Curds, Cows & Kisses: 'Big Dan the Milk Man' Ready for a Smooch

If you ask Dan O’Brien what keeps Lewis County going, he won’t hesitate: agriculture. It’s not just his livelihood; it’s his family’s legacy.  

Dan grew up on the same farmland he now runs with his wife, three sons, and a whole herd of cows he considers part of the family. Proudly carrying on the tradition from his father Charles (whose old orange tractor sits out front), Dan is the heart behind O’Brien Family Dairy and quite possibly the originator of the term "curdalized," which is how he describes the chaos of continually increased demand and production.

He became a true 'curd nerd' in 2020 when O'Brien Family Dairy started churning out the good stuff. What began with one 100-gallon vat and a batch of curd a day has grown into a thriving, ever-expanding operation that kicks into high gear every summer during fair season. “Balls to the wall” is how Dan describes it; with double batches daily in multiple vats, nonstop curd-making, and now a third vat waiting to be installed.

While he’s traded in the cheese room for barn duties (at the "suggestion" of his sons), Dan is still very much the face of the family business as "Big Dan the Milk Man," always ready with a laugh, joke or story for his loyal customers – all three if you’re lucky.

“I love seeing people, joking with them; that’s life to me,” he said. “I don’t need a hobby.”

Dan and his family’s love for their cows runs deep. He remembers the days his wife Tonya would regularly be in the barn, posting selfies with her favorite cows—tongues out and all. That closeness made the 2014 tornado that destroyed their barn especially heartbreaking.

“We lost a bunch of cows that night and it had nothing to do with money, we watched them suffer, and we suffered with them,” he said. 

The event left deep emotional scars but also strengthened Dan’s resolve to keep moving forward. Through the tragedy, Dan and his family pressed on, determined to turn lemons into lemonade or, in this case, cheese, as they eventually started producing their now-legendary curd.

Despite everything, he’s as generous as he is hardworking. O’Brien Family Dairy donates cheese every week to different local events and organizations. He also looks forward to the cheese auction at the Fair every year, knowing the proceeds help good causes.

That generous spirit is why Dan’s excited to join the Cow Kissing for ALICE fundraiser as not just a sponsor this year, but a potential kisser - even though he said that the cows usually do the kissing in his experience. “Let’s just have fun,” he said with a grin. “But if there’s any justice, the loser should have to kiss the other end of the cow.”

Dan’s in it for the right reasons, raising money for hardworking local families who need a boost. “Whether you vote for me or not, support the cause,” he said. “Not everyone’s as fortunate as we are, so it’s important to give back when we can.”

Check out Dan's competition here!