Alfred Brandt
Alfred Brandt is the sixth generation to farm Brandt Dairy that has been in his family since 1840. Alfred graduated from Osage County R-2 in 1985 and then earned a bachelor’s degree from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri in 1989.
In 2011, Alfred and his wife Sonya bought the farm from Alfred’s parents. The Homeplace consists of 240-acres, and another 400-acres are rented for pasture and row crops. Alfred milked 130 registered Holsteins for over 30 years until selling the herd in 2024. Swan-Creek Holsteins won many awards through Holstein USA including many years the Progressive Breeders Registry and the Progressive Genetics Award. Alfred also bred or developed over 40 Excellent cows.
In 2019, Brandt Dairy was recognized with the award for Member of Distinction by their cooperative, Dairy Farmers of America. Alfred is the past District Chairman for his area with DFA, and has served on the Resolutions and Corporate Resolutions Committees. He was also on the board of directors for Midwest Dairy representing Missouri and Kansas regulating the dairy checkoff dollars. Alfred also served one term on the Cattlemen’s Beef Board representing dairy farmers. Alfred is currently the Executive Director for Missouri Dairy and Missouri Dairy Growth Council.
Alfred’s passion for the dairy industry shows by how much of his time and knowledge he is willing to share with all the organizations he is a part of. In 2000, he was awarded the distinction of Outstanding Young Farmer for the state of Missouri. He is a member of the Missouri Holstein Association where he served as President in 2012. Alfred has also served on the Member and Finance Committees. He is currently on the Holstein USA board of directors. He was a member of the third class of the Young Dairy Leaders Institute from 1999-2000. Alfred was also a member of the Missouri Agricultural Leadership of Tomorrow (ALOT) Class IX from 2000-2002. In 2009, Alfred was appointed to the Missouri State Milk Board by then Governor Jay Nixon. He was later elected as Chairman of the Missouri State Milk Board, a position that he held from 2012 to 2024. He is also a member of Farm Bureau where in the past he has served on the Dairy Resolution Committee.
Not only is Alfred invested in the dairy industry, but he is equally invested in his community, which his family has been a part of since 1840. Alfred and his family are members of St. George Catholic Church in Linn, Missouri. In 2021, he was elected to the Parish Council where he served as President and served as Chairman of the Parish Fall Festival in 2018 and 2019. Additionally, Al served on the Osage County R-2 School Board from 2003-2009 and was the President from 2005-2009. He is also a member of the Linn Lions Club where he has served as President from 2003-2004 and then again in 2019-2020. Alfred has been married to wife Sonya for eighteen years. She serves as an Associate Circuit Judge for the 20th Judicial Circuit. Together they have a son, Sam who is 14 years old and attends St. George School in Linn.