work,” Minten said.

Minten milks 30 cows and farms around 200 acres of soybeans, corn and alfalfa. Goats, chickens, geese, cats, dogs and sheep harmoniously wander around the property, some creating an entourage that follows Minten.

With three generations of farmers before him, Minten has always been involved in dairy farming and envisioned following in his family’s footsteps. In the 1930s, his great-grandfather, Peter, traded his farm for the one the family currently owns. Minten’s grandfather, Joe, then took over before selling it to his son, Mike.

From a young age, Minten, who is one of six children, was hands-on, helping his grandmother clean out the barn as a kindergartner before beginning to milk cows. He also worked for other farms, which further solidified his desire to be a dairy farmer. However, in 2020, the path to Minten’s dream came to a halt. That spring, his father milked the family’s herd for the final time.

“Mike didn’t want to sell the cows,” said Jen, who is Minten’s mother. “But it was COVID, and he was getting older.”

Minten pivoted and began working for the co-op in town. He also founded his own business, Alpha Sealcoating, which sealcoats driveways and parking lots. In 2021, Minten started farming his father’s land, then rented some of his own the following year.

Yet, Minten still felt an urge to return to dairy farming.

“I wanted to milk because I was better at it than crops,” Minten said.

However, the demand for milk was slim. No company wanted to haul or receive it, leading Minten to continue farming crops and selling heifers.

Then, in 2024, Minten’s father unexpectedly died. This loss inspired Minten to follow his dream.

“Mom thought I was absolutely nuts when I said I was going to start milking cows again,” Minten said.

Determined to get dairy back on the farm, Minten began working with his mother to rent land and space and prepare the barn. The barn’s manure pump, which was installed in the 1980s, needed to be replaced. The framework for the stalls needed to be reinforced, while new water lines and drinking bowls were added.

With everything prepped and ready for dairy cows, the next step for Minten was to hope the same cooperative he previously worked for was accepting milk and would approve his farm.

“It was the 31st of October, (2025), I called the co-op, and then, that same day, they came out here to check things out,” Minten said. “That was a pretty good day. They came out in the morning, gave me their blessing, and then, that afternoon, we had a rehearsal for my brother’s wedding.”

While the first check for his milk wasn’t much, it still meant a lot to Minten — especially when coupled with the emotions of relief and pride for finally achieving his dream.

Minten’s siblings, along with his friends, continue to help around the farm, milking cows, wrapping hay and hauling loads. His sisters own many of the goats and sheep that roam as well, making the farm a family affair.

Using the older facilities that were already on the farm has made finding right-sized cows to fit in the smaller stalls difficult.

“The stalls aren’t all the same size, so we can’t go a long way,” Minten said. “I calved heifers and bought a few cows until we got the right ones.”

In the future, Minten hopes to expand the farm by adding cows, but for now, he is focused on updating facilities and paying off equipment, as he concentrates on the farm and growing his business.

“Rely on mentors and don’t be afraid to ask questions,” Minten said. “I still have to keep going; I have a lot to keep doing (on the farm).”