Dairying has been a part of Darin Dykstra’s life ever since he can remember. He was first introduced to the industry as a young boy in California. His grandfathers on both sides of his family were dairymen.

"I loved it ever since I was a little kid. I loved going out and being with calves and being outside, working outside," Dykstra said.

His parents started the family’s dairy farm in Ontario, California, in 1974. The farm grew to 3,400 cows on four locations. In 1987, houses were built around the dairy farm. Businesses soon followed.

Coming to Iowa

At the time, the family didn’t have dairy cows in Iowa.

But then Darin attended college at Dordt College in Sioux Center. That’s where he met his wife, Linda, whom he married in 1992. It’s also where he made...