Last month I had the opportunity to catch up with one of our legendary and dedicated milk haulers, Jeff Arens, whose family has been hauling milk since 1938. That’s right, four generations of Arens milk haulers, showing up every single day for nearly nine decades. Jeff’s great-grandfather, Otto Arens, started Arens Trucking in 1938. Since then, the Arens family has hauled milk for roughly 42,000 consecutive days! I don’t care who you are, that’s just impressive.
Jeff’s dad, Bruce, often talked about the toughest haul he ever faced was the Halloween Blizzard of 1991. Many Midwesterners remember that storm vividly: snowed in, digging out days later for some of us, and somehow still working through it. The Arens family was no exception and through the process showed their dedication to hauling milk to Ellsworth.
Jeff’s grandpa, Erwin, hauled milk for 63 years and it was the only job he ever had. He started at just 14 years old and only stepped away when he went overseas during the Korean War, at which point his dad, Otto (who started Arens Trucking), kept his route going. Milk hauling has changed a lot since those early days. When Otto began, milk was collected in 10-gallon cans. By 1957, the year Bruce (Jeff’s dad) was born, they’d transitioned to bulk tanks. One farm the Arens family picked up in 1938 stayed with them all the way until 2015—four generations of Arens hauling for four generations of the same farm.
Jeff officially took over the company from his dad in 2022, but he was involved long before then—riding along with his dad and grandpa, learning the routes, and getting to know the families they served. By age 14, he knew the routes so well he would ride with relief drivers just to help guide them.
Jeff told me, “When you’ve been hauling for a farm for 30 years, those farmers become like family.” You watch their kids grow up. You celebrate milestones. You share life with them. It’s one of Jeff’s favorite parts of the job, and it shows. I saw firsthand the relationships he has, right down to a dog named Schmitty who plays soccer with Jeff every time he stops to pick up milk.
One thing that hasn’t changed since 1938 is the kind of farmers Arens hauls for: hard-working, down-to-earth, honest, good people.
At Ellsworth, we believe it’s not just beautiful to tell these stories—it’s essential. Our milk haulers are the vital connection between the farmer and the creamery. Without them, we can’t make cheese. Their consistency, care, and commitment keep everything moving.
Milk Haulers like Jeff and his family are a living example of the connectedness required for Ellsworth to thrive. Thanks to all the men and women that haul milk to Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, we are grateful!
Written by Steve Weigel, Communications Director, Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery
