By Abi McFetridge, Northwest Regional Intern
For Mark Van Mersbergen of Lynden, WA, cattle aren’t just part of his past—they’re part of his purpose. Raised on a dairy farm that began in 1956 under the name Markwell with his father’s beloved registered Guernseys, Mark’s connection to cows runs generations deep.
After graduating in 1974, Mark stepped into the leadership role on the family farm. By 1980, the herd had shifted toward Holsteins, and by 1990, the Guernseys were gone entirely. “I was born into it,” he said, reflecting on the nearly 50-year stretch he spent in dairy. “I started running the farm in 1975 and milked cows until 2015.”
The dairy business may have changed over the years, but what never wavered was Mark’s eye for genetics—and one cow in particular left a global footprint.
Raven: A Cow that Changed Everything
“She was the granddaughter of the second Holstein my father ever bought,” Mark explained, referencing the iconic cow Markwell Raven. Raven quickly rose to prominence—not just in the show ring, but as a cornerstone of Holstein breeding worldwide. She was named runner-up for Global Cow of the Year by Holstein International, and her genetics now appear in cattle across 28 countries.
Her legacy includes show ring winners, All-American titles, and bulls with strong commercial success. Raven’s line has become synonymous with both high-type and high-performance cattle. Mark said, “When you’ve got a cow like Raven, she took care of all the farmer’s mistakes.”
Stepping Away—and Finding a Way Back
In 2015, the last cows left the VanMersbergen farm. It was a hard decision, but a family-focused one. “The kids weren’t interested in the 24/7 demands of dairying,” Mark shared. Instead, they had fallen in love with another crop—berries. The farm diversified into raspberries and blueberries back in 1995, and today it thrives as a family-run operation.
But for Mark, something was missing.
Even while his days were full managing berries (and serving as President of the Red Raspberry Commission), the pull of the dairy world never fully left. Finally, the timing—and the next generation—made the opportunity impossible to ignore.
Mark’s kids and grandkids had developed a growing interest in the cattle side. The grandkids were getting older and involved. For them, it felt like the right time and the right thing to do.
Today, Mark partners with other leaders in the Holstein industry to develop heifer calves from elite embryos sourced from dairies across the region. Starting around eight months of age heifers are sent to Markwell Farms and developed until they are of breeding age.
Meanwhile, the heifers act as donors to produce embryos then sold to other dairies across the country seeking to further develop genetics within their herds. It’s not just a breeding program—it’s a multigenerational project filled with meaning.
Partnering with Trans Ova to Rebuild a Legacy
Mark’s relationship with Trans Ova began years ago—back when his cows roamed Iowa pastures. Reconnecting with Trans Ova in 2024 gave him a new way to return to his roots, while also involving his family in the process.
Now, Markwell Farms serves as a Trans Ova Satellite Center that allows easier access to advanced reproductive services for producers in the Pacific Northwest.
Trans Ova provides ovum pick-up (OPU) procedures regularly every other Tuesday, with donor housing capabilities available.
Getting back into the cattle business has been a way to work side-by-side with his grandkids, and to reconnect with old friends and acquaintances from the cattle world—truly a full-circle feeling.
A Cowman’s Legacy
From Raven’s unmatched influence on the Holstein breed to the next generation of Van Mersbergens walking calves with their grandpa, Mark Van Mersbergen story is about more than just cattle—it’s about stewardship, strategy, and family.
TransOva Genetics
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