Family Farm Stays Afloat with New Business

Kids love the milk produced at The Creamery at Knob Farm in Grampian. The sixth generation owned farm switched last year to producing pasteurized and raw non-homogenized milk which they sell directly to the public and through local businesses. You can even place on order on their website, thecreameryatknobfarm.com and pick it up yourself at the farm. (Photo from The Creamery at Knob Farm Facebook page.)

By Julie Rae Rickard

GRAMPIAN – At a time when family farms are struggling, the Knob Farm in Grampian found a way to adjust to changes within their family and keep their dairy business.

In June of last year, Jeff Wriglesworth, the sixth generation owner of the Grampian dairy farm, suffered an injury that forced the family to rethink their over 70-year dairy business.

“Given the extent of the damage, the time of year and lack of permanent help, the quick decision to sell the milking herd had to be made,” wrote Elizabeth Wriglesworth Wisor on their website. 

“Being the only other full time employee, I was also a busy mother of four kids ages four months to ten years. With the help of family members, I was able to continue to care for the remaining 60 head of young heifers and tended to the crops. By fall, my dad was able to return to some light chores but we faced the reality everyone had asked all summer-what’s next for the farm?”

At that point they knew they wanted to keep the farm going for generations to come and came up with a plan.

“The Creamery at Knob Farm evolved from our rich family history and the desire to preserve the farm’s legacy and heritage,” she said.

They decided to evolve into selling directly to consumers with production on site using a microdairy process. They now produce both pasteurized and raw non-homogenized milk.

“We use a slower pasteurization method that involves a lower temperature and longer duration than that of a commercial dairy processing plant,” the website explains. “It is equally as effective at killing bacteria while preserving the beneficial enzymes and proteins which makes our milk have a richer flavor.”  

Because it is not homogenized, the milk develops a layer of cream and the bottle needs to be shaken to combine the cream and milk. This is considered a more natural, more nutritious and healthier product.

Some people who were lactose intolerant are able to consume this milk without a problem.

The Creamery at Knob Farm’s milk line includes more than the standard and chocolate flavored milk. They have blueberry, banana, vanilla, peaches and cream, orange cream, cherry and various strawberry options including chocolate covered strawberry.

Recently they added a “moo brew whole milk” line which contains espresso flavor and brewed coffee.

 According to their website, they use organic or natural based flavors to make these products without the use of artificial colors or preservatives. The pint sized bottles are particularly popular with children.

“Seeing their excitement over nutritious milk is the most rewarding aspect of our creamery,” it says on the site.

The farm also produces various flavors of iced tea including a family favorite, “Aunt Donna’s Sweet Tea”.

The deep history of the farm began when a family member purchased the original property which was 167 acres with only a small home, a log barn, and an orchard. But, by the end of the 19th century it was “one of the most prosperous farms in the county”.

With many other industries, the farm faced difficulties during the depression and the family business survived “by pedaling butter, eggs, baked goods and chickens to the local town’s doctors and lawyers.”

The fourth generation began the dairy business with only 28 cows in 1950.

“Over the next 72 years, generations of family members worked hard and continued accepting new technology to become a successful 75 cow commercial herd, complete with a freestall barn and ten stall milking parlor, while raising their own heifers and farming over 200 acres to produce their own feed,” according to the website.

Keeping the farm in the family and continuing with a new business was the key goal.

On their website, Elizabeth writes, “we are so blessed to be given a second chance to continue dairy farming and are able to provide an opportunity for the next generation, the 8th, to grow up living the farm life like so many generations have enjoyed before them.”

If you are interested in supporting them, you can find their products at many local stores: Goodman’s Foodliner in Curwensville, Clearfield Agway, the Coffee Shoppe at the Strawberry Tree in Curwensville, Haag’s Feed and Milling Inc. in Troutville, Queen of Tarts Bakery in DuBois, Leyo’s Supermarket in Coalport, Sunrise Coffee Bar in Brockway, the Alter Family Farm Market in Clymer, and there is a store at the farm at 1357 Workers Road in Grampian.

For more information, check out their Facebook page or their website thecreameryatknobfarm.com.