Blending tradition with a drive to improve, 2025 MMPA Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperator Runners-Up Mason and Whitney Smith are carrying their family’s dairy forward with purpose.
Coming back to the family dairy isn’t always the easy choice, but for Mason Smith, it was the right one.
Like many farm kids, Mason grew up hearing the familiar warning, ‘you don’t want to be a dairy farmer.’ But as the years went on, something became clear; Mason and Quinn weren’t just interested in the farm, they were committed to it, and to each other.
That commitment is a big reason Mason and his wife, Whitney, have been named 2025 Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperator Runners-Up by Michigan Milk Producers Association.
Returning With Purpose
The Smith family dairy has deep roots, stretching back four generations. What started as a small herd milked in an old barn evolved over time, but by the mid-2010s, the operation was at a crossroads: cow numbers had declined, challenges had piled up and the future was uncertain.
Mason and Quinn made the decision to come back with intention.
“By the time I was a junior in high school, my brother and I knew this is what we wanted to do,” Mason shared. After finishing the dairy management program through the Michigan State University Institute of Agriculture Technology and gaining valuable off-farm experience, most notably through an internship and employment at Pleasant View Dairy in Jonesville, Mich., Mason returned home full-time.
That outside experience mattered.
“I learned how to keep cows around, do good reproduction work and make milk,” Mason said. “I took what I learned there and applied as much of it as I could back home.”
Learning First, Leading Together
Today, Mason serves as herd and feed manager, while he, Quinn and their dad share responsibilities across the operation. Decision-making has gradually shifted toward the younger generation, not by accident, but by trust hard earned.
“We’ve proven ourselves,” Mason explained. “We try something, it works and it gives us a return. That builds confidence.”
Mason and Quinn approach the dairy with a mindset of constant learning. Mason puts it simply that he wants to be the dumbest person in the room.
“I want to be surrounded by people who are smarter than me and doing better than me,” he said. Podcasts, meetings, peer groups and conversations with advisors all play a role in shaping decisions on the farm.
That hunger for knowledge has translated into real results. Since Mason and Quinn returned to the farm the herd has grown from around 60 cows producing 60 pounds of milk to roughly 200 cows averaging over 90 pounds of milk.
“We were not a good dairy when we started,” Mason said honestly. “I wanted to be better. Where do I learn? Who do I learn from?” Investments in cow comfort, including a switch to sand bedding, improved reproductive management and the use of technology like CowManager tags, have paid off.
Applying What They Learn
The same philosophy carries over to the cropping side of the operation. Mason and Quinn have pushed for higher yields and better data, even participating in the National Corn Growers Association Yield Contest, not just to compete, but to learn. This year they earned first place in Michigan and tenth place in the country in the low nitrogen category.
“Acreage is tough to come by around here,” Mason said. “So, we need to make the most of what we have.”
From experimenting with cover crops to fine-tuning fertility programs, the brothers focus on growing higher-quality forages that support cow health and reduce purchased feed costs.
“If we can grow better forages, we can buy in less feed,” Mason explained. “We know we can grow feed cheaper than we can buy it.” Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a practical tool.
“We try to do everything we can better: better crops, better cows, better decisions,” Mason said.
Strengthening the Farm for What’s Ahead
At the heart of it all is family.
“You’re going to have disagreements between generations,” Mason said. “That’s fine. But the people in the same generation have to be united.”
Mason credits his strong relationship with Quinn as a cornerstone of the dairy’s success.
“My mom always wanted to make sure we had a good relationship,” Mason said. “She didn’t want what she had seen before, and I think that made a difference for us.” While disagreements between family are inevitable, he believes unity within the same generation is essential.
“That’s huge,” he said. “Differences are going to happen, but alignment matters, and Quinn and I have that.”
What motivates Mason every day isn’t just production numbers or yield goals, it’s the future.
“I want to push hard enough now so that if my kids ever want the opportunity to come back to the farm, it’s there for them,” he shared. “Not
to force them, but to give them the choice.”
The mindset of learning as much as possible, applying it with intention and building something sustainable for the next generation is exactly what earned them the MMPA Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperator Runners-Up.
“I don’t ever want to get to a point where we say, ‘Ok, we made it, now what?’” Mason said. “We set a goal, get close and then move it farther.”
For Mason and Whitney Smith, it’s not about reaching the finish line. It’s about moving the goalposts forward and bringing the next generation along with them.
This article was originally published in the January/February 2026 issue of the Milk Messenger. Subscribe »