At the heart of our cheese-making journey lies the strength of our family team. Each member brings a unique set of skills, experiences, and unwavering dedication to our craft. From tending to our cows with love and care to meticulously perfecting our cheese recipes, every task is infused with a deep sense of purpose and commitment. The bond of family not only fosters trust and communication but also fuels creativity and resilience in the face of challenges. Together, we are more than just a team; we are a tightly-knit unit driven by passion, united in our pursuit of excellence, and bound by the values of hard work, integrity, and support.
THE FOUNDERS OF NEW GALMA DAIRY
Both being ambitious and driven, New Galma Dairy would never have come into existence without Nicolaas’ love for cows and ability to constantly think of new ideas to grow and improve while Wilma possesses the driving force to make those ideas a reality.
Apart of the sales team and the oldest of the Zeldenrijk bunch. Marcella currently lives with three very adorable dogs and plans to be married to her fiancée, Case, in June. Marcella pursued a business degree at Redeemer University in Ancaster, after high school. She has used that knowledge as a sales account manager at a number of different companies within the floral industry. Marcella is excited about being back to her roots by helping her parents fulfill their lifelong dream to make cheese.
Together, the pair run one of the two farms. Lars, like his father, developed a passion at an early age for both farming and showing. He fills his spare time easily with getting his cows looking on point and ready for the show, while sneaking in an opinion or two when it comes to cheesemaking. Alongside farming, Elora enjoys making sure that her calves are happy, comfortable, and healthy while participating in the sales department for the creamery. Soon-to-be parents, the couple is excited to meet the next member of the New Galma Dairy crew in May.
Cheesemaker and marketer. Kimmely, like the rest of the Zeldenrijk siblings, has grown up working on her parents dairy farm and became intrigued with her heritage of cheesemaking. Having expressed her interest to her parents, she completed her business degree at the University of Guelph and travelled back to the Netherlands to learn how to make Gouda cheese. Wanting to increase her knowledge even more, she flew in the other direction to British Columbia to see how Canadians perfected the art. In her spare time, she enjoys playing volleyball and singing in a local choir while making time to spend with her friends
Since Bren is still in high school, he helps out on the farm in his spare time after school and on weekends. When he is not in a desk or helping his brother, Lars, he is trying out new recipes… those that consist of using a deep fryer, of course. Bren is still a little unsure of what to do when he graduates but is willing to try new things.