found a great career in an unexpected place

As a 17-year-old, Newlife Ly didn’t consider the possibility that his new job at the nearby cheese plantin Little Chute, Wisconsin could become a satisfying career. As time went on, it simply happened.

He planned to go to college but couldn’t settle on an area of study. In the meantime, Ly moved from part-time to full-time employment and kept on working. A couple of years became a couple decades, and along the way, the cheese plant became far more than a place to earn a little spending cash.

“It almost becomes like your second home,” he said.

This year, Agropur is celebrating its 85th anniversary, a milestone that’s brought great pride on our steady growth from a local, Quebec-based cooperative to one of the world’s largest dairy processors.

It’s a story of collaboration and bold decisions. But at its roots, Agropur is defined by its faces, and Newlife is among them. Today, the organization consists of 7,350 hard-working employees and nearly 3,000 members who carry an unwavering dedication to quality as they create the next chapters of the cooperative’s success story.

He’s part of the team assigned to the Little Chute plant’s state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system. His roles include water testing to ensure low, safe levels of ammonia, phosphorus, and other substances before it’s discharged from the plant to the city’s wastewater system.

Through the years, Newlife has had roles in every aspect of Little Chute’s operations from raw milk receiving to production, sanitation and finished goods packaging. If a test shows unsatisfactory results, he knows just where to troubleshoot.

Ly said there’s no room for a lax attitude. It’s important to the environment and crucial in keeping the plant in compliance with regulations.

“If I put my name on something, you know I’ve looked at everything and turned over every stone to make sure that it’s been done right,” he said. “Everyone here is pretty much the same way.”

If you’ve enjoyed a deep-fried mozzarella stick appetizer at your favorite restaurant, there is a good chance the cheese produced at the plant. Agropur opened a new, larger plant in Little Chute last March to better accommodate the high demand for their products.

Plant Manager Thomas VanDerhei said Ly has been a key member of the team through a number of major changes including Agropur’s acquisition of Little Chute’s operations and the recent move to the new and modern facility.

Agropur’s Little Chute facility specializes in individually quick-frozen cheese sticks for worldwide foodservice and retail channels. The plant receives 3.3 million pounds of milk every day, which is used to create mozzarella and provolone that is then extruded, cut, packaged and frozen.

Their team of 150 employees produce 12.6 million cheese sticks every day. 

“Whether it is career changes or organizational changes, Newlife continues to demonstrate Agropur’s five core values which are boldness, integrity, collaboration, communication and excellence, in everything he does,” VanDerhei said.

Outside of work, his hobbies include fishing and hunting and he enjoys time with family. While not married, he comes from a large family that includes three sisters and four brothers.

Ly continues to enjoy his Agropur career and for reasons beyond the competitive pay and benefits. It’s fulfilling to play an important role as part of a strong team.

“Everyone here is passionate about what they do,” he said. “They enjoy what they do and there’s no complaining. We know what we need to do, and we make sure it gets done.”