ELSIE, Mich. — A prominent member of Michigan’s dairy industry with one of the largest registered Holstein herds in North America has died. Charles “Velmar”  Green died on Feb. 4 at the age of 88. 

His long list of achievements includes being recognized as Dairyman of the Year at the World Dairy Expo in 2013. He also loved to travel to places like South America where he judged cattle shows. 

Justin Green said his grandfather was still active at his Green Meadow Farms in Elsie until his death.

His son, Craig, has been the main operator of the farm for years now but Charles still pointed out what needed to be done at the farm while mowing the grounds on a riding tractor and did other things like haul silage.

Justin Green, 28, said a lot of people in their spare time do things not related to their jobs but his grandfather, except for traveling and attending Michigan State University men’s basketball games, didn’t seem to have many other interests away from the industry. “His hobby was dairy farming. It’s all he ever wanted to do.” 

Charles Green was raised and later operated the dairy farm started by his father, Merle, who once had more than 300 registered Holsteins, a large number at the time. Currently, the farm north of Lansing milks 3,400 Holstein cows and keeps another 4,500 Holstein heifers.

While assuming more responsibility at the farm as an adult, Charles started to become involved with trade organizations like the Michigan Milk Producers Association. He was treasurer and member of the MMPA board for 42 years.

Green was also president of the National Holstein Association, chairman of the Michigan Commission on Agriculture & Rural Development and served in decision making roles with other organizations like the National Milk Producers Federation.

In 2017, Green and his late wife, Margaret, were inducted into the Michigan Farmers Hall of Fame.

Green did a lot of work-related traveling but he also took time personally to see other parts of the country and the world. In his later years, Justin Green said his grandfather took him to Europe and most states out west. “We would always go out in the countryside to go look at the farms,” he said.

Justin Green said one of the things he remembers most about his grandfather was his generosity with his donations of money and time.

Most recently, Green said his grandfather donated funds to have a bathroom installed in an emergency room after he discovered the hospital’s ER didn’t have one. “He wouldn’t want to be recognized for it but he’d help out anybody whoever needed it. He’d just do it quietly,” he said.

Charles Green was also a longtime supporter of MSU, doing things like allowing the university to establish a training center on his farm that provides veterinarian students with hands-on experience in treating cattle.

After retiring from the MMPA Board, the organization established a scholarship fund in Green’s name to help one MSU student each year with a real desire to work on a dairy farm pay their tuition.

Dr. Miriam Weber Nielsen, an associate professor at the MSU Department of Animal Science, said Green also helped raise money for an endowment at the university that produces scholarships for students interested in careers in the dairy industry.

“He was a great supporter of our program and a tireless worker in that regard to help raise funds to support tomorrow’s students in dairy,” she said.

Nielson said she worked most closely with Green when he was a board member for the Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation. “Velmar was direct and didn’t hesitate to ask the tough questions, you know, and the relevant questions,” she said.