Most people picture dairy farming as a peaceful morning routine: let the cows out, watch them graze, call it a day. Phil Forbes, our Milk Supply Chain Director, will tell you that the reality of raising dairy cows looks a lot different. The farms that supply our milk are small family operations with an average herd of around 35 cows. Caring for their cows is a 365-day commitment with no weekends off. Milking happens twice a day, every day. Beyond that, farmers are managing pasture rotations, organic certification records, equipment, feed, and the constant health monitoring that comes with truly knowing their animals. Our farmers go beyond the organic standard of 120 days on pasture because they believe it is the right way to raise a cow. Their work is deeply tied to the seasons, the weather, and the land in a way that demands attention every single day.
What most consumers never see is the emotional weight of this work. Phil describes farmers who worry about their herd through bitter winters, adding extra bedding, checking water lines before dawn, and watching for any sign that an animal is struggling. These are families who chose this path because they believe in it, often carrying forward a tradition passed down through generations. They operate under tight margins, face unpredictable conditions, and still choose to farm without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics, or growth hormones. Practicing regenerative agriculture adds another layer of intention and effort: rotating grazing patterns deliberately to build soil health, sequester carbon, and protect watersheds, season after season.
When Phil talks about what he wants people to understand when they pick up a bottle of our milk, it comes back to one thing: there is a real person behind it. Someone who was up before sunrise this morning and will be back out after dark tonight, not because it is easy, but because they care. Our minimal processing, from Low-Temperature Vat Pasteurization to Non-Homogenization, is a commitment to honoring that work by keeping the milk as close to natural as possible. Every bottle reflects the dedication of a farm family that shows up for their land and their animals.
To watch the video with Phil, click here. To learn about our farms, click here.
Once again, I appreciate such dedication to humanity that these farmers exhibit. God grant them strength each day and keep them healthy and prosperous. Mrs. Melz