Collaborator Profiles

Steve and Susanne Messmer and their family began operating Lively Run Dairy in 1995. However, their involvement with refugee relief work began years before in Germany where they founded a volunteer organization to serve the needs of refugees and economic migrants from many countries who were seeking asylum in Germany. The refugees were fleeing war and/or persecution for religious and political reasons or were relocating due to extreme economic hardship. When the Messmers relocated to the United States in 1992, their vision was to start a farmstead cheese-making operation capable of hosting refugees and economic migrants on the farm. A place where they could be welcomed and supported emotionally, socially, and spiritually, and learn language and cultural skills to assist them in a permanent transition into their new homeland. Over the intervening years, the Messmers have hosted refugee families from abroad, economic migrants, and people from our own community in states of trauma and healing during life transitions, as well as numerous interns and curious individuals seeking to learn more about farmstead and cheese-making life. Most recently, Lively Run has hosted refugees from Ukraine and provided friendship and social interactions with others already in our community. Lively Run, in partnership with Sincero Distribution, now seeks to launch a new initiative called, Cheese for Ukraine. Lively Run is supplying cheese to Sincero Distribution, which is selling it directly to consumers, stores, and restaurants. A portion of the profits from cheese sales are dedicated to a fund that supports Ukrainian refugees, both domestically and abroad.