As part of ASPEN Ideas: Climate Chicago — a leading climate solutions event presented by the ASPEN Institute with the Chicago Climate Corps — Midwest Dairy partnered with the Environmental Defense Fund to give thought leaders and innovators a closer look at dairy farming. The group visited Lenkaitis Holsteins in St. Charles, Illinois, to explore how modern dairy farms are addressing sustainability, innovation, and greenhouse gas reduction.
The day began with breakfast and coffee, followed by a conversation with farm owners Sarah and Andy Lenkaitis. They shared how they care for their cows through nutrition, health care, genetics, and advanced technologies that improve efficiency and animal well-being. Sarah and Andy also highlighted the three core values guiding their work: decisions should be good for the cows, suitable for the people caring for them, and beneficial to their community.
Guests learned about the farm’s feed program, which includes careful nutrition monitoring, advanced feed-mixing technology, and the evaluation of new ingredients that can reduce methane emissions. They also discussed manure management, with Sarah and Andy explaining how their underground storage system works and what factors influence decisions about adopting new environmental technologies.
The visit sparked open conversations between farmers and attendees, many of whom work in climate-related fields, about sustainability, farm economics, and the practical challenges of implementing environmental solutions. From the main barn to the calf barn, the tour provided a firsthand view of daily life on a dairy farm and the innovative steps being taken to reduce its environmental impact.
Survey results showed the experience’s strong impact. Before the tour, 88% of attendees did not believe dairy was environmentally responsible. Afterward, only 33% remained skeptical, while half of the attendees reported a favorable view of dairy’s environmental practices.
The learning continued in downtown Chicago with a roundtable discussion. Participants included both tour attendees and others who joined specifically for the session. Facilitated by the Environmental Defense Fund, the two-hour discussion featured insights from Andy Lenkaitis and Dr. Stephanie Masiello Schuette, Vice President of Environmental Research Affairs at Dairy Management Inc.
Together, they explored innovations to reduce methane from cows and manure, the financial challenges farmers face in adopting these solutions, and the policies that can either help or hinder progress. By hosting immersive events like this, Midwest Dairy helps change perceptions of dairy’s role in a sustainable food system. Experiences that connect influential leaders with farmers provide transparency and strengthen support for dairy farmers, who work every day to balance sustainability, animal care, and community well-being.