Ødhumbla is Local Food Entrepreneur of the Year 2025!

The year's Local food entrepreneur is elected! With the hope of a clean Noah's Ark of a variety of cows, Jørn Skue and his family at Uppigard Skue have started direct sales of low-pasteurized milk so the most protein-hungry should get a subscription. The slogan is "Ødhumbla gardsmjølk - fite støtt"
Leading the way and having faith in both collaboration and own local processing is important to Jørn. With a diverse herd of dairy cows and as much natural feed as possible, Jørn and his family offer subscriptions for milk directly from the farm. The milk from Uppigard Skue contains the natural fat and protein that many now want for both a good diet and exercise.

The jury on Øhumbla

As a small player, Ødhumbla shows that there is room for niche players with a focus on top quality in grazing and milk. Considering the fantastic grazing resources we have available in Norway, it is gratifying and important that players like Ødhumbla show the way for others who might consider establishing themselves in this niche.

All over the country, there are brave and creative entrepreneurs who are investing in local food production with heart, mind and hard work. This year, many strong nominations were received, and the jury had a demanding job selecting the four finalists.

On Friday, September 12, during the opening of Dyrsku'n in Seljord, Ødhumbla at Uppigard Skoe in Gudbrandsdalen was named Local Food Entrepreneur of the Year 2025.

– It's absolutely incredible! We started in March last year, so to first be nominated and then chosen is completely absurd, said a happy winner, Jørn Skoe.

Ødhumbla is run as a small-scale dairy, with low-pasteurized milk from a diverse herd of STN, Jersey and NRF cows. The milk is sold in returnable glass through a subscription scheme, a self-service milking parlor and local outlets. The jury highlights the focus on real ingredients, sustainable solutions and pride in being small as a role model for Norwegian local food.

– I think it's fun to be a small producer and deliver a somewhat exclusive and limited raw material. It feels right to operate the way we do now, says Skoe.

The name Ødhumbla comes from the ancient cow in Norse mythology, and fits well with the philosophy behind the farm dairy: Variety, naturalness and respect for tradition. With 18 cows on pasture and a production of around 300–350 liters of milk per week, Ødhumbla is an example that small things can be both valuable and in demand.

This year's finalists

In addition to the winner Ødhumbla, these three finalists impressed the jury and the audience:

Toddum Farm Sisterhood

Outside Namsos, Silje and her family focus on Italian-inspired cheese, made from Norwegian milk from their own farm. The jury was impressed by their focus on local processing, collaboration with restaurant customers and modern product development.

Grubbestad Vineyard

Cecilie and Bjarne have established Norway's first commercial vineyard with over 6000 vines. They are focusing on sparkling wine made from the Solaris grape – a project that requires patience, courage and pioneering spirit.

Biri Country Store

Seven farmers and one enthusiast have come together to create a local general store that brings produce directly to the people of Biri and visitors. The jury praises their courage and ability to create new sales channels and short value chains.

About the price

The award is given to an entrepreneur who has made an extraordinary contribution to Norwegian local food. The Local Food Entrepreneur of the Year award was established by MENY and HANEN, in collaboration with Dyrsku'n. The award highlights entrepreneurs who excel in quality, innovation and sustainability – and who contribute to strengthening value creation and development in Norwegian local food production.

The winner receives a cash prize of 75,000 kroner, the opportunity to be a guest exhibitor at next year's Dyrsku'n, and an inspiration day with the MENY guild.

The jury

The jury consists of:

• Hilde Charlotte Solheim (chair), chair of the board of the Science Park NMBU
• Eivind Haalien, Category Manager Local Food and Specialties, NorgesGruppen
• Tor Jacob Solberg, leader of the Norwegian Farmers and Small Farmers Association
• Sigrid Heringstad, chairwoman of the Norwegian Rural Youth Association
• Geir Helge Espedalen, general manager, Dyrsku'n
• Bernt Bucher Johannessen, general manager, HANEN

Nominate next year's local food entrepreneur today: