With almost 2,000 dairy farms, Michigan is an important component of the nation’s dairy industry. Milk produced in the state becomes the ice cream, cheese, and both the local and exported milk sold in stores every day. Learn about the process on a tour of Michigan’s dairy factories and sample products fresh from the farm.
Amish Artisans
- Farm Country Cheese House in Lakeview has been producing cheese from small Amish herds in the community since 1984. The naturally raised, hormone-free cows are milked by hand twice a day to produce more than 20 varieties of cheese. Farm visitors learn about the history and observe the process of making cheese during a tour of the facility which, at the time of publication, can be scheduled in advance on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. After the tour, stop by the Cheese House shop to purchase products to take home.
Ice Cream Dreams
- Sample the ice cream produced at Moomers dairy farm and creamery near Traverse City during a wagon ride tour of the facility. The farm produces more than 120 flavors of ice cream from resident milk. Or travel to Michigan State University in East Lansing to tour the student-run Food Science and Human Nutrition program in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, which runs the Michigan State University Dairy Plant in East Lansing. Both cheese and ice cream are produced in the modern facility, using the latest technology. Observe the daily operations from the observation deck on the self-guided tour and learn more about the process during a multimedia presentation.
Goats and Cows
- Not all milk produced in Michigan comes from cows. Mattawan Artisan Creamery in Mattawan produces hormone-free goat cheese as well as yogurt from cows raised at a nearby diary. The facility offers Sunday afternoon donkey rides and tours of the plant -- booked in advance -- where workers make yogurt and cheese. After the tour, purchase fresh cheese and yogurt at wholesale prices.
Moo School
- Family-owned Country Dairy’s visitor center is also known as Moo School. Visitors learn about the farm’s process of turning the milk from a herd of 1,000 Holstein cows into cheese, cheese curds and other milk products. Guided wagon tours allow visitors to observe the entire process, including milking and bottling. The tour concludes with a sampling of chocolate milk and cheddar cheese curds, which are available for purchase. At the time of publication, tours are conducted daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and on Saturday during the rest of the year.
