In 1985 Jan and Rinske de Jong packed their possessions, said their goodbyes, and came to the land of opportunity. Leaving friends and family in Holland, they were guided by a passion and a dream of starting a dairy farm of their own. Working Cows Dairy was established that same year in October of 1985.

The de Jong’s started milking 180 cows for a dairy farmer in Cottondale, Florida for the use his barn and 40 acres. They leased 55 cows with the $5,000 they had saved in Holland and started milking 20 hours a day. Working Cows Dairy operated in Cottondale for 2 years. They then moved to a rented farm in Grand Ridge, FL in 1987 with 29 cows. In Grand Ridge, the farm and the family grew even more. In four years, three sons were born: Jonny, Mendy and Ike, and they eventually worked their way up from 29 cows to 220 cows!