MPO Dairy Fest

09/08/2026

Celebrating the Women of KZN Dairies
This Women’s Day, we celebrate the incredible women who play a leading role in our KZN dairy industry — running farms, making decisions, caring for herds and supporting the dairy industry every day.

Today we recognise just a few:
Carol Green – Harmony Farm
Charlotte Donna Boettiger – Broadview Farm
Debbie Stratford – Stratford Farming
Mary-Ann Murphy – Firle Farm
Angie Greene – Spring grove Farm
Amy Gace – Devon Barton farm
Francis Webster – Foundation Jersey Farm
Debbie Bennett Erskine and Rebecca - Stagstones farm
Sandra Berning - Springvale farm
Jane Holliday – Intelact
These are just a few of the many remarkable women who contribute to the success of dairy farming in KZN. There are far too many to name, but today we celebrate every one of you.
Strong women. Strong farms. Strong dairy industry.
Happy Women’s Day to all the incredible women in KZN dairy.

We see you. We appreciate you. And we celebrate you!

27/07/2026

Okay, I have to brag about one of our true Midlands gems — Preston Farm, home of La Petite France Dairy Products and coffee shop. If you’ve ever tasted their yoghurt, butter or that heavenly double thick Jersey cream, you’ll know exactly why this little farm in the Karkloof has such a loyal following.

Preston Farm has been part of the Warren family for three generations, starting back in 1972 when John Warren bought a smallholding with just 20 Jersey cows and one very tired tractor. When Grant joined his dad in 1990, they grew the farm literally one cabbage patch at a time — reinvesting every cent, building slowly, and staying true to a philosophy of natural balance. Today, Grant and his family run one of the most respected regenerative dairies in KZN.
Their cows graze lush Karkloof ryegrass all year — just pasture, sunshine, and freedom. The result is milk that is naturally sweet, nutrient dense, and incredibly digestible. And because the dairy and factory sit right on the farm, the milk is used still warm from the cows.
Everything is handmade using gentle, traditional methods — just milk, cultures, and nature doing what it does best. Truly “from our pastures to your plate.”
If you spot La Petite France products in your local store, grab them. You are supporting a Midlands family who’ve poured decades of heart, soil, sweat, and love into creating something genuinely special.

18/06/2026

What an incredible 2 days! We had so much fun celebrating World Milk Day and Youth Day with three Midlands schools. The kids learned all about healthy eating and the amazing
benefits of dairy products.
To their delight, a giant Friesland cow made a surprise appearance, delivering a delicious Super M drink for each child — generously sponsored by Clover South Africa
Once they got used to the cow, the competition was on… everyone wanted to tug her tail!
You have to watch these videos — they’re absolutely adorable!

# WorldMilkDay

04/06/2026

Okay, you have to see this. This video won the Heart of Dairy competition at the Large Herds conference, and it’s just the sweetest thing. So much fun, so much heart, and such a beautiful look at the connection between farmers, their cows, and their staff. Even better, the winning farm is Lactimar in the Eastern Cape — such a well‑deserved win. Trust me, it’ll make your day.

01/06/2026

13/05/2026

Firle Dairy – Five Generations of Family and Farming

Tucked away in the KwaZulu‑Natal Midlands, 10 km from Mooi River, lies Firle Farm, a dairy that has been lovingly farmed by the same family for five generations. At 1,400 m above sea level, life here is shaped by extremes—scorching summers of 38 °C, icy winters that dip to –12 °C, and snow that dusts the farm every second year.

But through feast and famine, droughts, and abundance, one thing has remained constant: the Murphy family’s devotion to their cows.

It all began in the late 1920s when Mary‑Ann’s grandfather, Col. Jack Vincent, bought the farm—then just redgrass veld and a 10 km boundary fence along the Little Mooi River. Over the decades, the family built the homestead, planted pastures, and milked cows by hand. Cream was sent to the old Natal Co‑Operative Dairies, while skim milk fed the pigs. Mary‑Ann’s parents, Ian and Tammy Fletcher, established the dairy and herd from the mid‑1960s into the 1990s.

Mary‑Ann and Mike married in 1989 and have lived on the farm ever since. Today they run Firle with their two daughters, Casey and Lauren, who are actively involved in the dairy. Their grandson Hudson, almost two years old, and his sister—due to be born at the end of May—will be the fifth generation of the same family on the farm. Hudson is already showing a keen interest in all things dairy.

Together, they milk 350–370 Holstein cows twice a day, producing enough milk for up to 9,000 people daily. Every cow is part of the family: named at birth, bonded with her sisters, and often sticking together for life.

The Murphy cows are not just livestock—they’re companions. They play, they trust, and they walk into the parlour side by side, always in the same milking spot. The family believes this closeness, and the gentle way they treat their herd, is what makes Firle special.

From Ayrshires in the 1960s to Holsteins today, every animal in the herd traces back to those original cows. No outsiders have been brought in since 1962—this is a true family herd, in every sense.

Firle Dairy is more than a farm. It’s a living story of resilience, tradition, and love—for the land, for the animals, and for the people who drink their milk.

18/12/2025

Our Top 10 Photos as judged by Photographer Gareth Robberts.

Now we open it to the public for your vote. Choose your favourite image from our Top 10 photos by liking, commenting or sharing the image. We'll announce the people's choice winner early in the New Year.