Award-winning dairy company Prairie Farms closes two facilities

25 Jul 2026, 18:03 · The Fresno Bee

Prairie Farms, a farmer-owned cooperative, has spent nearly nine decades building a business whose products reach 30% of the U.S., with a particularly strong presence across the Midwest and South.

Its products, including milk, cheese, cottage cheese, butter, sour cream, yogurt, and ice cream, are carried by major U.S. retailers such as Target and Walmart.

The company's products have also earned recognition at major dairy competitions.

At the 2025 World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest, Prairie Farms and affiliated Hiland Dairy collected 55 awards, with cheeses from Prairie Farms' manufacturing network taking top honors in several categories.

Now, the 88-year-old Illinois-based dairy company is shrinking part of that network.

Prairie Farms Dairy is closing two cheese-making operations in Shullsburg, Wisconsin, eliminating 97 jobs as it reevaluates its long-term manufacturing needs.

The closures affect Shullsburg Creamery, a historic and award-winning Wisconsin cheese operation whose roots date back to 1934, and the nearby White Hill Cheese facility.

Together, the two operations produce products including cheddar, Colby, Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, cheese curds, Swiss, and Baby Swiss cheese.

Prairie Farms said the decisions followed a careful review of its manufacturing network and long-term operational needs.

"Like many manufacturers, Prairie Farms continually evaluates its operations to ensure it is well positioned to serve customers efficiently and support long-term growth," the company said in a statement to TheStreet.

Prairie Farms closes Shullsburg Creamery production

Prairie Farms ended production at its Shullsburg Creamery facility at 208 W. Water St. on July 20, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing.

The permanent closure affects 43 employees across production, packaging, maintenance, sanitation, warehouse, administrative, and management positions.

More Layoffs:

The two largest affected groups are 15 packaging employees and 15 workers in production and cheese operations.

Most workers were scheduled to lose their jobs on July 20, while several employees are being retained temporarily to help wind down the facility.

The closure does not affect workers employed at the separate Shullsburg Creamery retail Cheese Store, according to the notice.

Prairie Farms also said there will be no disruption in supplies for Shullsburg Creamery customers.

Shullsburg Creamery has been part of Wisconsin's cheese industry for more than 90 years.

The operation dates back to 1934, when it began producing handmade cheddar cheese.

It later became known for Colby, Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, smoked cheeses, cheese spreads, and flavored cheese curds.

The creamery's recognizable products include longhorn-style cheese and specialty flavors such as Cranberry Chipotle Cheddar.

Several Shullsburg products have also earned industry honors.

Cranberry Chipotle Cheddar previously took first place at the World Dairy Expo, while its smoked cheese curds and Colby Jack Longhorn have received awards at other dairy competitions.

Prairie Farms is closing two facilities in Wisconsin.

Helen Camacaro / Getty Images

White Hill Cheese closure eliminates another 54 jobs

Prairie Farms is also permanently ending operations at its White Hill Cheese facility at 110 Miner Way in Shullsburg.

The facility will continue operating through August 14, when most of its 54 employees are expected to be laid off.

Twelve employees will remain temporarily to help close the plant, with their eventual layoff dates depending on operational needs.

The cuts include 23 employees in production and cheese operations and 13 packaging workers.

Other affected positions span maintenance, warehouse operations, quality control, administration, and plant management.

White Hill Cheese specializes in Swiss and Baby Swiss cheese, including grass-fed varieties.

The facility began as a joint venture, with Prairie Farms assuming full ownership in 2020, the same year it also acquired Shullsburg Creamery.

Prairie Farms said it expects to complete the pending sale of the White Hill property to an interested party after production ends.

The company did not identify the potential buyer.

The company did not publicly disclose details of any severance arrangements for affected employees, but said it remains committed to supporting workers through the transition.

"We are grateful to the employees at both facilities for their years of service and to the Shullsburg community for its longstanding support," said Matt McClelland, Prairie Farms CEO.

"While these decisions are difficult, they are necessary to strengthen Prairie Farms for the future. Our immediate focus is supporting our employees through this transition."

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This story was originally published July 25, 2026 at 11:03 AM.