Forging a New Path | May/June 2025

By Cheryl Kepes

Photos courtesy Kerfeld family

From dairy farming to a booming plastics supply business, a Minnesota couple makes an impact on the agriculture industry.

Glimpses of Chris and Janet Kerfeld’s dairy farm in central Minnesota remain on their homestead now transformed into an agricultural supply business. Silos and barns dot the landscape and blend seamlessly with the Kerfelds’ additions of warehouses and loading docks. Though the dairy cows are gone from the farm, the Kerfelds’ commitment to the agricultural industry endures through a different avenue.

New Business Venture

For 35 years Chris and Janet milked cows and managed a custom baling business from their farm in Sauk Centre, Minn. In 2007, the couple decided to add a small side venture to their operation. The Kerfelds purchased round hay bale net wrap direct from a manufacturer and started selling it to family and neighbors.

Soon the Kerfelds’ business, Blue Lake Plastics LLC, started to expand. “After a year or two the customers started asking for other products like twine and silage bags, so we just kept adding products to our portfolio. And it grew from there,” Chris Kerfeld, Blue Lake Plastics LLC owner, shared.

By 2014, the popularity of Blue Lakes Plastics’ products throughout the region was such that the company needed the Kerfelds’ full attention. The couple exited the dairy industry and focused on developing their agricultural supply business.

Blue Lake Plastics specializes in plastic forage protection products. The company sells and distributes baler twine, net wrap, silage bags, silage sheeting, fortress covers, inoculants, and more.

Business Growth Mirrors Farming

In the beginning, the Kerfelds only sold their products locally. But it didn’t take long for their business to extend past Minnesota’s borders. Blue Lake Plastics now serves customers in all fifty states, as well as Mexico and Canada.

The Kerfelds consider Blue Lake Plastics’ natural expansion to be reminiscent of their dairy farm days. “It is much like farming; we laugh sometimes about it. It’s no different than if you have 100 cows and you have a good run of heifers and then next year you are milking 150, you add another building and then you have to buy another manure spreader and then you need help at some point,” Chris said.

He added, “This really mirrors it so much and we say that often that it’s so much like farming because growth happens whether you want it to or not. And then you have to either run with it or you decide to scale back. Well, nobody does that, so you just keep growing.”

While their customer base and product line were growing through the years, the Kerfelds were stretching themselves professionally. They taught themselves about purchasing, retail, wholesale, customer service, trucking, banking, and employee management.

During the first six years of operation, the Kerfelds worked seven days a week. They were constantly on the clock answering farmers’ requests for products. Due to years of sustained growth, the Kerfelds hired two employees and established specific business hours. Chris and Janet work hard to ensure their company takes good care of its customers.

“Every single one of our employees, including ourselves, all grew up on dairy farms in central Minnesota. We’ve all baled hay, bagged, and chopped forage. So, when people call up, we know what they’re talking about right from the get-go,” Chris said.

Recreational Market

Though Blue Lake Plastics originated as an agricultural-based business, by happenstance it branched into a recreational market specializing in liners for ice rinks. “The hockey rink thing was kind of an accident. We just had somebody call up for a piece of plastic and they wanted a 30 by 40-foot piece of plastic. I said, ‘Well, we don’t cut pieces that small.’ And I kind of hung up on him and then he kept calling, and I finally obliged and cut one for him,” Chris recalled.

Chris admittedly didn’t think much about the transaction until one day he conducted an internet search about backyard ice rinks. He was astonished at the market available for ice rink liners. He ordered an ice rink liner from another company. After he observed the low quality of the plastic liner, he decided to research and provide a higher quality product.

The first year in the recreational market, Blue Lake Plastics sold 100 ice rink liners, the next year 200, the next 400 and now they distribute 3,500 liners a year. In addition to the ice rink liners, the company sells sports netting, boat shrink wrap, and other related products.

Customer Relationships

The Kerfelds started their agricultural supply business with a handful of customers. After more than 15 years in operation Blue Lake Plastics serves as many as 6,000 agricultural customers and 9,000 recreational customers.

Regardless of whether people purchase online, via a phone call, or in person, the Kerfelds prioritize building relationships with their customers. “They’re more of a friend than a customer. You start talking about family and what’s going on in their life. You don’t want to just pick up the phone and take an order and say, ‘Thank you. Goodbye.’ You want to get to know your customers and I think through knowing them you can help them a little better,” Chris shared.

Next Steps

The continued and explosive growth of Blue Lake Plastics has kept Chris and Janet quite busy through the years to say the least. They have two children. Their daughter, Alexia, is an account executive with the Nashville Predators hockey organization. Their son, Aaron, is a Marine stationed at Camp LeJeune.

Since the inception of Blue Lake Plastics, the increase in products and customers has yet to slow down. But for two dairy farmers, embracing change and growth is simply woven into the fabric of their being.

What the future looks like for the company is a bit unknown; but one thing is certain, the Kerfelds focus will remain the same – helping people in the agriculture community achieve their goals.

learn more at www.bluelakeplastics.com