How We Got Into Raw Milk – It’s Probably Not What You Think
There wasn’t some big epiphany that led me to raw milk.
I didn’t hate the taste of grocery store milk.
I didn’t tumble down an internet rabbit hole of how pasteurization ruins all the “good stuff” in milk.
I didn’t believe raw milk would cure all my ailments.
Honestly? My husband and daughter were drinking me out of house and home. Between the two of them, they were going through a gallon of milk every 2–3 days. It was ridiculous.
At the time, Mom and I were already milking a couple of goats, but most of that milk went straight into my soap business. So I thought, if we’re already milking goats… how hard could it be to add a cow?
To be fair, I didn’t go in completely blind. My grandparents—and later my mom—ran a commercial dairy until the mid-80s. I knew the basics. Enough to be dangerous.
So in September of 2023, Mom, Josey, and I drove to Missouri to pick out our first dairy cow. We’d scoped out a few online, but once we met the herd, Apple chose us.
We couldn’t have picked a better starter cow.
She was patient those first few days as we clumsily tried to hand milk. We quickly decided machine milking was the way to go, and started using our goat milker. It worked… kind of. It only had two cups, so we could milk two quarters at a time. Eventually, Dad took pity on us and bought the machine we still use today.
Anyway—Apple’s milk was delicious. Being a Jersey, her milk was rich, and the cream was thick. A single glass could fill you up.
We used to joke that we needed to skim the cream off before giving it to Josey, or she’d never learn to eat real food.
That first season, we only milked once a day. It gave us plenty for both families—and even enough to spoil the chickens now and then.
As we dried Apple off to prepare for her calf, I told Colton I was planning to milk her twice a day once she freshened. I figured we could sell the extra. After all, why keep all that creamy goodness to ourselves?
He told me no one would drive to Hickory Plains for milk.
Boy, was he glad to be wrong.
Today, we’re proud to offer raw milk to our community. Some customers live just a few miles down the road. Others drive over an hour to stock up for their families.
We love giving you a real connection to your food source. Come on out and meet Apple (and Daisy too). See where your milk comes from. From our farm to your fridge—come taste the difference.
