By Blake Jackson
As climate change and global market uncertainty increasingly impact Mongolia’s traditional herding families, blending ancient practices with modern innovation is more important than ever.
Khaliunaa Enkhbold the founder of Global Nomadic Products LLC and currently a 2024-25 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow at Cornell University. Enkhbold believe the path forward lies in adding value at the source and empowering herders as environmental stewards.
On Saturday, June 28, Enkhbold will be hosting the Mongolian Naadam Festival at Lively Run Dairy in Interlaken, NY. This free, public event will celebrate Mongolian culture and also introduce a climate-smart dairy pilot project.
Guests can enjoy traditional foods, storytelling, and games no passport required. Just a short drive from Ithaca offers an immersive journey into one of the world’s last nomadic cultures.
Mongolia is home to 57 million animals yaks, sheep, goats, horses, cows, and camels that form the foundation of rural life. But herders today face severe climate impacts, deepening poverty, and limited access to markets.
In early 2024, the dzud a bitter winter following drought led to the loss of over 9 million animals, devastating families across the steppe.
Through Global Nomadic Products LLC, Enkhbold already begun exporting yak milk-based ghee and pet products. My time at Cornell helped refine a larger vision through collaborations with the SMART Program, Dyson’s Emerging Markets course with Professor Ralph Christy, the PACT Program, and Cornell Consulting Club. Together, we developed a model that aims to:
- Process up to 2,500 liters of yak milk per day
- Raise household incomes by 40%
- Offer training and jobs for women in rural areas
- Promote climate-resilient dairy practices
“When we heard about Khaliunaa’s work, we were immediately interested and intrigued,” said Steve Messmer owner of Lively Run Dairy. “Her vision for the nomadic people of Mongolia champions the same values we stand for here in the Finger Lakes of New York. We are a world apart physically, yet unified in heart as kindred spirits facing the same challenges common to healthy, small-scale, sustainable food producers worldwide.”
Join us for the Naadam Festival on June 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 8978 County Road 142, Interlaken, NY. Visit livelyrun.com or email khaliunaa.marketing@gmail.com for details or partnership inquiries.
Photo Credit: istock-heebyj
Categories: New York, Livestock