Yegen Dairy was the main dairy producer and distributor in the Bismarck region for decades. The company originated as a bakery and restaurant, founded out of a tent by John Yegen (1844-1929) in 1872, the same year Bismarck was founded, making it one of the first local businesses. Yegen also operated a grocery store for some time.
Land O Lakes Office Building, Former Dakota Farms & Country Kitchen
Yegen entered the dairy business in 1919 when four of John’s children decided to expand the business. Of those, Chris Yegen later assumed full management of the company. In April 1939, dairy operations moved into a new plant on Main Avenue. In 1966, Yegen Dairy was sold to the Bridgeman Division of Land O’ Lakes, who continued to operate out of the same pasteurization plant on Main Avenue.
Dean Foods, the eventual parent of Land O’ Lakes, filed for bankruptcy in 2019 and Prairie Farms Dairy acquired the Bismarck facility. Prairie Farms announced in September 2023 it will cease local dairy production and operate only distributing from the Bismarck facility that Yegen Dairy once operated.
At one time, the Yegens owned most of the land in southeastern Bismarck, including much of present-day Lincoln and the land that now holds the Bismarck Airport.
