Creating Balance Between Faith, Family and Farming with Marinus Noordam

A partnership built on complementary strengths

Marinus Noordam’s path into dairy ownership was shaped by immigration, opportunity and the right partnership. Born in the Netherlands and raised in a family tied to agriculture, Noordam eventually returned to the United States, where he became a partner at AJ Dairy. He described how clearly defined roles helped create stability and long-term success.

“He does all of the farming,” Noordam said of his business partner. “And I am totally focused on the animal side of things like feeding, nutrition, milking and genetics.”

The lack of overlap, he explained, allows both partners to stay focused on what makes the most sense for the business.

Faith and community as anchors

Adjusting to life far from extended family was one of the biggest challenges after relocating. Noordam said finding a strong church community helped provide stability during uncertain early years. Faith, he explained, remains central to how he approaches leadership, family and decision-making on the farm.

The small details that add up

Noordam credited his father with teaching him that success is rarely built on one big change. Instead, it comes from many small, disciplined decisions.

“It’s not just one big thing,” he said. “It’s the little things that make up the big picture.”

Those details range from close-up cow care and colostrum management to managing lockup time, somatic cell counts and lameness. Noordam emphasized that healthy cows are directly tied to profitability.

Using technology to protect time and consistency

Technology has become a critical tool for managing cows more efficiently while reducing labor strain. Noordam said activity monitoring allows the farm to focus attention where it is needed, without locking up entire groups.

“You look on your app and you can say, ‘There’s one there, one there and one there,’” he said. “You make the most efficient path and you’re done.”

The system also allows him to monitor heifers located 150 miles away, something he said would have been impossible earlier in his career.

Balancing market cycles and long-term priorities

With more than two decades of experience, Noordam described dairy markets as cyclical and predictable. Rather than reacting emotionally, he said discipline and preparation matter most.

“Quitting is not an option,” he said. “You have to always be the best at what you do, whether the milk market is good or bad.”

Family remains central to that mindset. Noordam said one of the greatest rewards of dairy farming is working alongside his children and watching the next generation grow.

For Noordam, success in dairy comes from aligning priorities across the barn, the balance sheet and the kitchen table.

For more from this conversation with Marinus Noordam, listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or watch the full episode below.