Lively Run’s International Projects
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THE MONGOLIAN PROJECT
Mongolian Cheese Please!
Lively Run Dairy has always been about more than just cheese. It’s about people, partnerships, and shared values. Through two remarkable international initiatives — the Mongolian Project and Cheese for Ukraine — Lively Run is building bridges across the globe, supporting traditional dairy communities and refugee families alike.
The people
There is a strong age-old tradition of dairy that has been alive for centuries on the steppes of Mongolia. The people of the steppe are nomadic and maintain the tradition to this day. Let’s imagine together. In a small mountain valley, 55-year-old Dulmaa begins her day like thousands of other herders. At 5 a.m., she steps out of her yurt, greeted by silence, snow-covered peaks, and the sting of a sharp winter wind. The only sound is the low murmur of her cows, yaks, and sheep — quiet reminders of the life she has always known. Her yaks roam freely on high-altitude pastures above 2,000 meters, feeding on wild grasses and rare medicinal herbs. These animals have helped her people survive for over 4,000 years. For Dulmaa, the yak is not just livestock — it is a life partner.
She joins two other women her age, neighbors from nearby yurts, to begin milking the yaks. Time is precious — producing dairy products from yak milk takes patience, skill, and long hours. As her hands work the milk into ghee and aaruul (dried curd snack), her mind drifts with worry. Her husband has been gone for weeks, searching for horses stolen by thieves. She’s even more anxious about the tuition fees for her two daughters, who are studying in Ulaanbaatar (Capital city of Mongolia)
Dulmaa’s story is not unique. It reflects the lives of many Mongolian herders, holding tight to ancestral traditions while facing modern challenges. Yet these traditions are at risk.
Modernization and industrialization have taken its toll on traditional ways of life the world over, and the steppes of Mongolia are no exception as more and more young people are leaving the steppe for modern lifestyles in urban areas. This is a threat that is taking its toll on an amazing and unique dairy tradition, unless a new vision can overcome the many challenges faced by nomadic communities. It is the dream and vision of Helen and Batuka to establish and grow the market for unique Yak milk dairy products both domestically and abroad. The development of new products and market expansion and access can bring renewed stability. This will require innovative ways to connect with nomadic communities for long term stability in Yak milk acquisition and its transformation into new products with increased appeal to both domestic and export markets. The development of such a system can provide new hope for the continuing dairy traditions of the steppes of Mongolia.
THE ANIMALS
The nomadic communities of Mongolia tend large herds of sheep, goats, and Yak. The center of focus for Batuka and Helen is the wonderful and amazing Yak. These animals are ancient, and the herds being tended are not fully domesticated even to this day. They are herded by nomadic people who have developed a relationship with them which may be best described as a partnership, each side benefits from the other. Yak milk itself is simply amazing! It is an expression of terroir par excellence, free range grazing, sustainable and regenerative in every real sense of those words. Herders both follow and lead these animals as they feed on the best grasses nature can provide and to which they have adapted over millennia. The result is a rich, high fat, high protein milk that is naturally certifiable A2. These are conditions and qualities that would be very costly to implement anywhere else; a complete system; the land, the herdsman and the Yaks.
THE PRODUCTS
The focus of current production for Helen and Batuka is Yak Milk Ghee, and a hard, dried, and aged Yak dairy milk bone that is used for pet chews. These product lines have been on the market domestically and for export for over ten years. Notably, both products are very suitable for export due to their long, stable shelf life. These products are more than just food — they create stable income for herder families, helping bring essential services like phone networks and educational improvements to remote communities. However, this is only the beginning. Yak milk due to its amazing milk quality is highly suitable for the development of top shelf artisanal cheese. This is an exciting direction for growth and expansion capable of show casing internationally, one of the world’s best milk sources possible.
Goals and Values
ively Run and Helen and Batuka, though operating on opposite sides of the world share many of the same goals and values. We all value, sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices, though as mentioned we in the west have challenges unknown to the natural processes which unfold on the steppes of Mongolia. Lively Run values natural and organic cheese. Its products are all natural without artificial additives and it is certified to make organic cheese as well. Lively Run is keen on doing whatever possible to assist other kindred spirits along this journey. To this end, Batuka and Helen and Lively Run Dairy, have teamed up. Batuka spent 7 months with Lively Run’s Head Cheesemaker, Pete Messmer learning how to make several artisanal cheeses from goat, cow and sheep milk. Batuka focused on the planning the adaptation of these processes to Yak milk and the operations in Mongolia.
Helen researched markets in the USA, and in Mongolia, as well as export venues and funding options in Mongolia.
Helen and Batuka returned to Mongolia in December 2025 and have since joined a cooperative of young farmers with the goal of the construction of a state of the Art dairy processing plant.
Your purchase of Mongolian Dog Chews and Mongolian gift articles helps them in this effort.
Together we are visioneering a future of growth and hope for traditional nomadic dairying in Mongolia.
Cheese for Ukraine Project
Lively Run Dairy - Refugee Work History
Steve and Susanne Messmer and family, began operating Lively Run Dairy in 1995. However, their involvement with refugee relief work began years before in Germany where they founded a volunteer organization to serve the needs of refugees and economic migrants from many countries who were seeking asylum in Germany. The refugees were fleeing war and/or persecution for religious and political reasons or were relocating due to extreme economic hardship.
When the Messmer’s relocated to the United States in 1992 their vision was to start a farmstead cheese making operation capable of hosting refugees and economic migrants on the farm. A place where they could be welcomed and supported emotionally socially, and spiritually and learn language and cultural skills, to assist them in a permanent transition into their new homeland.
Over the intervening years the Messmer’s have hosted refugee families from abroad, economic migrants, and people from our own community in states of trauma and healing during life transitions, as well as numerous interns and curious individuals seeking to learn more about farmstead and cheese making life.
Most recently Lively Run has hosted refugees from Ukraine and provided friendship and social interactions with others already in our community. Lively Run, in partnership with Serenity, Inc. now seeks to launch a new initiative called, Cheese for Ukraine. Lively Run will provide cheese to Serenity Inc. who will sell it directly to consumers, or to stores and restaurants. A portion of the profit of cheese sales will be dedicated to a fund to provide support to Ukrainian refugees domestically or abroad.
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