Compass Rose Creamery is a start-up venture owned by Jill Nelson and her family in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. The company aims to launch a specialty line of artisan cheeses and bottled milk products. Their dairy farm, Olmar Farms, is well-known for its high-quality Holstein genetics and sustainable farming practices, producing between 11,000 and 12,000 pounds of milk daily from a herd of 130 cows. The vision for Compass Rose Creamery is to expand its dairy business by establishing a local processing facility that focuses on farm-to-table dairy products, agri-tourism, and community engagement.
Jill and her family aimed to transition from solely producing raw milk to adding value through cheese and dairy processing. To achieve this, they needed specialized equipment and access to a creamery for production. However, they considered the financial risk of investing in a full-service creamery without first conducting market testing to be significant. Jill had previously looked into grant opportunities to help achieve this goal but often missed deadlines or encountered last-minute chances.
In 2024, she seized the opportunity to collaborate with Midwest Dairy partner Lasso, which made a significant difference. Through her work with Lasso, she learned about an upcoming grant cycle in advance, which enabled her to prepare her application more effectively. Although the business had prior experience with grant applications, challenges like a busy farming schedule, personal losses, and operational responsibilities often made it challenging to meet deadlines. The support from grant professionals at Lasso helped them stay on track. Working with Lasso provided Jill with a structured timeline to complete the grant applications without taking too much time away from her demanding schedule.
In the end, Jill worked with Lasso to prepare a grant application for the Dairy Business Builder (DBIA) grant and also submitted her own application for Minnesota’s AGRI Value-Add grant program. Ultimately, Compass Rose Creamery was awarded both the DBIA and AGRI grants. With the $100,000 in grant funding, Compass Rose Creamery can acquire the necessary equipment for initial production at their leased creamery. This funding will enable them to test the market with small-batch cheese production, train their team in cheesemaking processes, and build brand awareness and customer interest before launching their full-scale facility.
Grant funding has allowed Compass Rose Creamery to take a crucial step toward launching its specialty dairy products. By strategically utilizing grant opportunities, the business gained valuable industry knowledge, tested its products, and prepared for a larger-scale operation while minimizing financial risk. This process highlighted the importance of careful planning, professional guidance, and perseverance in securing funding. Compass Rose Creamery is now well-positioned to advance in the dairy industry, offering fresh, locally sourced products and fostering a deeper connection with the community through agri-tourism and farm-based education. With the support Midwest Dairy and Lasso provide, they are experiencing growth on their farm.
Midwest Dairy is excited to share more success stories, as numerous farms have achieved positive results through Lasso’s grant process. For more information on our grant writing successes or to learn more about Lasso’s Grant Writing Support, please visit midwestdairy.com.