Dairying is in Albert Straus' blood. Growing up, he helped on the family dairy farm in Marin County, Calif. After graduating from college, he returned to manage it. Since then, he has invented creative ways to improve both the dairy farm's economic and environmental health. He transitioned the dairy farm to organic production, becoming the first in the western United States. In 1994, he opened a processing plant to bottle the milk in glass bottles, and his product list gradually expanded to include award-winning yogurt, cheese, butter and ice cream. The creamery has developed enough of a market to allow other local dairies to convert to organic. He continually experiments with different feeds and silage to provide the best dietary combination for his 270-cow herd, which grazes in managed rotations.

Straus' latest innovation is a methane-powered generator that converts dairy waste into electricity. After years of research, Straus turned the generator switch for the first time in May 2004 and expects to save $5,500 a month. The generator eliminates "greenhouse" gases and removes pollutants from the manure. The wastewater is then used as fertilizer.