How It Started

Lad & Helen Jisa started a dairy farm outside of Brainard with just a few Holsteins. The dairy now milks over 300 Holstein cows. Lad's son Dave married Bonnie and now they operate the dairy that provides the milk for Jisa Cheese.

The idea to build a cheese factory came about when milk prices dropped and small dairies across the Midwest struggled to stay afloat. Working with the University of Nebraska, Dave learned how make cheese.

New Cheese plant half of a mile from original dairy.

Jisa's Farmstead Cheese became a reality in the spring of 2005 at the 6,000 square foot plant, which is located one-half mile north of the Jisa Dairy Farm. The Grade A whole milk produced from his family’s dairy is used to make the cheese.

In the spring of 2004 ground was broke for the plant and construction for the plant took about a year. In order to keep the factory sanitary and meet state regulations a large window was installed overlooking the factory floor to allow visitors to see the operation in full swing similar to the factories in Wisconsin. We welcome you to call and arrange a visit today!