Wisconsin has long been considered the dairy state and Chippewa County is well-known for its dairy production and farming heritage.Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) has significant name recognition within the dairy industry. AMPI, a dairy marketing cooperative, has owned the dairy plant in Jim Falls since 1986.

“The Jim Falls plant is one of the largest cheese plants in the area, which also gives us some economies of scale,” said John Breene, division manager. Today, the plant employs 137 people. “We are a larger company than some of our competitors which allows us to be more diversified in our product line,” Breene said. Although diversification is important to the business, Breene said that the core business is cheese manufacturing and whey drying. The company is continually seeking ways to save money and become more efficient. “We manufacture a variety of pepper jack cheeses for customers. This has replaced our cheddar production allowing us to become more profitable,” Breene explained.

Although the economic crisis has drastically impacted other businesses, AMPI has not been greatly affected. The company is currently expanding its business and sales have remained steady, although profitability has lagged during the past two years. Management continues to search for ways to become more efficient and diversified to ensure future growth.

Assisting the community whenever possible is one way AMPI hopes to ensure the future of Wisconsin’s farms. “We support all aspects of agriculture with a major emphasis on dairy-related activities,” said Breene. Chippewa County 4-H groups, FFA associations, local fairs and dairy breakfasts all have a level of sponsorship by AMPI.

The AMPI team knows it is the people of Chippewa County that make the company successful. Workers are dedicated to the workplace and loyal to the community. “It is nice to be recognized. We are continously striving to improve our business and processes,” Breene concluded.