Green Meadow Farms, Inc.
"Where the Latchstring is always out."
Our History
“Good land and good cattle soundly managed have made our family venture at Green Meadow Farms a profitable and pleasant way of life."
— Merle H. Green
That idea still guides our family and our farm today.
Merle H. Green was the founder of Green Meadow Farms, and his legacy continues today through his family.
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He purchased his first registered Holstein in 1917, followed by the home farm in 1922. From 1931 to 1952, he also owned a farm in New Jersey, where he shipped many grade cattle and held auctions every few weeks.
In 1943, the Green Meadow herd was sold. The dispersal of 325 registered Holsteins was the largest in the history of the breed at that time. Another herd was soon assembled and dispersed again in 1945.
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All open heifers were kept during that dispersal, including Green-Meadow Lily Pabst. She went on to set a world record of 42,805 pounds of milk in 1951—a record she held for nearly 20 years.
Green-Meadow Lily Pabst, world record holder for milk production in 1951
By 1954, 250 cows were being milked in tie-stall barns across multiple locations. At that time, a partnership was formed between Merle's sons, Duane and Velmar.
Merle H. Green with his sons, Duane and Velmar
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In 1960, a milking parlor with loose housing was built, and the herd expanded to 500 head. In 1961, another 500 cows were added. From 1961 to 1980, the herd continued to grow, with surplus heifers sold throughout the United States and to many foreign countries.
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Green Meadow cattle have been shown at many state and national shows, with extensive showing across the country from 1946 to 1970. Green Meadow holds the record for the longest consecutive exhibitor at the Michigan State Fair.
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In 1985, a 32-stall polygon parlor was built. Included in that expansion was a calf barn with a capacity of 352 calves, and the milking herd grew to 1,700 head.
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Duane and Velmar were very active in a variety of dairy organizations. Duane served as President of the National Holstein Association and Chairman of the Holstein Foundation. Velmar served as Treasurer of the Michigan Milk Producers Association and Chairman of the National Milk Producers Animal Health Committee for many years. In 2013, he was recognized as Dairyman of the Year at the World Dairy Expo.
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During the 1990s, the herd continued to expand. The early 2000s saw the construction of the milking center.
In 2008, Velmar and Margaret’s family became the sole owners of the farm.
Velmar, Craig, and Darcy at Green Meadow Farms
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The summer of 2021 marked the beginning of a period of change for the farm. In July, Green Meadow Farms parted ways with Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine and began working with Team Management Concepts, a dairy-based private practice. Around the same time, Moss McCauley joined the farm as farm manager, and Ian Black as herd manager.
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In January, the double-30 parlor was converted to a double-50 parallel parlor after more than 21 years of continuous use. The farm also began updating fresh cow barns to tunnel-vent barns, improving comfort for our cows, with plans to continue updating additional facilities over time.
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In 2023, the Green family experienced a profound loss with the passing of Margaret in April. In February of 2026, the family lost Velmar, whose leadership and dedication helped shape Green Meadow Farms for generations.
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In 2024, Justin, Velmar’s grandson, returned to the farm to take on the role of CFO.
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Today, the farm is operated by Craig and his wife Darcy, continuing the work started by previous generations. Their daughter Corbie is growing up on the farm and has developed a strong passion for cattle and the industry. She now shares her experiences through her own section of the website, offering a glimpse into farm life from her perspective and representing the next generation of Green Meadow Farms.
