Expansion underway at Prairie Farms in southern Illinois
By RHIANNON BRANCH
FarmWeek
Photo courtesy of Prairie Farms
Construction continues to be mostly on pace, despite a rainy spring and first half of summer, on a new facility at Prairie Farms’ headquarters in Edwardsville.
Big plans are unfolding at Prairie Farms this year to benefit farmer members and employees while strengthening the brand.
CEO Matt McClelland recently shared progress updates with FarmWeek and the RFD Radio Network.
Headquarters renovation
Construction is underway at Prairie Farms’ headquarters in Edwardsville. Once complete, the company will have a new building to house more offices and a large meeting space for company and community gatherings.
McClelland said what was once a hole in the ground has quickly turned into a basement and elevator shaft, with crews keeping the project on schedule despite frequent rain in the area this year.
“We’re anticipating it should be completed by July or maybe August of 2026,” he told FarmWeek. “So we’re just a year away from moving in and starting to bring some people into the new office.”
McClelland said the building is an initiative to “create a new home” for the growing Prairie Farms family.
“The availability to bring those teams and different groups into the corporate office over the year is going to be an outstanding opportunity to bring people home and minimize some of the costs that we’re seeing in the hospitality space,” he said.
New location in Washington County
Last fall, Prairie Farms bought a 350-acre farm in Washington County. The land is being farmed by a Prairie Farms member while strategic planning is underway to determine the long-term use of the space.
The farm is being considered for a new processing facility for fluid milk, cultured products and aseptically produced products that are shelf stable. With direct access from Interstate 64, McClelland has a vision for it to include a retail space and travel center.
“It’s kind of the future side of who Prairie Farms will be and I think that it could be a future showplace for what we’re becoming, not only as a dairy cooperative, but also as a brand,” he said.
McClelland said the farm has a lot of potential and strategic benefits for the company.
“With that in mind, we’re making sure to take the time necessary to make some good decisions around how it’s going to be used,” he said.
Path to a nationwide brand
McClelland remains bullish that as Prairie Farms expands geographically, the brand could become recognizable from coast to coast.
“It’s going to be that one item that that’s going to set us apart,” he said. “And I think two candidates are our novelty ice cream products as well as our cottage cheese and cultured products.”
McClelland said as a trusted brand in the Midwest, Prairie Farms also can go beyond its staple products in the refrigerator or freezer, to maybe the pantry.
“We’ll always be a dairy company, but as our brand awareness continues to strengthen, I think there’s opportunities for our brand to be recognized in other parts of the home,” he said. “That’s part of our strategic vision over the next 10 years — how can we extend the love for our dairy farmers and the love for what we do within our communities to other parts of the household.”
Alex’s Lemonade Stand
Prairie Farms has also partnered with Alex’s Lemonade Stand, the largest independent charity dedicated to childhood cancer research and family support in the U.S.
A portion of proceeds from Prairie Farms lemonade sales this year will be donated to the nonprofit, with a goal of making a $100,000 contribution by September.
“We want to make sure we’re part of our local communities and we’re doing what we can to support them,” McClelland said.
Retail customers of Prairie Farms have accepted the challenge of promoting and selling more lemonade products in their stores to benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
“It’s amazing what can be done just by trying to do what’s right and trying to be a part of the community,” McClelland said. “So, for all of our Illinois Farm Bureau members out there, know that Prairie Farms lemonade not only tastes good, but it’s also doing good. And if you have the opportunity, we appreciate your business.”
This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow.com.
